When Mark Pope was hired as Kentucky’s head coach last April, he didn’t shy away from the lofty expectations.
“We are here to win banners,” Pope stated confidently at his introductory press conference, held before a packed Rupp Arena.
While his first season fell short of that goal—despite a record eight wins over top-15 teams and a Sweet 16 appearance for the first time since 2019—Pope’s optimism for Year 2 was clear during a conversation with Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports on Wednesday.
“I’m so excited, man. I can’t even tell you,” Pope shared. “I’m out-of-my-mind excited about this group.”
This season, unlike his debut, Pope won’t be starting from scratch.
“I’m so excited about our returners. The idea of having some continuity, where when we step onto the practice floor in mid-June, we’ll have guys who understand our terminology and our system,” Pope said. “And not just any guys—elite, veteran talent.”
While much attention is given to the transfer portal, retaining players has proven crucial in the new era of college basketball. Pope emphasizes that this holds particularly true in his system.
“There’s nothing like getting older with your own guys,” Pope explained. “My guys in their second year take a huge leap because our offense is read-based, and in parts, defense too. Our players make the decisions on the floor; they’re not looking over at me. We coach them to be capable of making on-court decisions, coaching each other, and communicating. After a year, they aren’t just learning the game—they’re playing it and learning how to manipulate the actions creatively. That’s when the game becomes really fun. These second-year players will be crucial for us.”
However, Pope isn’t overlooking the impact of Kentucky’s transfer portal class, which will play a significant role in the Wildcats’ success next season.
For the second consecutive offseason, Pope secured a top-5 transfer portal class, including five players ranked among the top 65 in the portal.
“We had a bunch of newcomers on campus last weekend, and seeing how they meshed with the returning players off the court was huge,” Pope said. “That’s such an important part of being a Kentucky basketball player. I left that weekend more excited than ever about bringing this group together. I think this team has the potential to be incredibly special.”
Heading into Year 2, Pope isn’t just aiming for a national championship—he believes it’s now a realistic goal.
“We can do it. We can get it done,” Pope said. “There are a lot of teams that have the potential, but if we do this right with the right players, we can make it happen. That’s our job. That’s the standard here, and anything less isn’t acceptable.”
Here’s what Mark Pope had to say about each player on Kentucky’s 2025-26 roster:
Brandon Garrison
“I think Brandon Garrison has shown, even in this young offseason, that he is hungry right now. He’s a McDonald’s All-American who had an incredible first year at Oklahoma State and took a massive step forward last season. I think he’s ready to emerge as a superstar. He understands how huge this summer is for him. He’s very focused, and he has a precise agenda of things he’s working on. I know he’s really hungry.”
Collin Chandler
“I expect Collin Chandler to make a huge jump. He showed significant progress in the last month of the season, and he has limitless potential to be really special. What I love about Collin is that every time I talk to him, he’s in the gym working out.”
Trent Noah
“This Trent Noah, I’m telling you, he’s a baller. He’s a big-time player. He’s going to bring some incredible physicality, skill, and toughness to this team over the next seasons, and he’s going to make everyone here proud.”
Otega Oweh
“Otega is going through the draft process, and we’re supporting him every step of the way. But I know a lot of his heart is back here at Kentucky. If he does return, he’ll likely be the presumptive SEC Player of the Year favorite, and he has a beautiful future ahead of him.”
Jayden Quaintance
“We’re really excited about Jayden. I was just with him yesterday, and he is a hulking mass of physicality and a great kid. He’s a difference maker. For a 16-year-old to be a double-double guy in the Big 12, that’s insane. He’s an incredibly impressive young man. We’re excited to get him back.”
“He’s been incredibly diligent about his rehab. He’s working with amazing doctors, and we’re focused on making this transition of care as smooth as possible. He’s going to be a big part of our team, and we’re optimistic about getting him back to full health by fall. We’ll see how it goes, but we’re rushing him back to full health before we put him on the court.”
“Physically, he reminds me of my former teammate, Dale Davis. Dale was an elite-level shot blocker, a great athlete, and could really run the floor. He had a presence about him that was intimidating. Jayden has incredible timing, is super mobile, and has real skill offensively. He’s destined to be a star.”
Jaland Lowe
“I’m excited to get him here and speed up his game. We’re going to push him to play with as much pace as possible. He’s so athletic, and he’s got this herky-jerky style to his game. His cuts are like an elite-level tailback. He did everything at Pitt—he’s a great scorer, excellent at getting to the free-throw line, and nearly averaged six assists a game. He’s a complete package.”
“He’s also a great leader. Having him here on campus, it was fun to watch him instigate a lot of the conversation with the new guys. That’s exactly what we need from him. I think he’s going to be an elite-level leader, and he has a huge future in this game. I can’t wait for him to wear a Kentucky jersey and join the legacy of great point guards here.”
Denzel Aberdeen
“My evaluation of Denzel started when we were prepping for our game against Florida, and I noticed this guy coming off the bench who terrified me. He certainly proved himself throughout the season.”
“What really stood out to us was getting to know him as a person. He’s special—he has a great joy about him and is deeply committed to becoming a great basketball player. He’s proven he’s a team-first guy, and I think he’s going to have a breakout season after the success he had in Florida’s 4-guard rotation. It’s hard to have a breakout season after winning a national championship, but he’s poised for a big-time season.”
Mouhamed Dioubate
“I’m so excited about Mo. He’s an incredible young man—he’s faithful, has an amazing family, and shows so much love for them. Watching him take care of his dad during his visit was really special. The more I talk to him, the more I love him as a person.”
“He punished us in three straight games last season, and it wasn’t pretty. He shot the ball at a ridiculous clip on low volume—46% from three, but where he’s most dangerous is as an elite defender, guarding one through five, very much in the mold of Draymond Green. He’s also one of the best pick-and-roll ball handlers in the country with just under 20 possessions. His decision-making and ability there are both terrifying for opponents and joyful for me as a coach.”
“He’s a physical player with elite-level defense, and offensively, he can punish defenders with his big shoulders. He’s tailor-made for what we do, and he’s going to stir things up for us. His physicality on both ends of the floor is unmatched, and he’s a gamer.”
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