Frontcourt

The departure of former high school All-American Jason Parker might be good for team chemistry, but it left the Wildcats a bit thin inside. The only true post player left is 6-foot-9 Marquis Estill (8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds), and he's prone to wandering outside and even shooting 3-pointers.

Chuck Hayes, a 6-6 forward, will have to pick up the slack. He averaged 4.5 rebounds last season and had 10 rebounds Monday.

The X-factor is 6-11 Jules Camara. The fifth-year senior has filled out a bit, to 220 pounds, but he plays like a swingman and has never averaged more than 4.6 rebounds. He'll need to play big on the boards.

UK outrebounded opponents by an average of 5.5 last season but might be fortunate to have that same edge this time around.

Backcourt

Kentucky doesn't lack for guards, but their roles won't be clearly defined for a while. Coach Tubby Smith wants to employ a two-guard setup at the point, partially to avoid having one player assume sole responsibility for the ball. Last season, Cliff Hawkins had to, and he committed 95 turnovers.

The other reason for change is that Hawkins is ineligible for at least the first semester. Expect several different players to handle the ball, and at several different spots on the floor. Monday against Athletes in Action, Gerald Fitch - a shooting guard last season - brought the ball upcourt most of the time.

Keith Bogans, who struggled to an 11.6-point scoring average last season after leading UK (17.0) as a sophomore, will play either off guard or small forward. He'll need to avoid a shooting slump like last season, when he shot 39.4 percent, and would seem to be this team's natural leader.

Fitch, who averaged 8.9 points and shot 45.5 percent last season, should provide punch. He led the Wildcats with 25 points Monday.

Antwain Barbour, a swingman, might play on the wing out of necessity. The athletic junior, the national junior-college player of the year last season, should be one of UK's top scorers. "We've told him to attack the basket; that's his game," Smith said.

Bench

Smith would like to have a 10- or 11-player rotation as in recent seasons. Assuming he goes with the same starting lineup he did Monday, then Camara and Erik Daniels will begin the season as the only bench players with significant experience.

Daniels (3.7 ppg), a 6-8 forward from Princeton High, is the team's best passing forward but is unselfish to a fault. He averaged just 1½ made baskets per game last season. He has struggled with his perimeter shooting, including going 3-for-19 (15.8 percent) on 3-pointers last season.

The bench player to watch is freshman swingman Kelenna Azubuike, who led the state of Oklahoma in scoring the past three high school seasons. He is a versatile player in Barbour's mold but perhaps with even more of an eye toward shooting. He scored 26 points in the Blue-White scrimmage and 11 in 15 minutes Monday against AIA.

Other potential key contributors are Bernard Cote, a 6-9 freshman forward, and Josh Carrier, a 6-5 sophomore guard.

Cote has showed range, banging underneath and even making two 3-pointers against AIA. And Carrier is the designated 3-point threat UK will insert to bust zones and start rallies.

Intangibles

The obvious question mark is chemistry. Last season, a talented team unraveled because of discipline issues and selfish play. Smith has rid himself of four players who seemed to be distractions.

"He won't have to spend as much time babysitting this year," Bogans said.

Smith's planned switch to an open-post offense and more pressure defense could benefit a team composed of athletic, versatile players.

"We hope to create a lot of offense with our defense," he said.

Hawkins' uncertain status will make ball handling more critical. In his absence, which will be at least seven games, UK will face some stiff tests. If the Wildcats struggle early and suffer, say, five nonconference losses, that could spell increasing pressure as they try to avoid a fourth consecutive 10-loss season.

Games to watch

Dec.14 vs. Michigan State: These teams have played three great games the past four years, with the average margin just 3.3 points. MSU won two of those.

Dec. 21 vs. Indiana (at Louisville): UK won this game last season, but it was the Hoosiers who reached the NCAA final.

Dec. 28 at Louisville: Now the mountain (UK) comes to Mohammed (Rick Pitino). Marvin Stone is now a Cardinal.

Jan. 4 vs. Ohio: UK's annual visit to U.S. Bank Arena.

Jan. 25 at Alabama: A stiff road test in the middle of the conference season.

March 8 at Florida: The regular-season finale could determine the SEC East's winner.

- Neil Schmidt

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