Men's Basketball

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

Published

7 years ago

February 27, 2019

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

BB Recruiting

James Madison Transfer Justin McBride to Visit Kentucky on Tuesday

Published

6 days ago

April 17, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky will host James Madison transfer James McBride for a visit on Tuesday, after communicating with Mark Pope and the staff via Zoom video call.

James Madison Athletics

While much of the attention in the transfer portal goes to the top targets, you need to build a full roster. Still with starting spots to be claimed, Kentucky also looking at depth pieces. The most recent, James Madison transfer Justin McBride.

After talking to the staff this week via Zoom video call, McBride is scheduled to take a visit to Lexington on Tuesday.

A three-star transfer, ranked 201st overall according to 247Sports, McBride is being recruited by multiple power conference teams including Baylor and Cal, as well as SEC foes Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

Out of high school, McBride was a four-star recruit, ranked in the top 150 nationally.

“He is a versatile player who has that IT factor about him. You can tell by the passion he plays with that there is a huge chip on his shoulder,” 247Sports asked program director Vonzell Thomas said as he evaluated McBride out of high school. “What I like about his game is his will to win. He does whatever it takes to win and not every kid has that mentality.”

From Texas, McBride committed to Oklahoma State over the likes of Kansas and Arkansas, where he played alongside former Wildcat Bandon Garrison. There, he appeared in just 24 games, averaging just over five minutes per game.

Seeking a larger role, McBride entered the transfer portal and dropped to the mid-major level, committing to Nevada. With the Wolfpack he nearly tripled both his minutes and production, averaging 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per game. His most recent stop, James Madison this past season, McBride had a breakout year, averaging 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds on 40 percent shooting from deep.

Entering his senior season, the 6-7, 240 pound McBride is eyeing a jump back to the power conference level, prioritizing fit at his next stop.

Will that be Kentucky?

McBride has good size and athleticism, and has an inside-out style of game. Meaning he can work his away around the paint, but can also space the floor with his shooting, grading fairly well as a catch and shoot guy. Overall, he ranks in the 97th percentile in scoring volume. That said, there is come consistency to be lacked on the defensive side.

BB Recruiting

Multiple Transfers Meet With Kentucky on Wednesday

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2026

Tristan Pharis

The transfer portal is active, and Zoom stock is going up as college coaches are video chatting around the clock to build their rosters, including Kentucky.

On Wednesday, Mark Pope and the Kentucky staff added three more names to the Zoom list.

Alex Wilkins (Guard, Furman), 4⭐️, 46th-ranked transfer

Class: Sophomore
Physicals: 6-5, 175 lbs
Last season averages: 17.8 PPG, 4.7 APG, 46% FG, 32.8% 3P

An underrated prospect coming out of high school, Wilkins splashed on the scene this year at Furman. As a freshman, he led his team to the NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.8 points and 4.7 assists and earning second team All-SoCon honors.

There were few players as critical to their team’s success as Wilkins, leading the SoCon in possession usage (34.4%) and shot usage (31.7%). That does lend some explanation to his poor shooting splits and turnover concerns (3.8 turnovers per game).

A quick, wirey guard, Wilkins is a capable scorer at all three levels, and can create for his teammates. However, he needs to add some muscle for power conference competition, and needs to have more consistent effort on the defensive end.

A freshman, those are both correctable things.

Isaac Celiscar (Forward, Yale), 4⭐️, 84th-ranked transfer

Class: Junior
Physicals: 6-6, 210 lbs
Last season averages: 13.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 57.3% FG, 40.7% 3P

Isaac Celiscar is one of the most efficient, versatile players in the transfer portal.

The first takeaway, averaging 13.2 point per game with 57.3 percent shooting, he is extremely efficient on limited opportunities. Shooting nearly 41 percent from deep, he is a threat from deep as well. That efficiency carries over to his passing, as he averages more than three assists per game, on just 1.3 turnovers per game.

Celiscar grades out as a glue-guy with great offensive skills and good feel for the game, but he does have limitations in terms of his athleticism and shot creation.

Jalen Cox (Guard, Colgate), 3⭐️ , 149th-ranked transfer

Class: Senior
Physicals: 6-3, 180 lbs
Last season averages: 17.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, 5.0 RPG, 52.1% FG, 36.5% 3P

Jalen Cox is the lowest ranked player Kentucky has reached out to, but the Wildcats need depth and Cox is a experienced guard with proven production.

Averaging 17.9 points and 5.3 assists (2.0+ assist-to-turnover ratio) per game on 52 percent shooting from the field, Cox is a versatile and efficient offensive player. He has also multiple conference All-Defense selections too, making him a two way player.

The biggest concern with Cox is his athletic ceiling and how that translates to power conference competition. However an experienced two way player is a great rotation piece.

BB Recruiting

Top Five Transfer Paulius Murauskas Moves Up Call, Talks With Kentucky on Wednesday

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky met with Saint Mary's transfer Paulius Muruaskas, one of the top forwards in the transfer portal, on Wednesday and is looking to schedule a visit for him to come to Lexington.

Saint Mary's Athletics

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are as busy as anyone in the transfer portal. On Wednesday, they met with their biggest fish of this transfer portal cycle so far, Paulius Murauskas.

Originally scheduled for Thursday, the Wildcats met with Murauskas via Zoom video call on Wednesday, per source.

Currently ranked 4th overall in 247Sports transfer rankings, the top-ranked forward, Murauskas is the prototypical modern basketball player. Good size at 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, with the ability to create for himself and others, has a good handle, and overall good feel for the game.

Murauskas started his collegiate career at Arizona after some professional experience in Lithuania. Playing just five minutes per game with the Wildcats as a freshman, Murauskas transferred to Saint Mary’s, where he has flourished and earned All-Conference honors the last two seasons.

This past season, Murauskas averaged 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from deep. As for his weaknesses, he is not super athletic, and he does need to be more consistent with his shot.

Originally thought to follow former Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett to Arizona State, Murauskas is exploring all options. Following the Zoom, Kentucky is trying to get him on campus for a visit in the near future.