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Men's Basketball

ESPN Analyst Provides Promising Kentucky Basketball Update, “Kentucky Made the Right Hire”

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2 years ago

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Former coach and current ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes says Mark Pope will prove himself to the right hire for the Kentucky Basketball program.
Chet White | UK Athletics

Jimmy Dykes, the ESPN and SEC Network broadcaster that calls many of Kentucky’s conference games, had the opportunity to get a closer look at the Wildcats under new head coach Mark Pope last week.

Teasing it on social media, Dykes shared his first thoughts on X, “shot makers all over the floor. BBN (is) gonna love this team.”

Dykes went on Kentucky Sports Radio for an on-air interview to talk in more detail about what he got to see, and the difference was apparent as soon as he walked into the facility.

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“It’s a new day for Kentucky Basketball,” Dykes said. “The first thing I noticed when I walked into the practice facility, (was) all of those individual (NBA) banners were down. The only thing left on the wall are the national championships. That’s the standard… He (Pope) Knows that.”

But the question of the offseason remains, how talented is this team? Bringing in thirteen new players, Dykes praised Pope for finding players to fit his style of play.

“He did a great job of identifying guys that fit how he plays,” Dykes said. “Analytics and what the guy did at his previous school might not be eye-popping and catching your attention like maybe some other Kentucky teams have in the past, but they fit how this guy play.”

“My overall impression was that they are going to be very aggressive. They are going to play fast. He has shooters at every position on the floor… Can they score? Yes. Can they get stops? Question mark, I don’t know.”

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While the players fit Pope’s system, it won’t be until November we see how they fit together as a team. With new coaches, the first year can be one of uncertainty. That said, Dykes believes that this Kentucky team is a Top 25 team, and will be ready to win from the start.

“Right away, from year one, they’re going to be a major factor under Mark Pope,” Dykes said. “I’m a big (John) Calipari fan, a good friend to him. But Kentucky, they just won one NCAA Tournament game in the past four years. Mark knows where the bar is set and it is from year one. Mark knows, ‘I’m going to win right now, and I’m expected to win right now.’ And I think he’s got the roster to do it.”

Dykes closed his interview with an answer to the question, will Mark Peope prove himself to be the right here? Being a former Kentucky assistant in 1990, and covering the program for years, Dykes understand what is expected from the Kentucky Wildcats head coach.

“I’ve coached here (Kentucky). I’ve been all across the country in college basketball. There’s no place like Kentucky. And Mark Pope knows that,” Dykes said. “With how smart he is and all of the things that I see, his staff included, I think in five years you’re gonna say, ‘Wow, Mitch Barnhart knew exactly what he was doing when he drove that guy in on a bus into Rupp Arena for his introduction.’”

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Men's Basketball

College Basketball Rankings: Where Kentucky Stands in Updated “way-too-early” Polls

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2 weeks ago

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July 3, 2026

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Where Kentucky basketball stands in ESPN and CBS Sports updated way-too-early rankings after more coaching changes, player additions, and injuries.
UK Athletics

Last offseason, Kentucky was considered a top-10 team and a true title contender, but ended the season as one of the most disappointing teams in the country, winning just one game in the NCAA Tournament.

This offseason, Kentucky is barely cracking the top 15 in most preseason rankings and will look to climb the rankings throughout the season rather than fall.

Still 120+ days out from the start of the regular season, ESPN and CBS Sports have updated their “way-too-early” rankings following Dusty May’s jump from Michigan to the NBA, more player additions for teams, and some early-season-ending injuries.

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The rankings remain fairly static, however, with the Wildcats holding steady in ESPN’s rankings while moving ahead of St. John’s in CBS Sports’ rankings following Donnie Freeman’s Achilles injury.

