On Monday, Milan Momcliovic spoke out at Kentucky’s media day about how he, the staff and his teammates have helped work towards improving defensively before the start of the season.

He began with focus, which was shaped by the feedback he received after the NBA Draft process this past summer.

“A lot of it was defense-focused,” said Momcilovic. “I think they kind of know what I am gonna get from offensive perspective. I’m a shooter.”

The six-foot-nine forward wants to prove he offers more than just shooting – that he can build confidence and prioritize defense this season. His goals extend beyond Kentucky however, as he later emphasized the need for consistency against elite players at this level.

“Whoever the superstar is, that is the next step,” he continued. “I have to guard the superstars, and I am gonna do it.”

Criticism during the draft process has pushed Momcliovic to have a greater defensive intensity when he’s not able to impact the game offensively, with these preseason reps allowing him to do the necessary preparation and be ready once conference season hits.

With Momcliovic and Kentucky’s other powerhouse shooters, the question remains whether Mark Pope will risk his offense outweighing his defense.

“I think something about this team is: can we defend?,” asked the star transfer. “Obviously, we got a lot of really good shooters and scorers, but we need to play defense, so I think I take a lot of pride in that side of the court too.”

Pope’s team has worked behind the scenes, preparing for a well- rounded upcoming season that can show they won’t be one-sided yet again.

Momcliovic’s rotation connections on both sides of the game can give Kentucky an edge that Lexington missed in previous seasons. Although his past demonstrates experience in high-pressure shooting, there is more in his bag of tricks to be unlocked.

“I am hoping this year I can get some easy twos at the rim, I think thats gonna open my game up a lot more,” he added. “I can make it easier for myself…make it so I average a couple more points and just open up a little bit of everything.”

The small plays at the rim could build momentum during offensive possessions, especially when a defense is instantly look to guard the three. Seeking for new scoring opportunities in his senior year will open a gateway to new strategies for the entire team, increasing versatility.

A player of this caliber, known for his shooting, will look to focus on defense and doing the little things that lead to more wins for UK. Sounds like a plan!

In today’s college basketball landscape, it can be difficult to find players who are comfortable leading a new team. Luckily for Mark Pope and the Wildcats, Washington transfer Zoom Diallo has taken on the role of being the team’s leader, on and off the court.

Diallo averaged 15.7 points and 4.5 assists per game, all while shooting 48.9% from the field in his sophomore year at Washington.

During Kentucky basketball’s media day, the other players made it clear that Diallo is the new commander of the offense, with forward Milan Momcilovic calling him “the leader of the team” and said that he “connects the offense.”

When Diallo was personally asked how it feels to be called one of the best leaders that Pope has had, he stated the following: “That means a lot. A lot of people ask why I keep my leadership, and it’s just like it’s just who I am to be honest with you.”

He credited years of playing high-level basketball for this – it has helped him become a natural leader on the court. Diallo added that Kentucky legend Rajon Rondo has come to a few practices, allowing him to “pick his brain” and that learning from a legend like that has helped him grow as a leader on the court.

Diallo was later asked what his “why” was for working so hard. Diallo responded, “I’m a first-generation student, with my parents coming from Africa, and seeing their upbringing.”

He said that he’s always been a kid who’s had to work hard to get places, and that his work ethic has brought him this far – he sees no reason to ease up now. Diallo explained that he continues to work hard at UK because “A lot of kids would do a lot to be in my position.”

Finishing his point, he added that ever since he was a little kid, he felt like he was supposed to be a point guard.

Pope has praised Diallo publicly, and the locker room is echoing him. If the media day talk holds up once the regular season begins, Kentucky’s offense will be in steady hands. PG1 is ready to lead this team back to its former glory.

During Kentucky’s media day, KY Insider asked Malachi Moreno and Franck Kepnang what makes this year’s team so special and how well they have bonded this summer. In response, they both exclaimed how fun and connected this year’s team feels.

“I haven’t been a part of a team this connected in a long time,” said Moreno. “We have fun every single day. I think that’s quite a difference-maker from a lot of the teams I’ve been on.”

“On the court, that helps us a lot,” he continued. “You gotta trust each other, trust your teammate and trust that he has your back. I think all of us know in the back of our minds that we have each other’s back,”

Kepnang had some insight to share as well, defending Moreno’s case.

“I believe the connectivity that we have as a team at this stage is very high-level’” he said. “That’s the type of connectivity and chemistry that’s going to help us during the toughest time during the toughest game.”

“Especially defensively, being able to play in a style that each of us have each other’s six so nobody is ever alone on an island,” Kepnang continued. “Defense wins games and defense wins championships, so that’s something definitely going to help us to go as far as we can.”

With a new season approaching, the connection Moreno and Kepnang described could become one of the defining qualities of this Kentucky team, with fans desperate to see a chemistry-abundant product on the floor.