SEC Basketball: Wildcats Lean on Post Creation
Mark Pope wants Kentucky's offense flowing through the center spot again next season, with Moreno joining guards like Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins as the staff reshapes the roster.
25-11 Season Record
Kentucky
54
The Texas Longhorns secured a commanding 76-54 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, fueled by a massive first-quarter run and superior offensive efficiency. Madison Booker and Jo...
Mark Pope wants Kentucky's offense flowing through the center spot again next season, with Moreno joining guards like Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins as the staff reshapes the roster.
Kentucky retained sophomore center Malachi Moreno, and coach Mark Pope expects a major leap from the former freshman, pointing to his potential as a high-usage, back-to-the-basket creator in the post.
Mark Pope is counting on sophomore big man Malachi Moreno to anchor Kentucky's offense as a high-usage post creator next season after the staff retained him in Lexington.
Kentucky carried a 9-6 lead into the ninth inning but unraveled, allowing West Virginia to tie it on a walk, sac fly and a balk before surrendering a go-ahead homer for an 11-9 deficit.
Kentucky product and reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted 35 points and nine assists in Oklahoma City's conference finals loss, with fellow Cat Cason Wallace adding 17.
San Antonio downed Oklahoma City in a Game 7 thriller, sending ex-Cats De'Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson to the NBA Finals, where they'll face former Wildcat Karl-Anthony Towns.
Former Kentucky stars combined for 78 points, 19 assists and nine steals across both teams in the NBA Western Conference Finals Game 7, underscoring the program's pro pipeline.
Kentucky outlasted No. 16 West Virginia 11-9 in the Morgantown Regional, fueled by a three-run eighth inning that kept the Cats in the winners' bracket. UK now needs just one more victory to reach the Super Regionals for the third time in four years.
Per Kentucky Sports Radio's Matt Jones, both Kentucky and Louisville have submitted final NIL offers for transfer portal standout Milan Momcilovic, with Kentucky's package reportedly edging out the Cardinals.
Kentucky remains in the mix for elite Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, with reports indicating the Wildcats, Louisville, and Arizona are all still in contention as the 6-foot-8 forward weighs his next move.
Kentucky opened NCAA Tournament play with a 6-5 win over Wake Forest and moves into the Morgantown Regional winner's bracket against West Virginia, the same team that knocked the Wildcats out a year ago.
After sneaking into the field as one of the last four at-large teams, 3-seed Kentucky answered its doubters with a 6-5 win over 2-seed Wake Forest in the Morgantown Regional opener, rallying from an early 3-0 deficit.
Incoming Kentucky transfer guard Jerone Morton is prepping for next season close to Lexington, working out alongside former Wildcat fan favorite Dominique Hawkins ahead of players reporting to campus in early June.
Kentucky enters the NCAA Tournament as the 3-seed and meets 2-seed Wake Forest in the first round of the Morgantown Regional, looking to make a run after closing the regular season 31-21.
Kentucky
54 - 76
Texas
Kentucky
74 - 73
West Virginia Mountaineers
Kentucky
64 - 87
South Carolina
Kentucky
76 - 61
Georgia
Kentucky
93 - 73
Arkansas
Vanderbilt
84 - 83
Kentucky
Kentucky
53 - 64
Texas
Ole Miss
57 - 74
Kentucky
Kentucky
63 - 56
Auburn
South Carolina
60 - 56
Kentucky
Arkansas
64 - 94
Kentucky
Kentucky
79 - 81
Vanderbilt
Texas A&M
55 - 75
Kentucky
Georgia
72 - 67
Kentucky
Kentucky overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat #24 Tennessee 80-78 in a thrilling SEC showdown. Denzel Aberdeen led the Wildcats' comeback with 22 points while Ja'Kobi Gillespie paced Tennessee with 24 points and 8 assists in the losing effort. The victory moves Kentucky to 4-2 in SEC play while dealing the Volunteers a costly home loss. - Stacy Stanfield