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5 Teams Kentucky wants to Avoid in the Tournament and Their Biggest Weakness

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The NCAA tournament is now less than one month away, let’s take a look at five teams that Kentucky needs to avoid for their best chance to win number 9.

1.Duke Blue Devils

Kentucky is much more prepared to go against Duke if they were to meet for a second time, but it is still best to avoid them. Duke has the three most talented players in the country, and could very well all be top 5 picks in this year’s NBA draft. They are extremely athletic and pose a lot of matchup problems with Barrett and Zion. Both are quicker than Kentucky’s bigs and taller than our guards. Duke is also relentless on the offensive glass, ranking first in offensive rebounding percentage and offensive rebounds per game.

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Weakness-Perimeter shooting: Similar to Kentucky, Duke is a terrible perimeter shooting team outside of Cam Reddish, and are shooting 30.7% on the season. The Blue Devils score 26.1% of their points from distances, which is ranked 312th in the country. Syracuse was able to expose this weakness as Duke struggled with that Jim Boeheim zone, holding Duke to 20.9% 3P.

P.S. no team has ever won an NCAA championship shooting under 31% 3P, Duke shoots 30.7%

2. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is truly a team that lives and dies by the three-point shots, which can be very dangerous or very regretful come March. The Hokies score 40.4% of their points from behind the arc. Kentucky’s perimeter defense is much improved from the beginning of the season and is continuing to improve but the Cats still allow opponents to shoot 35.1% from three, which is 209th in the country. With one of the best backcourts in the country, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Justin Robinson. The Hokies are dangerous come March.

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Weakness-Don’t get to the line: Shooting so many of your shots from three comes with a price, not getting to the free throw line. The Hokies shoot only 39.3% of their shots around the rim and only get 17% of their points from the charity stripe.

3. Houston 

Houston has not been taken seriously this season, and have been really overlooked. Houston is ranked as the nations 18th most efficient team with one of the nations best defenses and they have two of the best guards in the country that can light it up from outside in Corey Davis Jr. and Armoni Brooks.

Weakness-Size: Houston only has one player over 6-5 that plays more than 14 mpg. If they meet Kentucky, the Cougars would really struggle against the size and physicality of the four-headed Kentucky frontcourt.

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4. Florida State

Florida State has been a rollercoaster this season. The Seminoles have plenty of size and athleticism that allows them to force turnovers, something that Kentucky has struggled with this season. Even with their ups and downs, they are a balanced team and are currently ranked as the 20th most efficient team, according to KenPom. FSU has shown the ability to exploit the opponent’s biggest weakness. Beat Syracuse’s zone by shooting 50 percent from three. Beating Louisville with a plus-15 turnover margin. In an overtime win over LSU, FSU had 22 offensive rebounds to the LSU’s 4.

Weakness-Sloppiness: Florida State can cause turnovers but they have struggled to keep care of the ball this season. Averaging 14 turnovers a game this season, the Seminoles are 250th in the country in that regard.

5.Marquette

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One of the best shooting teams in the country with one of the best players in the country in Markus Howard. Marquette shoots 39.6% from three on the season which is 7th best in the country. Markus Howard is a scoring machine and is averaging 25.6 ppg as the fourth highest scorer in the country. Howard is capable of exploding at any time, scoring 40 in one half earlier this season. Marquette also has a top-40 defense held together by
Theo John and Sacar Anim.

Weakness-Turnovers and Transition: Marquette averages 13.6 turnovers per game, and rank 212th in that regard. Marquette ranks in the bottom 85% nationally when it comes to surrendering fast-break attempts. Turning the ball over and poor transition defense practically gives the opposing team points.

Each team on this list is dangerous. However, the only team on this list that I am not somewhat confident Kentucky would win is Duke, just due to matchups. However, they are still skilled enough to beat them. Kentucky has just a good of a chance at the title than any team in the country. You never know what’s going to happen, its called March Madness for a reason.

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Men's Basketball

Amari Williams Picked 46th by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft

Amari Williams is the second Kentucky player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, as Boston takes the big man with their second round pick.

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Amari Williams is drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Wesley Hale | Imagn Images

Fan-favorite big man (and official Weetabix sponsor) Amari Williams has officially made it to the big leagues, taken by the Boston Celtics with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, via a trade with the Orlando Magic.

