We've officially turned the corner into may, and Mark Pope's third-year roster appears to be mostly solidified. Mostly is the key word here, because Kentucky still has millions of dollars leftover in NIL money, as well as an apparent hole in the center of the team where Tyran Stokes was meant to be.
I won't rehash that mess any further - BBN has to be more than tired of that by now - but the reality remains that Pope and Kentucky need a star-studded playmaker. And, rest assured, the staff is surely on the hunt.
But the hunt simply can't go on forever. Waiting nearly a year on Stokes left Kentucky with far fewer options than they would've had if Pope had moved on when Kansas seemed to be pulling away; now, with Milan Momcilovic seemingly emerging as the Cats' primary target in the transfer portal, Kentucky has no need to learn the same lesson twice over.
Learning a Redundant Lesson
Look, I want Momcilovic as much as the next Cats fan desperate for unmatched scoring from range. The Iowa State Cyclone shot a scorching 48.7% from distance this past season, and, as we know all too well, flamed Kentucky for 20 points in the Wildcats' second-round NCAA Tournament defeat.
If he were to enter the transfer portal right now, it'd be a no-brainer for Coach Pope to throw everything he has at the guy. But Momcilovic is headed to the NBA Draft Combine, and could go the entirety of this month without deciding what he wants to do next.
Regardless of how well he'd fit Pope's offense, and how much he'd change Kentucky's outlook, the Wildcats simply cannot afford to tap their feet in wait once more.
Risking a Scarce Selection
If the star forward is determined to see the NBA process all the way through, Pope would be better off pivoting to the weapons that remain on the board of likelihood for Kentucky; otherwise, he risks a truly scarce pool at the end of the line is Momcilovic didn't land in Lexington.
See trending reclass option and five-star forward Ryan Hampton, or former Cat and hot portal commodity Jordan Burks, as a pair of compelling options that both appear more likely than Momcilovic at this current point in time.
The dream scenario isn't always the best one. Kentucky needs guys right now, and Coach Pope should pursue that need while he has a remote choice of what remains.
Add us as a preferred source on Google