By the time we approached postseason play – or what we thought was going to be the postseason – a year ago, Kentucky’s rotation had shrunk down to just eight scholarship players. The year before, six players played more than eight minutes in Kentucky’s Elite Eight loss to Auburn. And in 2017-18, seven players earned more than eight minutes in the Sweet 16 loss to Kansas State.
As you continue to go down the list – seven with more than six minutes in 2016-17, eight with at least two minutes in 2015-16, six with over seven minutes in 2013-14, seven with over ten minutes in 2012-13, six with over three minutes in 2011-12, six with over seven minutes in 2010-11, and seven with over ten minutes in 2009-10 – Kentucky’s rotation is almost always dramatically shortened by the time they play their final games of the season.