BBN, take a deep breath—Mark Pope has a plan
It’s officially transfer portal season, and if you listen to some Kentucky fans, you’d think the Wildcats have already missed out on their entire roster. Yes, Silas Demary Jr., Donovan Dent, and Dedan Thomas have committed elsewhere. Yes, Kentucky still has roster spots to fill. But here’s the reality—Mark Pope is just getting started.
The idea that Pope "can’t close the deal" on top transfer targets doesn’t really hold up when you take a step back and look at the situation logically.
Pope is Being Selective—And That’s a Good Thing
Not every talented player in the transfer portal is the right fit for Kentucky. Pope isn’t just chasing big names—he’s targeting players who fit his system, his culture, and his vision for what Kentucky basketball should be.
That doesn’t mean guys like Demary Jr., Dent, or Thomas wouldn’t have been solid additions, but it does mean they likely fit better elsewhere. And that’s okay. Building a great team isn’t about collecting the most stars—it’s about finding the right ones.
Pope proved last year that he knows how to build a team quickly. When he was hired, Kentucky didn’t even have a roster, and in two weeks, he put together a team that made a Sweet 16 run.
And guess what? There’s even more time left now than there was then.
A look back: How Pope built last year’s team
Kentucky fans worried last year too—but here’s how Pope methodically built his roster:
Portal Opened: March 18
Mark Pope Hired: April 11
First Transfer Landed (Amari Williams): April 21
Key Players Added Over Time:
Amari Williams (4/21)
Lamont Butler (4/26)
Otega Oweh (4/27)
Andrew Carr (4/29)
Brandon Garrison (4/30)
Kerr Kriisa (5/1)
Koby Brea (5/1)
Ansley Almonor (5/16)
Jaxson Robinson (5/30)
The roster didn’t come together overnight, but by the end of May, Pope had assembled a group that made a deep tournament run.
Now compare that to this year:
Portal Opened: March 24
First Transfer Landed (Kam Williams): March 28
This time around, Pope has even more time to build the roster.
More players are entering the portal—Patience is key
Another major factor? Not every transfer is even available yet.
Graduate transfers have until May 1 to enter the portal, which means some of the best available players aren’t even in the mix yet.
This isn’t like high school recruiting, where teams lock in their class months in advance. The transfer portal is fluid, and sometimes the best additions come late in the cycle.
BBN, take a deep breath and trust the process.
If we get to May 5 and Kentucky still doesn’t have a strong roster, then it’s fair to worry. But for now? Pope is cooking—just let him cook.
Final thoughts: Pope has time, and he knows what he’s doing
Mark Pope isn’t desperate—he’s deliberate. He’s shown he can build a winning roster in a short amount of time, and he’s got more time now than he did last year.
So, Kentucky fans, let’s hold off on the panic. More players will enter the portal. Pope will land the guys that fit his vision. And come next season, Kentucky basketball will be just fine.