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National Analyst Gives Kentucky D+ Off-Season Grade, “Zero” Chance to Win Title

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John Calipari frustrated as Kentucky plays Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

The Field of 68 Podcast has been releasing their off-season grades for numerous teams, and most recently, it was Kentucky’s turn to be graded. Analyzing the team, prior to the addition of Ivisic, were Jeff Goodman and Greg Waddell, who both gave similar grades.

According to Goodman, Kentucky’s offseason would have been a “trainwreck” if not for some luck with adding Tre Mitchell and bringing Antonio Reeves back. So it’s safe to say he isn’t buying into Kentucky’s youth.

“There are a lot of questions with this team, and I think it starts with youth,” Goodman said. “You added some experienced guys, thankfully, with Reeves coming back and Tre Mitchell.”

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The critical comments didn’t stop there, as Goodman went to explain his grade. “They don’t have a ton of ‘dudes,’” Goodman said. Kentucky doesn’t have the depth, saying Reeves might not get to rest much. He also isn’t a believer in Kentucky’s guard play, specifically DJ Wagner and Rob Dillingham together: “Those guards scare me.”

Despite those “scary” guards, Goodman cites point guard play as Kentucky’s X-factor this season, but that there are too many guys who will want the ball in their hands. This led to another shocking quote. “It would be better for Louisville and Kentucky if DJ Wagner had gone to Louisville. …I just think he needs the ball in his hands. …from his perspective, I just don’t understand why he didn’t go to Louisville because he could’ve been the guy.”

Chances that Kentucky can win a National Championship this season? “Zero”, says Goodman. “There’s a world, but I don’t see it happening. I’d be shocked… Get to the second weekend and then call me.”

So, how did Goodman think Kentucky’s off-season went? He gives it a C-.

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“I think he (Calipari) did a horrible job this off-season, and didn’t even pull a rabbit out of his ass. Again, he got lucky. Even if you get Reeves back and not Mitchell right now you’re screwed, with the injuries to the bigs (Bradshaw and Onyenso).”

Greg Waddell wasn’t far off as he gave Kentucky a D+ grade.

“I struggle with this because I never really know whether or not I should include the entire recruiting class as part of this”, Waddell said. “When we’re grading like ‘what did this coaching staff go out to do this off-season?’, they already knew most of these guys were gonna be on campus, they didn’t know who else would be, and they didn’t really answer anything else.”

While it is true that the Wildcats’ top five freshmen were already signed to the roster prior to the offseason, that affected the guys that the coaching staff went after and were even deciding factors in Kentucky’s targets (i.e. Hunter Dickinson).

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Waddell says Kentucky “lucked into Tre Mitchell, and to an extent they lucked into Antonio Reeves staying. …I’m struggling with why Kentucky can’t find a happy medium between the freshman talent and winning in the portal.”

For what it is worth, Waddell says he would adjust that grade to a B with the addition of Ivisic on Tuesday.

That was a lot of stuff to unpack, with some wild takes on Kentucky’s off-season from The Field of 68. Take a listen yourself below.

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Men's Basketball

Maintaining The Gold Standard Of Kentucky Basketball

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Matthew Mueller | Kentucky Kernel

For over 100 years, Kentucky basketball has upheld the highest standards of excellence.

This commitment, built in the heart of the Bluegrass and carried forward by 23 head coaches, has produced more than 2,300 victories and eight national championships, with the banners hanging high and proud in Rupp Arena.

Now, under Mark Pope, that tradition is experiencing a resurgence, and no one is prouder than he is.

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“This is Kentucky basketball. We should be the best at everything,” Pope said, emphasizing his determination to maintaining the Wildcats as the gold standard of college basketball.

Pope is focused on assembling his ideal team through a culture rooted in passion and selflessness in the evolving landscape of college hoops he likes to call a “beautiful madness”.  

He’s not backing down either. He’s starving for competition, and so is his new squad.

“I’ve got hungry, hungry guys. I have guys that have really unique, distinguishable skillsets that fit us really well. I’m excited about this group. This is going to be a really special group,” he said.

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Less than three months after the roller-coaster season ended, Big Blue Nation is fired up and ready to welcome nine fresh faces to Lexington, each with banner No. 9 in their sights.

Despite Pope’s inspiring words that could make anyone run through a brick wall, the Cats still face a long road before fans can start burning couches again.

With the gold standard that is Kentucky basketball comes the fiercest competition, and everyone is eager to cut the head off the beast.

“We want to play the hardest schedule. We want to win the most games. We want to have the best players, want to have the highest NIL. We want to have the coolest uniforms. We want to have the most media attention,” Pope explained to the media.

