Big Red Louie
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Stats don’t lie, one of these six teams will win the national championship

By Presley Meyer

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 12: Marques Bolden #20 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 12, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 12: Marques Bolden #20 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 12, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Kentucky

Adjusted offensive efficiency: 14

Adjusted defensive efficiency: 9

Many wrote Kentucky off after they were dismantled by Duke in their season opener. But guess who’s right back in the national championship talk, hungry for a possible rematch down the line? Losing in such a humbling fashion to kick off the season is likely the best thing that could have happened to John Calipari’s squad.

The Cats have beaten North Carolina, Louisville, Kansas, and Tennessee since their opening day debacle, with their only real blemishes being losses to Seton Hall and Alabama. That’s a heck of a resume, and one that could have them on track for a No.1 seed.

Ashton Hagans is one of the premier point guards and lockdown defenders in the country, and sophomore PJ Washington is on another level for UK. Sprinkle in freshman guard Keldon Johnson, improving freshman Tyler Herro, and stud graduate transfer power forward Reid Travis, and you have a team that can beat you in a variety of ways. For once, Cal is being overshadowed by a team with some even more remarkable one-and-dones, and in the shadows, Kentucky looks primed for another run at a final four or national title.

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