Oct 24, 2012; Lexington , KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Ryan Harrow (12) dribbles the ball against guard Jarrod Polson (5) during the Kentucky-Blue and White scrimmage at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE

I’ve been talking to people around where I live and work about this years Kentucky Wildcats, and the most common question I get is who is the most important player on this years team? In the beginning I was saying the development of Nerlens Noel, but he is what he is and that’s a defensive force. After the blue/white scrimmage I now have a different outlook and my answer is Ryan Harrow.

While watching the blue/white game I had some concern early on, when the team wasn’t running up and down the floor like we are accustom to under John Calipari. I keep hearing Calipari yell “GO” while getting a defensive rebound, and the one player who heard that the most was Ryan Harrow. After halftime the pace changed and the team looked a lot better. Ryan Harrow was getting the ball from Nerlens or Willie on the rebound and flying down the floor. If it wasn’t him throwing a lob to the guy running with him, it was a pass out on the perimeter for a wide open 3. It was exciting and relaxing to see that because then you saw what this team could truly be.

Brandon Knight had a great season at Kentucky; but most people forget that he struggled mightily at the beginning of the season. In that year with Knight at the point, Kentucky went from getting beat by 25 in Maui by UConn to beating North Carolina in the Elite 8 and going to the Final Four. Brandon Knight started out slow, but when he bought in and started playing his game Kentucky got better every game. Knight also was 1st team All-SEC by the end of the season. Then came Marquis Teague. Unlike Knight the media saw his struggles, because Kentucky was preseason number 2. If fans go back and look at the season we just had it was unbelieveable, but Marquis teague didn’t come on until the NCAA Tournament. Yes, he had great games during the season, but he wasn’t consistent. In the NCAA tournament he started playing his game and with his talents and the team went on a rampage. He wasn’t the best player on the team, but he was the most important later on in the season.

I think this team has just a good a shot as anybody to reach Atlanta in March, but I think it depends on the development of Ryan Harrow. If he can run the team under pressure, and be tough enough to get in the lane while defenders are guarding him closely, Kentucky has the talent surronding him to do great things once again this year.

Another key I was looking for in the Blue/White scrimmage was…. Who will be Harrow’s backup? Coming away from the scrimmage it looks like it will be Kentucky native Jarrod Polson. He isn’t the walk on coming off the bench anymore, he is a key member of this team.

It looks to be another great year for Kentucky Basketball, and it all starts November 1st against Northwood.