One thing I’ve referenced a number of occasions over the previous 12 months on the Eye On Faculty Basketball Podcast is how @CBKReport — which is an account on X, previously often called Twitter — highlighted in February how groups that introduced in seven or extra transfers prematurely of final season had been largely not good.
May Kentucky run counter to that development this season?
It is trying that manner.
As you probably know, not a single one that performed for John Calipari at Kentucky final season is enjoying for Mark Pope at Kentucky this season. The primary-year Wildcats coach was compelled to begin from scratch upon being employed in April, which led him to the switch portal, the place he added — deep breath — Otega Oweh from Oklahoma, Lamont Butler from San Diego State, Jaxon Robinson from BYU, Koby Brea from Dayton, Andrew Carr from Wake Forest, Amari Williams from Drexel, Ansley Almonor from Fairleigh Dickinson, Brandon Garrison from Oklahoma State and Kerr Kriisa from West Virginia.
Proper now, these 9 gamers symbolize UK’s high 9 scorers. Proper now, these 9 gamers have the Wildcats off to a 9-1 begin this season following Saturday night time’s 90-89 time beyond regulation victory in opposition to Gonzaga in Seattle.
“Jaxson placed on his cape,” Pope answered when longtime faculty basketball insider Andy Katz requested him how UK got here from 18 all the way down to upset the Zags. “He simply placed on his cape and mentioned, ‘Pay attention, I am going to go do that.'”
Then he went and did it.
The fifth-year participant who adopted Pope from BYU to Kentucky took 15 photographs, made seven of them and completed with 18 factors, 5 assists, three rebounds and a steal. His massive efficiency was wanted on condition that Butler, the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer, was sidelined with an ankle harm.
The come-from-behind victory pushed Kentucky as much as No. 5 in Sunday morning’s up to date CBS Sports activities Prime 25 And 1 each day faculty basketball rankings, which brought on Kansas to be pushed down one spot, no fault of its personal. UK’s subsequent recreation is Wednesday in opposition to Colgate. After that, subsequent Saturday, it is the Wildcats’ annual showdown with in-state rival Louisville.
