One loss doesn't derail a team in college basketball like it can in football, but there are certainly some games over the course of the season that are important to win. The Kentucky Wildcats will figure that out as the year progresses.
Unlike last season, the squad will not be going through the year hoping to remain perfect. The dream of perfection ended early with a 10-point loss to UCLA. This is still an elite team but there will be a lot of tough challenges along the way.
In order for Kentucky to reach its potential as a top national title contender, it will have to perform well in key matchups.