Kentucky had the busiest offseason around the country and with summer workouts underway, it’s time for the next phase ahead of Mark Pope’s debut season.
The next two months will be about teaching and learning — from both the players and coaches. Chemistry could be the biggest question mark that could hold this team back throughout the season. With 12 players who haven’t played a second of college basketball together, a critical summer awaits.
But, Pope is excited about his group … and how he put his roster together.
‘We had to start with a couple of guys whose DNA is winning,” Pope said last week. “At the highest level, in the biggest ways. Just veteran players. The construction of this roster was super fun and an incredible project.”
Six players on his new roster have been in college for at leats four years. Others, are younger players who have still played significant roles prior to their stop in Lexington.
Between his ability to land the leading three-point shooter in the country in Koby Brea, to former McDonald’s All-American Brandon Garrison to Lamont Butler, who hit a buzzer-beater in the Final Four two years ago, there is a mix of old and young talent all over the floor.
The biggest addition though was one that didn’t come until late — from the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline. The name? Jaxson Robinson, someone who took Kentucky’s potential to the next level.
So as the dust has settled, not only is Kentucky a top-25 team to start the season, they are continuing to receive top-15 projections.
“Maybe a top-15 ranking is a bit too bullish of a projection for these new-look ‘Cats,” 247Sports national reporter Isaac Trotter wrote. “But the shooting, rim protection and experience combined with this scheme could morph into something super dangerous.”
Kentucky has veterans. It has talent and it has depth.
One x-factor for Kentucky? Trotter believes it is Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh, who is the ‘type of weapon’ that will excel in Pope’s system.
The talent level won’t be the issue for Kentucky. As previously stated, it’ll be the cohesiveness and chemistry that will be gained this summer.
The end goal — either way — remains the same. That’s to ‘hang banner 9’.
