The 2013–14 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2013–14 college basketball season. The team played its home games in Lexington, Kentucky for the 39th consecutive season at Rupp Arena, with a capacity of 23,500. The team was led by fifth-year head coach John Calipari. This team was nicknamed the "Tweakables" in reference to Calipari's comment prior to the 2014 SEC tournament. The team was the National Runner-up in the NCAA tournament, and also marked Kentucky's 16th Final Four appearance. It was Calipari's third Final Four appearance at Kentucky.

Despite the 2012–13 team making the NIT, there were high expectations for this team. The team, however, would be without some of its top players from the 2012–13 team including Nerlens Noel and starting shooting guard Archie Goodwin, who were first-round draft choices in the 2013 NBA draft. Starting power forward Kyle Wiltjer transferred to Gonzaga and starting point guard Ryan Harrow transferred to Georgia State. Returning was former McDonald's All-American Alex Poythress and starting center Willie Cauley-Stein. The poor success of the 2012–13 team did not stop John Calipari from again producing another number one recruiting class. The entering class included a record six McDonald's All-Americans highlighted by Julius Randle and the Harrison Twins, Aaron and Andrew.

The Wildcats were led by 2014 Consensus All-American and Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year Randle, a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection. James Young (SEC 2nd team) also earned conference honors.2014 SEC Men's Basketball Awards Announced, accessed March 11, 2014

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes 3 F 228 Everett, Massachusetts Entered 2013 NBA draft 10 G 198 Sherwood, Arkansas Entered 2013 NBA draft 11 G 202 Louisville, Kentucky Graduated 12 G 170 Marietta, Georgia Transferred to Georgia State 33 F 239 Portland, Oregon Transferred to Gonzaga 34 G 192 Marion, Indiana Graduated

2013–14 newcomers

Many recruiting analysts and experts proclaimed that the 2013 signing class for Kentucky was the greatest recruiting class since the infamous Fab Five in the 1990s. Some proclaimed that it was the greatest ever assembled. It featured a record six McDonald's All-Americans and five consensus top fifteen players.

Julius Randle, originally from Plano, Texas, was the highest rated signee in the 2013 class. He committed to Kentucky on March 18, one day after Kentucky lost to Robert Morris in the opening round of the NIT. He chose Kentucky over Kansas and Texas. He was the nation's consensus top power forward, was ranked the No. 2 overall player by Rivals, the No. 3 overall player by ESPN and the No. 5 overall player by Scout. He helped lead Prestonwood Christian to three state titles including one in his freshman year and back-to-back titles in junior and senior seasons. He was a McDonald's All-America and Jordan Brand Classic game selection. He was the co-MVP in the Jordan Brand Classic.

The Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew, became the first set of twins to ever play for Kentucky. Andrew was the consensus top point guard and Aaron was the consensus top shooting guard in the 2013 class. Out of Richmond, Texas, the Twins committed to Kentucky on October 4, 2012, on a live broadcast on ESPNU. The Twins chose Kentucky over their Father's alma mater, Maryland. They were a McDonald's All-America and Jordan Brand Classic game selections.

James Young was a consensus top ten prospect within the 2013 class. Originally from Rochester, Michigan, he committed to Kentucky on October 11, 2012, on ESPNU. He chose Kentucky over in-state schools Michigan and Michigan State. Young was ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the class by ESPN and No. 10 by both Rivals and Scout. He was a McDonald's All-America game selection.

Dakari Johnson was the consensus top center in the 2013 class. He committed to Kentucky on January 5, live on ESPNU. He chose Kentucky over Florida and Georgetown. He was rated as the No. 11 overall player by ESPN, No. 9 overall player by Rivals, and No. 18 over all player by Scout. Johnson led his high school, Montverde, to a national championship at the National High School Invitational where he claimed MVP honors after logging 18 points and eight rebounds. He was a McDonald's All-America.

Marcus Lee was a forward and participated several sports in high school and made all-state selections in both basketball and volleyball. He committed to Kentucky on October 17, 2012, choosing Kentucky over California and Louisville. He was a McDonald's All-America and Jordan Brand Classic game selection.

Derek Willis was the first commitment in the class of 2013. Originally committed to Purdue, he opted for the Wildcats on January 20, 2012, when he was junior in high school.

Dominique Hawkins was the least heralded of all the signees in the 2013 signing class. He was the 2013 Kentucky Mr. Basketball and is the 17th player in UK history to claim the honor. He directed Madison Central to the state championship and captured most valuable player honors after averaging 20.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game throughout the Kentucky Boys Sweet Sixteen.

Pre-season

Roster On March 18, 2013, Randle committed to play in the 2013–14 season. On March 31 Harrow announced he was leaving Kentucky to transfer to Georgia State for his remaining two seasons of eligibility. On April 1 Goodwin entered the 2013 NBA draft while Cauley-Stein and Wiltjer announced they were returning. On April 2, Poythress decided to return to school for his sophomore season. On April 10 Hawkins committed to play in the 2013–14 season. On April 15 Noel entered the 2013 NBA Draft. On July 19 Wiltjer announced he was leaving Kentucky to transfer to Gonzaga for his remaining two seasons of eligibility.

