Mark Pope’s Kentucky team is heading into a season where the scoring balance could tell the whole story.
Last season, the Wildcats only had two players finish in double figures. Otega Oweh led the way at 18.6 points per game, while Denzel Aberdeen added 13.5. Collin Chandler came close at 9.7, but Kentucky never got the kind of across-the-board production Pope needs if this group is going to make a serious NCAA Tournament run.
That’s a sharp contrast from Pope’s first season in Lexington, when six players averaged in double figures and the offense ranked among the best in college basketball. That’s the blueprint here: Pope’s best teams have plenty of guys who can score, and Kentucky’s ceiling this season may depend on whether this roster can recreate that kind of depth.
The projected starting five of Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Milan Momcilovic, Ousmane N’Diaye, and Malachi Moreno gives the Wildcats a real chance to do it. Diallo, Wilkins, Momcilovic, and Moreno are all viewed as players who should get to double figures without much debate.
N’Diaye is the swing piece. He has the talent to join that group, but there’s still enough uncertainty that calling it a lock would be a stretch.
There’s also scoring potential coming off the bench. Kam Williams looks like a strong candidate to reach double figures, and Justin McBride has an outside shot to do it as well. Braydon Hawthorne is another name to watch, though it would be a surprise if his upside translated all the way to that level this season.
The expectation here is five double-figure scorers, not six. If Kentucky gets to that number, the offense should be in good shape again. The only real threat to that outlook, according to the source, would be injuries.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Final Roster Spot Just Became A Real Calipari Debate
A federal ruling out of Colorado has added a fresh wrinkle to Kentuckys offseason roster planning, and it comes with a familiar name attached. Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a class-wide preliminary injunction for players who graduated high school in 2022 and used all four years of college eligibility, opening the door for an extra season that had been in question as the calendar turned toward summer. Former Wildcat Denzel Aberdeen is taking advantage of it and heading back to Florida for his final year, a move that underscores just how much this decision is already rippling through the sport.
For Kentucky, the timing matters because John Calipari had already left one roster spot open while waiting for exactly this kind of clarity. Now the staff can keep weighing whether to fill it based on team needs and player health, which makes the last scholarship less of a formality than it once seemed. What happens next will depend on how Calipari balances depth, flexibility and the realities of the roster he has in front of him, with one more decision still hanging over the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Bombshell NCAA Ruling Could Reopen A Door Kentucky Thought Closed
A fresh NCAA court ruling has created an unexpected wrinkle for college basketball rosters across the country, and Kentucky is among the programs now watching closely. Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction that requires the NCAA to declare eligible all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted four seasons of eligibility this spring, opening the door for another year of college play if they want it.
For Kentucky, the practical impact could go beyond simple eligibility. Those players are also allowed to enter the transfer portal, which gives them another layer of flexibility as rosters and lineups continue to shift. The ruling may also touch some athletes who already signed professional contracts, though how it applies in those cases is still unclear, leaving plenty of room for programs to sort through the fallout. [Read more 🡒]
Jerone Morton Gives Kentucky A Backcourt Presence Fans Will Appreciate
Jerone Morton arrives at Kentucky with the kind of background that tends to resonate in Lexington. A senior guard from Winchester, he is expected to provide depth behind the Wildcats starting backcourt of Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins, and he brings plenty of experience with him after appearing in 92 career games and making 51 starts. For a team that always values backcourt steadiness, Morton looks like a useful piece who already understands what it means to wear the jersey.
Morton has also made it clear he is comfortable embracing whatever role Kentucky needs from him, whether that comes on defense or offense. There is a natural appeal in the fact that he grew up supporting the program, because the opportunity is not just another stop for him, it is a chance to contribute to the team he followed as a kid. That combination of local roots, experience and willingness to help could make him one of the more appreciated additions to the rotation. [Read more 🡒]