With big expectations come big preseason nominations. Three players from the Kentucky roster have been tabbed for some of college basketball's biggest preseason awards.
Oscar Tshiebwe - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Watch List
Sahvir Wheeler - Bob Cousy Award Watch List
Kellan Grady - Jerry West Award Watch List
Kentucky joins Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Purdue, Texas, UCLA and Villanova as one of 13 schools to have at least three players named to the preseason lists.
Malik Monk is the only player in Kentucky program history to win the Jerry West award (2017). Tyler Ulis is the only player in Kentucky program history to win the Bob Cousy award (2016). No Kentucky player has ever won the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award.
Fans can vote in each of the three rounds for the Naismith awards. In late January, all of the lists will be narrowed down to 10 players, then to five in February. Winners will be announced at a later date, which has yet to be announced.