After an entire season in which Kentucky struggled mightily to arrange an impactful backcourt, it's been more than comforting to see Mark Pope pursue and collect a series of guards for his third-year roster. Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins are set to handily man that end of the Cats' rotation.
Ironically, though, the Wildcats chasing down guards has left the team's frontcourt almost completely bare. Aside from Malachi Moreno, who seems likely to return to Lexington after his NBA Draft consideration, Kentucky's paint presence has no name to claim.
And now, with the transfer portal having been open more than two weeks, Kentucky's time to be picky has long passed. After missing on Donnie Freeman and seeing countless other possible prospects fall off the board, Pope and his staff have to move - and move now.
Kentucky Has to Move Now
Put simply, there's no time left to poke around. Many Cats fans hit the panic button online days ago and, regardless of whether or not you joined them, it's undoubtedly painful to see Pat Kelsey and his Cards down the road seemingly put a roster together with ease.
All the same, we're worried about the blue and white over here. Having just hosted transfer forward Justin McBride on campus this week, the former James Madison Duke should be Kentucky's first order of frontcourt business.
But even if the Wildcats manage to net McBride before he, too, decides to take his 15 points per game elsewhere, the staff won't be able to stop for a breather. Assuming McBride clicks comfortably into the starting four spot alongside Moreno, Kentucky will still have to turn around and find at least two capable backups to spell those guys.
When you factor in inevitable SEC foul trouble and potential injuries, too, things get awfully urgent.
Recruiting a Strong Rotation
As talent signs with seemingly every other school on a daily basis, it's crucial that the Wildcats prioritize what is currently their most scarce corner of the roster.
Not to mention that the team may still need a backup shooting guard, as well as depth on the wing. All the sudden, especially from that perspective, things start to appear dim. But, BBN, we can't tap out on Pope's third team just yet.
After all, he's the same coach that built a Sweet 16 competitor in a matter of weeks in his first ever offseason. Pope may be due a little additional time before the sky truly falls on Rupp Arena.
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