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The culture in Lexington is back, but this time, it feels different.

There’s a renewed sense of purpose, a sharper edge and a deeper connection between the players, the program and BBN.

Pope hasn’t just brought energy back to Kentucky basketball, but he’s built something stronger in a culture rooted in playing for each other, for the name on the jersey and for a legacy that’s thriving once again.

In this new era, the gold standard isn’t just being the best at basketball, it’s being the best at everything in life.

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Mark Pope Addresses Otega Oweh’s Potential NBA Departure

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Otega Oweh before facing his former team, the Oklahoma Sooners
Chet White | UK Athletics

Kentucky guard Otega Oweh recently declared himself as “all in” on preparing himself for the NBA. 

Oweh’s return to Kentucky is in limbo. Most fans expected Oweh to exercise his final year of eligibility to stay in Lexington, but the 21-year-old has his eyes set on the NBA.

“So, (Oweh) got a lot of room to grow, he’s a phenomenal player who had a great season last year, and it’s pretty fun to talk about,” Kentucky head coach Mark Pope told the media on Tuesday. “We’re talking to all of our guys that are going through this (NBA) process all of the time.”

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Last season, the 6-foot-4 guard led the Wildcats in points and steals per game. Throughout the season, Oweh was a proven piece of Kentucky’s road to the Sweet Sixteen.

“He has so much room to grow,” Pope said. “I think his ceiling as a playmaker, he hasn’t even begun to tap into that, I think he can become an elite-level playmaker.”

To Pope’s point, Oweh only averaged 1.7 assists per game with 1.5 turnovers per game, a near one-to-one ratio.

“Otega’s physicality is elite,” Pope said. “His physicality on the offense and defensive end… shows up in contact, hits, it shows up in his explosiveness, it shows up in his first step, it shows up in his ability to kind of navigate guarding guys off the ball through screens by creating space with his chest.”

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On May 2, the NBA announced their invitees to the NBA Combine ahead of the NBA Draft this summer. Guard Koby Brea and Oweh and two Kentucky players were invited out of the 75-prospect pool.

This week prospects will showcase their talents and measurements at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago for scouts. 

Last season, Kentucky endured several injuries. However, Oweh started all 36 games and had to step up with guards Jaxon Robinson and Lamont Butler missing significant time. 

Oweh was recognized as one of the conference’s best players, as he was named to the 2024-25 All-SEC Second Team. 

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“These are lifelong relationships that we build, and as these guys go pursue the next step, it’s really exciting for us and exciting for them, and we’re on it,” Pope said.

If Oweh gets signed or drafted by an NBA squad, it would be a massive loss for Kentucky.

Brea, Butler, Robinson, Ansley Almonor, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams have exhausted their college eligibility in addition to Travis Perry and Kerr Kriisa leaving the program via the transfer portal.

From the nine confirmed departures, five of them are guards. Losing Oweh would be a sixth guard gone from last season’s squad. 

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Thankfully for Pope and his staff, Oweh is still eligible to return to Kentucky. However, a decision has to be made by June 15 at the latest, 10 days ahead of the NBA Draft.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky’s Own Malachi Moreno Shows Out In Chris Brickley Invitational

Kentucky pledge and native Malachi Moreno nearly tallied a double-double in the Chris Brickley Invitational.

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Malachi Moreno shows out in Brickley Invitational.
UK Athletics

Held in Chicago, the Chris Brinkley Invitational is a gathering of young superstars under the wing of famous basketball trainer Chris Brickley. This year, Kentucky commit Malachi Moreno was invited to participate in the event, allowing his hard work to pay off in direct competition with his peers.

Moreno, who will join a consensus top 10/15 (at least) Kentucky roster this fall, stood tall at the invitational this past Saturday, nearly logging a double-double with 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and one block.

The big man would have his way in the paint, notching multiple highlight worthy dunks as well as a full-court pass, boasting his playmaking capability.

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Slotted at 25th in ESPN’s freshman recruiting rankings, Moreno became Kentucky’s only McDonald’s All-American earlier this year, and has since turned heads with not only his play on the court, but his treatment of people and the program off it.

He’s been spotted all throughout Lexington, including at Rupp, taking pictures with fans and talking titles in-between. Hailing from Georgetown, KY, Moreno’s hometown ambitions make him a likely fan favorite, and with four years of college basketball ahead of him, his journey is excitedly only getting started.

While Moreno’s role on next year’s roster has yet to take complete shape, his performance at the Brickley invitational is a good indicator of a high ceiling; and besides, it doesn’t hurt to keep it in-house once in a while. The sun shines bright when a Kentucky kid stays home.

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