A year ago, I was wrong in my prediction that Kentucky wouldn't make the NCAA tournament.

This year, I'm going the other way and saying the Wildcats will make their second consecutive Big Dance in the Billy Gillispie Era.

I waited until now because the status of freshmen DeAndre Liggins and Kevin Galloway were critical in UK's success this season. Sources have told FOXSports.com that both Liggins and Galloway - who will likely battle for the starting point guard spot - have both been cleared by the NCAA.

Gillispie has refused to comment on the situation of both players. However, Galloway has told media that he is all set for the season.

For a while there, it looked as though Gillispie's point guard situation was a complete mess after Derrick Jasper transferred in the offseason. Now I expect Galloway, who has college experience, to get the first crack at the job - but ultimately the talented Liggins will get it sometime during the year.

Patrick Patterson should be 100 percent in the next few weeks and is arguably the top big man in the SEC. Jodie Meeks is finally healthy and Perry Stevenson made strides last season. The final piece was a point guard and now that Liggins has been cleared, Kentucky's starting five can match up with just about anyone in the league.

The issue may be depth. Freshman Darius Miller will help, but Gillispie will have to depend on guys like Ramon Harris, Jared Carter, Michael Porter, A.J. Stewart and Josh Harrelson, none of which have proven much at the highest level.

U.S. TEAM ROLLS IN BRAZIL

Nike's USA Select Team finished its trip to Brazil with a 4-0 record. The team won its final game against Paulistano, 97-83, with Avery Bradley leading the team again with 25 points. Xavier Henry added 23.

Bradley led the team in scoring in each of the last three games.

ST. THOMAS MORE'S QUINN ROUNDS OUT ROSTER

St. Thomas More coach Jere Quinn may not have a player as talented as Devin Ebanks this year, but he'll have more balance.

Staten Island big man Dan Jennings, who will follow Ebanks to West Virginia, will likely team with under-the-radar Texas power forward Andrew Davis up front.

Quinn said he will bring in a couple of solid guards and also have a 6-foot-10 big man from the country of Georgia.

Paul Millsap's brother, Abe, a 6-foot-4 wing, and former Syracuse star Wendell Alexis' son, Anelle, will also play for Quinn this season.
 
RANDOM NOTES: Former Memphis standout Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway donated $1 million to the school for a Sports Hall of Fame. It's the single-largest donation made by a former Tiger athlete to the department. ... Albany sophomore big man Al Turley is transferring to play football. ... Former Iona head coach Jeff Ruland has been hired as an assistant coach in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers.