There is a glaring, undeniable flaw currently hovering over the Kentucky basketball program, and Mark Pope isn't doing a lot to fix it.
Last season, the Wildcats suffered through a suffocating offensive nightmare because they couldn't consistently make anything. The offense routinely stalled out, finishing the year shooting an abysmal 34 percent from beyond the arc. As the Transfer Portal opened yesterday, Pope's preliminary target board has been heavily populated by guards and wings who mathematically struggle to shoot the basketball.
But hidden within Wednesday's loaded schedule of virtual meetings is one massive, glaring exception. If Pope wants to ensure his offense actually functions next season, Robert Morris transfer DeSean Goode is the single most important Zoom call on his itinerary today.
The ultimate statistical anomaly
When evaluating the current transfer portal landscape, Goode is practically a unicorn.
While Kentucky spent last year clanking open looks, the 6-foot-8 forward was putting together a devastatingly efficient offensive campaign for the Colonials. Goode finished his sophomore season shooting a blistering 57.1 percent from 3-point range while hitting nearly 63 percent of his attempts from the floor overall.
That is insane production. Those numbers are almost unheard of. While basketball analytics dictate that those blistering percentages will inevitably regress to the mean with a higher volume of shots in the SEC, the baseline is still incredibly high. Even with expected regression, Goode projects comfortably as a 40-plus percent shooter from deep.
To put that into perspective, Kentucky had only one single player on the entire roster last year who shot above 37 percent (Collin Chandler). And he hasn't said if he is coming back yet.
Unlocking the geometry of the floor
Landing a knockdown shooter of Goode's caliber does not just add points to the scoreboard; it changes the offensive geometry.
During Kentucky's season-ending loss to Iowa State, the Wildcats were completely smothered by an aggressive, trapping defense. Because the roster lacked the perimeter threats necessary to make the defense pay, Iowa State was able to aggressively collapse the driving lanes and suffocate the ball handlers without consequence. It led to a staggering 20 turnovers.
When you insert a 6-foot-8 forward who shoots over 50 percent from deep into the lineup, opposing defenses can no longer trap with reckless abandon. They have to worry about where he is, always. Driving lanes naturally open up, double-teams become incredibly risky, and the entire offense flows with a renewed sense of rhythm and pace.
Mark Pope is holding a critical Zoom call with Goode later today. He might not carry the same national brand recognition as some of the blue-blood transfers in the portal, but securing his commitment is a must. It is a move required to save Kentucky's offense from repeating the same disastrous mistakes.