Critics of this year’s Kentucky basketball team point to its youth as a potential pitfall to success this season. While this is a challenge the Cats deal with every year, they hope to counter with the intangibles. Freshman Lance Ware, who is known for his toughness, and his teammates are ready for the challenge of proving those doubters wrong. He hopes to do so through the intangibles.

“I definitely try to mix things up, attack the glass and just play with a lot of energy because sometimes that’s half the battle,” Ware said in a press conference earlier today.

Ware, who is the No. 39 recruit in the country, averaged ten points and nine rebounds as a high school senior. He credits his mentor Pervis Ellison for getting him into basketball.

“We did a little workout, and I’ve been working with him and in contact with him to this day,” Ware told reporters. “It kind of started there… that’s kind of what helped spark my love for the game.”

The 6-foot-9 power forward out of Camden, New Jersey committed to Kentucky over Michigan, Ohio State, Louisville and a number of other elite colleges. He said this was because of the Wildcat coaching staff and Rupp Arena’s environment, even with possible limited capacity amidst the pandemic.

“Kentucky is a great place and this atmosphere. Due to COVID, it might not be the same,” he said. “But the atmosphere of the fans and coaching staff, just being able to see what (Coach) Cal knows. I just felt like it was a good situation for me.”

With crowds likely not at full throttle, there are concerns for squads across the country over players bringing their own motivations night after night. Ware believes the Cats will be able to do so as a group.

“We’ll obviously have to make up [for the lack of fans] with our team energy,” he said. If there’s one thing a talented group including five-star recruits B.J. Boston and Terrence Clarke should be able to provide each game, that’s it.

No matter the number of fans in the arena or how raw they are, this young core is ready to get the new season underway.

Image added after the Kentucky-Morehead State season opening game.