Kentucky’s offseason conversation around Malachi Moreno began with a familiar question: would the sophomore center stay in the NBA draft or come back to school? Once Moreno chose to return on May 24, the expectation was simple enough - Mark Pope had landed a major piece to build around.
But the path from there wasn’t smooth.
At UK’s preseason media day on Monday, Pope said he spent the first part of summer workouts battling through frustration with Moreno before the big man finally turned a corner.
“Malachi knows this: The first four weeks of the summer, I was really frustrated with Malachi,” Pope said. “I felt like we were stuck in molasses, and then there was a little bit of stubbornness, and we were kind of fighting with it. But that happens over the course of a tenure when you’re pushing, pushing, pushing.
“What he’s done since then - the second half of the summer, and then through the fall and now - is almost unrecognizable with some of the skill sets that he’s brought to the game.”
Moreno didn’t sound blindsided when he got to the podium.
“I was just being stubborn,” he said. “...(
Pope) tried to give it to me in an easy way, and I wasn’t hearing it the right way. I think that just wasn’t what was needed.
“I had a meeting with him and my brother, and then that kind of just gave me a big turning point. And ever since then, I’ve never looked back.”
Moreno’s return came after he averaged 7.8 points and 6.3 rebounds as a freshman, and he said the next step is about handling the grind of the SEC more effectively. He acknowledged last season’s physical toll and made clear he knows what has to change.
“Last year, you could see in games, I was getting thrown around and getting tired super easily,” he said. “I can’t be that way anymore.
I can’t be getting tired in two-minute spurts. I can’t be getting thrown around in the paint.
I play in the SEC. It’s a physical league.
It’s a fast league. I got to be in the best shape, and I got to be my best.”
Kentucky added Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic one week after Moreno withdrew from the draft, giving the Wildcats another option to share the load with what they hope becomes a front-line star. Pope and his players believe Moreno is headed toward that kind of breakout, and the coach said the improvement has shown up in multiple areas.
“His interior scoring has improved dramatically,” Pope said. “His use of quicks has improved dramatically.
His rim protection is a place we’re really pushing to be really aggressive as a rim protector. Our two-point-at-rim-field-goal percentage is a hugely important number for us.
He’s had a huge impact there.
“He’s taken on a leadership role where our guys see him as a leader and a veteran on this team. So he’s grown in a lot of ways, and he is a really important piece of this team in our success.”
Practicing against Washington transfer Franck Kepnang, who checks in at 7 feet and 270 pounds, should keep Moreno sharp for the bruising matchups ahead. Pope also pointed to a recent scrimmage in which Moreno posted three assists in the first four minutes, a sign of how much the offense can run through him when he’s making quick decisions.
Kepnang had nothing but praise for him, saying the early summer rough patch passed quickly.
“Malachi is a beast,” Kepnang said. “I mean, like every summer, when we all putting the team together, everybody has got a little phase where we are all trying to get acclimated to each other and to play.
So, I think that was just a phase of the summer for him. I think it only lasted a very short amount of time, probably a couple days.
“But after that, ever since, Malachi has been Malachi. I mean, he’s been great.
He’s been on the glass. He’s been an anchor for the team.
He’s been hitting, reading the right read every single time. He’s sprinting the floor.
He’s blocking shots. I mean, Malachi is great right now.”
Pope’s early frustration may not read like a compliment, but in this case it underscored how much he expects from Moreno. Kentucky brought him back to be a difference-maker, and Pope is now treating him like one.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Offense May Hinge On One Thing Fans Arent Watching Yet
Mark Pope sounds encouraged about where Kentuckys offense could be headed in 2026-27, and the reason is pretty easy to understand. The Wildcats should have a group with real shooting punch, led by Milan Momcilovic and other capable perimeter threats, which gives Pope a foundation to build around as he shapes the next version of the roster. From a talent standpoint, the spacing potential is there, and that alone should matter to anyone trying to project how this team will score.
Still, Popes focus goes beyond just making shots. He has also pointed to cutting as a major part of the offense, which suggests Kentucky wants to create easier looks and keep defenses moving even on nights when the ball may not be flying in from deep. The shot-making will draw the headlines, but the way the Wildcats combine that shooting with disciplined movement could end up telling the bigger story of how effective this offense really becomes. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Heads Into South Carolina With Receiver Uncertainty And Thin Depth
Kentuckys trip to South Carolina comes with a little more uncertainty than Mark Stoops would probably like this early in SEC play, especially at receiver. The conferences first availability report for Week 5 put Grant Grayton out, while DJ Miller and Cole Marszalek were listed doubtful and Jay Clark questionable, leaving the Wildcats to sort through a thin group as they prepare for a road test that could demand more from the passing game.
There was at least one small positive on the report, with Tavion Gadson not listed, a sign he may be available. South Carolina, meanwhile, is dealing with its own personnel questions, as Stewart is suspended and Brownlow-Dindy remains uncertain after sitting out the previous game, so both sides head into the matchup without a full picture of who will actually be on the field when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys South Carolina Prep Suddenly Has A Receiver Concern
Kentuckys first SEC availability report ahead of Saturdays trip to South Carolina brought the kind of news that always gets attention this time of week, with the Wildcats sorting through a few injury designations before hitting the road. The report also surfaced an out status in the secondary, adding another layer of uncertainty as the team continues its preparation for an important conference matchup.
The bigger concern on offense, though, is the receiver group, where the Wildcats now have to account for a potential absence that could affect how they plan the passing game. With a busy Kentucky sports weekend ahead and basketball-related events also on the calendar, the football staff will keep its focus on cleaning up the picture before kickoff and waiting for the next update on who will be available. [Read more 🡒]