Dick Vitale isn't the only national media member buying what Mark Pope is selling. In a college basketball landscape defined by parody from year to year, CBS Sports' Matt Norlander has planted his flag firmly in Lexington, ranking Kentucky No. 3 in his preseason "100-plus-1" rankings.
This isn't just a courtesy ranking; it's a bold declaration that the Wildcats are back among the nation's elite.
Why Matt Norlander believes Kentucky is a national title contender
"Nobody's higher on Kentucky than me," Norlander wrote, citing the program's impressive Year 1 under Pope, which included tying a D-I record with eight top-15 wins and a Sweet 16 run. That Sweet 16 birth was the first since before COVID hit. "This season, I think Kentucky jumps from Final Four hopeful to national title contender."
His primary reason is Otega Oweh, whom he calls "one of the best two-way players in the country" and a potential National Player of the Year candidate. He also praised the returning core of Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, and Trent Noah, predicting all three will "see their stats swell." That is because Mark Pope's players typically see a jump in year 2 under the offensive savant.
Norlander points to Kentucky’s massive NIL budget (reportedly north of $20 million) and its high-impact newcomers. He calls Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe a potential "most valuable transfer in the SEC" and notes that Jayden Quaintance, once he returns from his ACL injury, "can be one of the best defenders in the country." But both are dealing with injuries, and that is a big worry for any team.
While Norlander suggests Alabama transfer Mo Dioubate might start at the 5, that seems unlikely given Garrison and Malachi Moreno are on the roster. Personally, I'd love to see Dioubate get minutes at the 5 in a small-ball lineup, but Pope may not commit to that yet. It would be cool if he did.
Norlander's point on Oweh is well-founded. When engaged, Oweh is a menace. However, he must clean up the off-ball defensive lapses that led to easy backdoor cuts last season. His shooting form is what it is, but as long as the shots go in, who cares?
I'm not fully convinced that one win over Purdue warrants a top-5 ranking, especially after the ugly loss to Georgetown. But the potential for a magical run is undeniably there. If the shots fall, this team is dangerous. If they don't, we could be in for some long nights. For now, a top-three ranking is a pretty good place to be. It's finally basketball time.
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Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion