Mark Pope is a big believer in signs. Before last season, he kept saying he saw the number 9 everywhere. That never materialized into a banner, mostly due to a barrage of injuries. But this year, another number keeps popping up around Kentucky basketball.
19.
That is where both CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish and Andy Katz have the Wildcats sitting in their preseason rankings. Preseason polls are inherently a guessing game; I think we all know that, but No. 19 feels incredibly fitting for this specific roster. It is a number that respects the sheer talent Pope has assembled, but acknowledges the glaring questions he has to answer entering a pivotal third season.
The talent floor
Parrish’s ranking is rooted in what Kentucky brings back and what Pope successfully hunted in the portal. It starts with Malachi Moreno, who returns after a freshman season averaging 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. That is a fantastic interior piece to build around.
Then comes the influx of perimeter talent:
- Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State): Averaged 16.9 points per game last season and shot 48.7% from three, giving Kentucky a lethal perimeter threat.
- Zoom Diallo (Washington): Averaged 15.7 points and 4.5 assists per game.
- Alex Wilkins (Furman): Arrives after averaging 17.8 points and 4.7 assists.
Add in Franck Kepnang, Jerone Morton, Justin McBride, Mason Williams, and Ousmane N’Diaye, and the depth is undeniable. The talent is there. But preseason rankings aren’t just about assembling players on paper; they are an educated guess on how those pieces fit together.
The backcourt swing factor
If there is one area that explains why Kentucky is sitting at No. 19 instead of the Top 5, it is the backcourt. Diallo and Wilkins give Pope two experienced guards who are comfortable creating offense. That sounds great.
But both guards bring a statistical concern Kentucky cannot ignore:
- Diallo averaged 15.7 points and 4.5 assists, but turned the ball over 2.5 times per game.
- Wilkins averaged 17.8 points and 4.7 assists, but gave it away 3.8 times per game.
High-usage guards are naturally going to turn the ball over because they make difficult passes and attack the basket. It is going to happen.
For Diallo and Wilkins, it is about maintaining their playmaking production while trimming the live-ball turnovers. If they can do that, then Kentucky’s offense has the chance to be lethal. If they can’t, Kentucky will find itself with two talented lead guards who simply give away too many possessions at bad times.
The missing jump
The other lingering question keeping Kentucky outside the preseason top tier is internal development. Pope has proven his system can elevate a transfer. Just look at Lamont Butler.
Before arriving in Lexington, Butler averaged 9.3 points at San Diego State. In his only season with the Wildcats, he jumped to 11.4 points and shot 39.1% from three, both career highs.
Kentucky desperately needs to see more of that type of jump. Last year’s squad didn’t produce the collective year-to-year explosion from returning players that turns a good roster into a great one, eventually forcing Pope to rebuild the roster from scratch this year when they all went their separate ways.
The year 3 verdict
The pieces are there to make a massive leap. Momcilovic’s 48.7% three-point shooting will force defenses to stretch, which should create driving lanes for the guards and open space inside for Moreno. Moreno, in turn, should give Momcilovic space to shoot, and Diallo and Wilkins driving lanes.
On paper, it works. But games aren’t played on paper.
That is why No. 19 is the perfect starting point. The Wildcats have experienced guards, elite shooters, and a returning interior presence. Now, Pope has to show he can mold it all together without giving away possessions.
How he answers that challenge will be the biggest story surrounding Kentucky basketball all season long.