Men's Basketball

The Best and Worst of The Wildcats Ahead of Conference Play

What must the Wildcats do to improve ahead of their rigorous conference schedule?

Published

1 year ago

December 23, 2024

Lane Mills

Mark Pope stands disappointed after Kentucky's loss to Ohio State.

Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

The state of the Southeastern Conference in men’s basketball this year is unlike any year in recent memory. With three teams in the top five (for now,) and eight in the AP top 25, the SEC accounts for about one-third of the current nationally ranked teams. The next closest conference tallies just over half that number, with five ranked teams from the Big 10. Put plainly, the SEC is the best conference in college basketball.

So how do the fourth-ranked Wildcats stack up? Well, following a 20-point loss to unranked Ohio State on a neutral floor, they’ll definitely drop out of the top five. But this loss isn’t the first, last, or only game that the Cats will play this year, although it may feel that way right now.

At 10-2 with signature wins over Duke and Gonzaga, there are significant positives and negatives on both sides of the ball that should paint a relatively clear picture regarding the upcoming conference gauntlet that the team is set to face.

Perhaps the most reassuring aspect of this year’s unit is the ability to move and, at times, score the ball. Their 18.8 assists averaged as a team is good for top 10 nationally, and when they can consistently make shots, this translates to scoring nearly 90 points per game. Their current average sits at 89.1.

Shooting Struggles

The problem is, they aren’t consistently making shots. The Cats’ 48% composite mark from the field doesn’t seem that bad, but when you factor in the seemingly ever-dwindling three-point percentage (36%,) the worries start to make more sense.

It doesn’t help that this team is supposed to rely on the perimeter to score, according to Coach Pope. On multiple occasions and as recently as this past week, Pope has expressed a desire to shoot more threes. Going into the season, he set the mark at 30 attempts per game.

Kentucky has only met that mark in three games this season, against Bucknell, Jackson St., and Colgate, all at home. In the loss to Ohio State, they shot just 4-22 from the arc, charting a season-low 18.2%. The deep ball has officially become a question mark.

Tooth and Nail

General physicality has also proven to be a serious problem for this Kentucky team. In the losses against Clemson and Ohio State, they’ve lost the turnover battles in both and, at best, tied their opposition on the glass.

This struggle to contend with muscle on either end of the floor has negatively impacted that aforementioned long-range statistic too, wherein the Cats find fewer open looks from outside as a result of defenders pushing them well past the three-point line.

And when they do find themselves on the other side of a scrap with an opportunity at the free throw line, they’re only converting about 74% of their attempts. On average, they’ll leave around six free points on the floor every game. When you consider the four-point loss to Clemson, that statistic specifically starts to sting.

Stay the Course

Even still, the rafters of Rupp aren’t falling down… at least not yet. Coach Pope and the Cats have had 10 days of downtime before their home matchup with Brown, and then another five to prepare for their first SEC bout with seventh-ranked Florida, also at home. They’ve got the time, and facilities, to fix what’s broken and double down on what works.

The SEC is a high-octane, hyper-physical conference that’ll be sure to challenge every aspect of this Kentucky team. But going forward, fans should have hope that the Cats will put it together. Consider again the gritty comebacks against Duke and Gonzaga on neutral floors, as well as the recent breakout shooting performance against Louisville, which saw Kentucky shoot 11-21 from three, or 52%.

It’s a long season and, despite two frustrating losses, the Wildcats have earned a little patience to this point. Either way, nothing can be said beyond speculation until the match with the Gators on Jan. 4th. All we can do until then is cross our arms and wait.

BB Recruiting

James Madison Transfer Justin McBride to Visit Kentucky on Tuesday

Published

11 hours 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

1 week 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

1 week 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.