The selection makes Williams the second Wildcat to be scooped up from this year’s pool, following Koby Brea being picked by the Phoenix Suns just five picks earlier at the 41st spot. From Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team, two transfer athletes (thus far) in their last year of eligibility have achieved next-level dreams by way of the blue and white.

Williams, who averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game during his lone season in Lexington, will look to aid Boston in filling their recently vacant five-spot, left by the recently traded Kristaps Porzingis.

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As Wildcat fans surely know, not only can Williams battle with the best of them in the paint, but he can run the floor as efficiently as just about any guard, too. His versatility and sizable frame ensure a high ceiling in the NBA and, despite not every draft board seeing him selected, the league champions two years removed made the call when it mattered.

Hailing overseas from Nottingham, England, and spending his first four years of college basketball at the University of Drexel, Williams’ success is a testament not only to Kentucky Basketball’s immaculate tradition, but to his own incredible work ethic and intangible ability.

Cats fans will be sure to follow and support their point-center to the next level, as they always do. Go be great, Amari – all of BBN has your back.

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Men's Basketball

Koby Brea Selected to the Phoenix Suns With the No. 41 Overall Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

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Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

Koby Brea arrived at Kentucky last season as one of the nation’s deadliest shooters, lived up to the billing, and reaped his rewards on Thursday night at the NBA Draft. The former Kentucky star is heading to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 41 overall pick

As a 6-foot-7 wing, Brea entered the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most experienced prospects after spending four years at Dayton and a fifth at Kentucky during Mark Pope’s successful first season as head coach, where he became one of the best three-point shooters in all of college basketball.

Last season at Kentucky, the Bronx native averaged 11.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts per game in 36 games, 16 of which were starts, showcasing his scoring ability in transition, off the catch, and via handoffs and screens.

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Not only did Brea achieve his own dreams of playing at the next level, but becomes a piece of history for Pope, becoming the first player drafted out of Kentucky during the Pope era.

Brea joins a rebuilding franchise with a notorious background for drafting Kentucky guards. Eric Bledsoe rings the bell, Tyler Ulis of course, and the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker obviously leads the pack.

Go be great Fuego!

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Men's Basketball

How a Call with Mark Pope Led Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky

After winning a national title at Florida, Denzel Aberdeen committed to Kentucky without ever visiting campus—thanks to a revealing three-hour call with head coach Mark Pope.

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Chet White | UK Athletics

As a junior, Denzel Aberdeen was a key part of Florida’s national title run. But a certain phone conversation convinced him to leave his home state and head north to Lexington in hopes of experiencing that feeling once again.

He had never set foot in Lexington before deciding to become a Kentucky Wildcat — and he didn’t need to. All it took was one phone call — three hours long, on Easter Sunday — with head coach Mark Pope to convince him that he belonged in blue and white.

“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest,” Aberdeen said, meeting with the media in Lexington for the first time earlier this week. “A lot of it was just getting to know me and getting to know the school, the university, getting to know him (Pope), how their style was, a lot of film. Once I saw that, I was like this looks like a great guy to play for.”

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The two went on to discuss Aberdeen’s role at Kentucky in more depth, including how Pope envisions him fitting into Kentucky’s new system — a system that, according to Aberdeen, is very similar, if not better than the one he just left.

“We had a lot of great players at Florida, especially the tall bigs. Bigs that love to run there, and we have just as much here; our bigs love to run, they play defense, and they play at a fast pace. So I think the things that we’ve got here are just as good, or even better,” Aberdeen said.

Averaging 7.7 points and nearly 20 minutes per game off the bench for the Gators last year, it’s clear to see what Aberdeen brings to the team: experience, versatility, calmness in the backcourt, and championship pedigree. Pope’s phone conversation with Aberdeen wasn’t just impactful on the court — it also speaks volumes to what he is doing off the court in pursuit of the goal he laid out in his introductory press conference: to hang banners.

This phone call wasn’t just about Denzel Aberdeen. It was a glimpse into Pope’s player-first, transparent coaching approach, which could define his era at Kentucky — and potentially make this season a special one, with Aberdeen playing another key role in a deep NCAA Tournament run.

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“I know the goal is to win No. 9,” he said. “I know the fans want that, we want that, all the staff and coaches want that. That pushes us. We know what we gotta do when we come here and put on that Kentucky jersey. Just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Being here is a blessing, and I can’t look back.”

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