ESPN Men's Basketball

With league play just a few weeks away, there are a number of tradition-rich programs that are looking for fixes to the problems that have plagued them so far this season. For the teams whose play has been "under the weather," so to speak, they'll need more than a cup of chicken soup and extra rest to get back on track.

The good news is that during winter break (after final exams), the NCAA allows coaches unlimited time to work with their teams. It is not uncommon for coaches to have multiple practices a day in addition to team and individual film sessions.

This is a pivotal time for even the healthiest of programs, but for ones with flu-like symptoms, the next two weeks is the last window of opportunity to find the right formula for a full recovery.

Let's take a look at five programs -- including North Carolina and Texas, which play each other Wednesday night (9 ET, ESPN2) -- that have struggled to start the season, and the chances for each to turn things around.

Kentucky Wildcats

John Calipari's Wildcats are young even for his standards. No team in the nation lost more from last season's team and relies more on freshmen than Kentucky. Many forget that last season's championship prescription relied heavily upon three players who had experience and were invested in winning (Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller). Those three players took to coaching and the weight room, and set the tone for a gifted freshman class.

This season's Wildcats team has suffered from numerous ailments, including below-average point guard play. But most of all, the young Cats are learning on the fly how to prepare and how to not take off plays.

To read Seth Greenberg's full take on the chances for Kentucky and other struggling programs to turn things around, you must be an ESPN Insider.