On June 27, 2013, Noel was selected sixth in the 2013 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans and traded to the Philadelphia Sixers for in exchange for Jrue Holiday and 42nd pick which was used to select Pierre Jackson. Goodwin was drafted 29th by the Golden State Warriors and traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for 30th pick which was used to select Nemanja Nedovic.

Off-season rankings The earliest preseason predictions were made the day after the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on April 9, before final decisions by college players about declaring for the 2013 NBA draft and before many high-school players signed a National Letter of Intent about their 2013 seasons. With the high expectations of the talented incoming players from the 2013 signing class (Harrisons, Johnson, Lee, Randle, Young), Kentucky was projected as the top ranked team by ESPN. USA Today projected the same sentiment that the talented freshmen would make Kentucky the top team in the 2013–14 season.

On April 30, ESPN's Eamonn Brennan named Randle a third-team 2013–14 pre-offseason All-American selection. In June 2013, Sporting News Mike DeCourcy named Cauley-Stain and Randle as the third-best players at their respective positions (center and power forward) while Poythress was named the sixth-best small forward for the upcoming season.

Accolades and rankings The Southeastern Conference preseason media poll was released at the SEC Media Days in October, it predicted that Kentucky would win the championship and selected Randle as its Player of the Year. Randle was also named to the All-SEC First Team while Cauley-Stein, Andrew Harrison, and Johnson were named to the All-SEC Second Team.

USA Today announced its initial coaches poll on October 18, with Kentucky ranked as No. 1 in the country. The Associated Press announced on October 31 that Kentucky was ranked No. 1 to start the season in its initial poll of the season.

Events On October 3 the camp out for Big Blue Madness, Kentucky's version of Midnight Madness, began. There were a record 755 tents set up around Memorial Coliseum to be first in line for the tickets that went on sale for Big Blue Madness on October 5. Tickets for Big Blue Madness sold out on October 5 in thirty minutes.

Big Blue Madness took place on October 18. The event debuted the team for the 2013–14 season. It included player introductions, a speech by Calipari, and a scrimmage.

The Blue-White scrimmage was the first live game for the team. It occurred at Rupp Arena on October 29. The Blue team started four freshmen, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Young and Randle, along with Cauley-Stein. The White team opened with Jarrod Polson, Jon Hood, sophomore Poythress, Willis, and Lee. Young led all players with 21 points.

The first exhibition game was against Transylvania on November 1 at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Transylvania 76 to 42. Randle notched a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

The second and final exhibition game was against Montevallo on November 4 at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Montevallo 95 to 72. Randle collected 21 points and 11 rebounds, giving him a double-double in both exhibition games. Young tallied 16 points and had the play of the night when he saved the ball from going out of bounds and accidentally lofted the ball into his own defensive basket, scoring two points for Montevallo.

2014–15 signees In November Kentucky signed another top recruiting class. John Calipari announced four players for his 2014 class during the early signing period on November 14. Trey Lyles (Indianapolis), Karl-Anthony Towns (Metuchen, N.J.), Devin Booker (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Tyler Ulis (Chicago Heights, Ill.) all signed national letters of intent to play basketball at the University of Kentucky, starting in the 2014–15 season.

Karl-Anthony Towns was the first commitment for the class when verbally committed on December 4, 2012. He was named Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2014. He played for the Dominican Republic National Team in 2012 and 2013 which were coached by John Calipari and Kentucky assistant, Orlando Antigua. He was ranked as No. 6 overall by ESPN and No. 11 by Rivals and Scout.

Tyler Ulis was the second commitment in the class when he verbally committed on September 13, 2013. He committed to Kentucky briefly after he was offered a scholarship. Kentucky had just missed on their primary target, Emmanuel Mudiay, when he committed to SMU on August 24, 2013. Ulis, however, quickly rose the recruiting ranking finishing No. 20 overall by Scout, No. 21 overall by Rivals, and No. 25 overall by ESPN. He chose Kentucky over Iowa, Michigan State, and Southern Cal.

Devin Booker was the third commitment in the class when he verbally committed on October 31, 2013. He was ranked as the No. 18 overall by ESPN and No. 29 overall by Scout and Rivals. As a junior, he was named by Gatorade as the top basketball player in Mississippi. He is the son of the former Missouri and All-American great Melvin Booker. He chose Kentucky over his Dad's alma mater and Michigan.

Trey Lyles was the final commitment in the class when he verbally committed on November 5, 2013. After his senior season, he was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, where he led his high school to a state championship. He committed to Kentucky over rivals Indiana and Louisville. He was rated as the No. 6 overall player by ESPN, the No. 11 overall by Scout, and the No. 13 overall by Rivals.

Roster

Depth chart

Schedule

Regular season

November