LEXINGTON, Ky. — It seems the SEC is bullish about the Wildcat’s chances this season. Media from the conference voted Kentucky men’s basketball team the most likely to win the 2023 Southeast Conference title.

On the hunt for their seventh regular season title, the Wildcats are sure to face plenty of competition. Arkansas, Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama are right on their heels, just behind the Cats in preseason polling.

This wasn’t the only good news for Kentucky. The conference also tapped Senior Oscar Tshiebwe was as the preseason SEC Player of the Year. And Joining Tshiebwe on the preseason All-SEC First Team was fellow senior Sahvir Wheeler.

It’s the 17th time since the 1998-99 season the Wildcats are the SEC preseason favorite. Calipari has directed his teams to regular-season SEC crowns in 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020. Kentucky claimed the SEC Tournament title six times under his direction in 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Tshiebwe, the reigning unanimous National Player of the Year and All-America First-Team honoree, led the country in rebounding with 15.1 boards per game to go along with a team-high 17.4 points per contest a season ago.

Wheeler was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award for the nation’s best point guard a year ago. He led the SEC and ranked third nationally with an average of 6.9 assists per game as well. Picked All-SEC Second Team by both the league’s coaches and media, Wheeler’s 207 assists were the fourth-most in a single season in UK history.

The Houston native also ranked second in the conference with a 2.27 assist-to-turnover ratio. In 30 games played in 2021-22, Wheeler averaged 10.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals to go along with his 6.9 assists per contest.