All eyes are on the NCAA Tournament, and for good reason. It is one of the most exciting events in all of sports, and it is what deems a Kentucky basketball season successful or not.

That said, the transfer portal is just days away from opening on Monday, March 24th, and according to Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio, the Wildcats allegedly already have a “stud” prospect coming in next season.

“I was talking to someone at the game tonight, a reporter,” Jones said during a postgame radio show on Friday night. “He wouldn’t tell me who it is, but said there’s one stud they already have.”

As to who that player is, that is speculation. Many players who lost in their conference tournament have already announced their intentions to enter the portal to get a head start but have to wait until March 24th to officially enter and have until it closes on April 22nd to make their decision.

All focus will be on advancing in the NCAA Tournament, but it will be interesting to see how Mark Pope and his staff attack the portal after his first season and with ample time, unlike last offseason.

Kentucky won a game in the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2022, but it came at the cost of an injury to Lamont Butler.

Against Oklahoma, the Wildcats’ starting point guard reinjured his left shoulder which kept him out of six games in SEC play. The body language of the staff and the words of Mark Pope, who used the word “devastating”, did not inspire confidence that he would return for the NCAA Tournament.

Talking to Tom Leach on Friday night before their game against Alabama, Pope said they had received the “best possible news” on Butler.

“We got the best possible news about Lamont,” Pope said. “He’s gonna be in good shape, but we’re going to sit him tonight. We look forward to having him moving forward.”

On Sunday morning, College basketball national analyst Jon Rothstein reported that Butler will be available for Kentucky’s first-round NCAA Tournament game this week.

Great news to kick off Selection Sunday!

Kentucky didn’t play to their ability against Alabama. Playing less than 24 hours before, down their starting point guard in Lamont Butler, and their leading scorer in Otega Oweh for an extended period of time, it’s not difficult to see why.

Shortly after the Crimson Tide’s 99-70 win over Kentucky, head coach Nate Oats was asked about their next matchup against the Florida Gators. To which Oats responded with some subtle shade the Wildcats’ way.

“Florida is a lot better team [than Kentucky],” Oats said. “They’re a lot deeper. They’re not missing so many pieces due to injury like Kentucky was. We’re gonna be in for a war tonight.”

While Oats did acknowledge Kentucky’s injuries, the initial comment was very much avoidable.

Against the Gators, Alabama went on to lose forward Grant Nelson and was outscored 57-37 in the second half, ultimately suffering a blowout loss of their own, 104- 82.

Just imagine what would have happened had they been down two starters and a backup point guard.