Having not landed a commitment nearly an entire week into the transfer portal process, many members of the Big Blue Nation have begun smashing the panic button in online forums and posts. X, as usual, is a downright nightmare. But I'm here to at least try and calm the storm; Coach Pope has a plan, even if it's taking a while to come into effect.
Not only is the potential, gargantuan addition of No. 1 overall freshman Tyran Stokes still firmly in the mix - he's got another visit scheduled with the Wildcats this week - but Pope clearly isn't keen on overspending on his roster again. That seems to be the reason that many players have taken off already, and it's a principle that should be celebrated. That is, assuming he spends the money he still has on a structurally sound team.
Though as Kentucky's highly-publicized pursuit of a point guard spins wheels with the likes of Zoom Diallo, Pope is making moves in a quieter fashion for UConn center Eric Reibe. According to Jamie Shaw, the Wildcats are an early team to watch.
Kentucky Vying For Reibe Early
Of course, hometown hero Malachi Moreno currently has things held down in UK's frontcourt and is seemingly expected to start in his sophomore year. But with the departure of big men Brandon Garrison, Mo Dioubate, and Andrija Jelavic - a true big blue exodus - Moreno needs a legitimate running mate, regardless of the eventual settled rotation. Reece Potter remains on the team, too, but following a redshirt season, his exact role and application remain unfortunately unclear.
Reibe, going into his sophomore year, has all the tools to fill that spot. The seven-foot-one, phyiscality-first big would make a formidable complimentary punch to the one that Moreno has already proven the ability to throw. The big was extremely consistent from the field (66%), and averaged just below a block per contest.
To boot, Reibe's relatively limited minutes at UConn (especially in the NCAA Tournament) should mean he's hungry for exactly the sort of expanded role that Kentucky can offer him.
An Expanded Role in the Frontcourt
Anyone who watched Kentucky this past season knows that Coach Pope loves to use his bigs in a number of ways, often playing two centers at the same time. Even if Reibe isn't promised a starting gig, he's almost guaranteed an expanded in comparison to his time with the Huskies.
Reibe's potential commitment, if Pope continues to chase him, would represent a promising developmental piece for a roster that, at least right now, could do with any semblance of positivity on the recruiting front.