ESPN

17. Kentucky Wildcats

Previous ranking: 17 (no change)

Impact newcomer: Milan Momcilovic

Momcilovic was the best transfer in the portal, after a season in which he established himself as the best shooter in college basketball. The 6-8 forward withdrew from the NBA draft on the night of the deadline, committing to coach Mark Pope’s team a few days later after also being pursued by Louisville and Arizona. He’s immediately an All-America contender and the most dangerous player on the Wildcats’ roster, after averaging 16.9 points and shooting 48.7% from 3 last season.

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Projected starting lineup

Zoom Diallo (15.7 PPG at Washington)
Alex Wilkins (17.8 PPG at Furman)
Milan Momcilovic (16.9 PPG at Iowa State)
Ousmane N’Diaye (9.8 PPG for Cremona in Serie A)
Malachi Moreno (7.8 PPG)

CBS Sports

16. Kentucky Wildcats

Previous ranking: 17 (⬆️1)

This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning one of the top six scorers — specifically Malachi Moreno — from a team that finished 22-14 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, Washington transfers Zoom Diallo and Franck Kepnang, Washington State transfer Jerone Morton, James Madison transfer Justin McBride, Providence transfer Alex Wilkins, four-star prospect Mason Williams and international prospect Ousmane N’Diaye.

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Men's Basketball

Mark Pope Discusses Final Assistant Coach Position, “I’m not in desperate need of adding more pieces”

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2 weeks ago

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July 3, 2026

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Mark Pope isn't rushing to fill Kentucky's final assistant coach opening, saying pending NCAA rules on international players could shift his plans.
UK Athletics

Kentucky basketball has operated this offseason without a full staff. Assistant coaches Alvin Brooks III and Jason Hart left the program back in March, and Mark Pope has only filled one of the two spots since, hiring former NBA All-Star Mo Williams from Jackson State.

Despite that, Kentucky managed to bring in the 3rd ranked transfer class in the country, highlighted by Milan Momcilovic, and have secured a commitment from 2027 five-star Ryan Hampton.

“I like my organization a lot right now. I think this group is functioning at a high level,” Pope said about his staff in an interview with BBN Tonight. “I like the way our staff feels. I like the way we feel in the staff meeting every day. I like the way we’re executing on the road. I like the way we feel on the court right now.”

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With an assistant coach position sitting vacant, Pope is satisfied with how his staff is performing and says there is no urgency in filling the role. Instead, he’s waiting to see how NCAA guidelines and rules unfold in the coming weeks.

“I’m not in desperate need of adding more pieces, although I’m open to the idea,” he said.

“There are going to be a whole host of legal cases from our league testing the CSC and the NCAA on their current guidelines and rules on international players. And depending on what the outcome of those are, it could very much shift the direction we go with hiring.”

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Mark Pope Says Kentucky’s Final Roster Spot Is About Fit, “There’s got to be a very uniquely positioned piece”

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2 weeks ago

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July 3, 2026

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Mark Pope opens up on Kentucky Basketball's final roster spot, emphasizing fit over hype as the Nikola Kusturica recruitment nears a decision.
UK Athletics

Kentucky basketball is wrapping up its third week of practice in an eight-week summer training block. While the players are getting acclimated to Mark Pope’s system and to each other, there is still one roster spot to be filled.

“I am enjoying coaching these guys, but we’re also still really active in recruiting,” Pope said in an interview with BBN Tonight.

One name that Wildcat fans have been keeping a close eye on in recent weeks is Nikola Kusturica, a 17-year-old prospect from Serbia, who is currently playing for FC Barcelona and is a projected lottery pick in the 2028 NBA Draft. His recruitment is down to Kentucky and UCLA, with the latter having the momentum and a decision expected soon.

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Whoever the final roster piece will be, Pope emphasizes that they must fit with the other 14 players on the roster.

“Where we are with our roster, there’s got to be a very uniquely positioned piece that fits,” he said.

“There are several different archetypes of piece that would fit this roster really well, but there’s also a lot of guys who are popping up as available or have been available for a little while who don’t turn out to be the fit that’s going to work for this team.”

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