The transfer portal is a game of shifting priorities, kind of like a giant chessboard. One team moves a player to one spot, and it creates a chain reaction across the entire league. And, for Mark Pope, a massive pivot of that ilk is officially underway in the frontcourt.
Early in the portal window, Big Blue Nation was dreaming of landing Paulius Murauskas. Ranked as the No. 8 overall player in the portal by On3, the St. Mary’s star was a clear top-tier target. Pope reached out early and secured a Zoom meeting, but behind the scenes, it was always going to be a steep, uphill battle as droves of programs worked for the same.
In this case, at least, Pope seems to have turned his attention elsewhere.
The Arizona State Reality
The writing has been on the wall for Murauskas since Randy Bennett accepted the head coaching job at Arizona State, following the departure of Bobby Hurley. In the modern portal era, elite players really do like playing for coaches they trust; Bennett has already proven he can make Murauskas an impactful focal point during their shared time together at Saint Mary's
So, why mess with what works? The big can simply follow Bennett to ASU and play the same major role in the same system.
A Stealthy Pivot
As far as the bluegrass is concerned, if you want proof that Kentucky is reading the tea leaves, look no further than the recent stealth visit from Colorado transfer Sebastian Rancik. Essentially nobody had reported his presence on campus until he was cancelling an Indiana visit in favor of one to Lexington.
At six-foot-eleven, Rancik plays a very similar style and position to Murauskas, making it redundant to add both. The fact that Pope brought Rancik to campus, especially so quietly, is the strongest indicator yet that the staff is moving on from the aforementioned Saint Mary's star.
And really, that's perfectly fine. I would rather the staff pivot early than try to play catchup late, losing more than they expected to in the process.
What Rancik Brings to Lexington
While Murauskas is the bigger national name, Rancik is a highly skilled player who fills a massive void in Pope's system. He really is a lot like Andrew Carr, given his stretch-four capabilities and ability to mix things up in the paint.
Rancik has the rare ability for a taller big to facilitate and pass from the top of the key while also being a legitimate shot-maker. Those two specific traits were glaringly absent from the Kentucky offense this past year. Malachi Moreno was an okay passer, but was a non-shooting threat; the same went for Mo Dioubate. Brandon Garrison, well, was Branding Garrison, and Andrija Jelavic spent the majority of the season playing out of position and suffering for it.
Rancik offers new promise, especially on offense. If there is a knock on his game, it’s that he needs to learn to throw his weight around a little. Given improvement on the glass, Rancik has the tools to become a significantly more physical presence in the paint for a Cats team that needs that, too.
With only six days left for players to officially enter the transfer portal, the board is going to shrink quickly as this week comes to a close. It's likely that a few more players will pop up on Kentucky's radar as the deadline approaches, but for the time being, Rancik is the clear name to watch in the frontcourt.
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