“Mark Pope will go on to greatness. You can put it down,” St.John’s coach Rick Pitino beamed after Kentucky had appointed Pope as their head coach a couple of years ago. Despite the praise from Pitino, Pope wasn’t a popular choice among Kentucky Wildcats fans, but he proved his doubters wrong as he comfortably went above and beyond their expectations.

Pope guided Kentucky to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019 with a roster he cobbled together within some weeks, a feat that turned heads across the college basketball world. Along the way, the Wildcats racked up multiple top-10 wins over powerhouse programs, including a signature 77 to 72 triumph over Cooper Flagg and Duke, proving that Pope’s impact in Lexington is both immediate and undeniable. Now, building on their fairly above-average season, Mark Pope has had to rebuild the roster one more time but this time he had the luxury of time and money. So, things are looking up for the Wildcats. 

This National Analyst has further  praised Mark Pope and this Wildcats squad. Andy Patton of USA Today said in his podcast Locked on College Basketball, “This team is absolutely stacked, top to bottom. Assuming Otega Oweh returns, which is not a foregone conclusion ,although it is the accepted belief around the Kentucky program and around the college basketball space, he has until May 28th, one week, a little less than a week, to make that decision. But assuming he returns, they have 15 players on scholarship heading into next season. That’s the max amount they can have!!”

That kind of depth has at least 15 other teams, like Duke, Kansas, and SEC rivals such as Arkansas, losing sleep. They know a roster this loaded, with Kentucky’s resources, could dominate March Madness, and they’re scrambling to keep up.

Well, almost every baller in this Wildcats squad can start. They have Jaland Lowe, who is likely to start at point guard and averaged 16.8 points and 5.5 assists per game. More importantly, his numbers took a boost from the previous season, in which he averaged 9.6 points per game. He is a proven guard to marshal this team. Denzel Aberdeen will be eager to have a starting role after being a key off-the-bench player in the national title win for Florida. They have brought in Mohammad Doubate and Jayden Quaintance, who are expected to start. With so many additions, they need a familiar face starting and that is why Otega Oweh coming back is so important. 

Oweh averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game and is currently testing the NBA draft waters. His experience in Kentucky will be important to take this team to the next level. Without him, the newcomers might take some time adjusting to this style and tactics.

If Otega Oweh stays, Kentucky could be a top-five team, maybe even the favorite for the SEC title. If he goes, they’re still deep, but rivals like Tennessee or Florida might see a crack in the armor. Either way, his call is a game-changer for the whole conference.

However, the NBA is the dream for every basketball player so which way will he lean?

Big decision awaits Otega Oweh

The deadline to make a decision is around the corner but where will the big man go? Oweh is currently torn between the two and it is the most important decision of his career. While he could take the step up or continue developing at Kentucky. If he goes to the NBA, he is currently expected to be a late second-round pick, and Oweh is not happy with that, as he has mentioned that he deserves to be a first-round pick. 

“I believe I’m a first-round guy. I’m just gonna go through all these workouts, give it my all, then when it’s all said and done, I’ll see where I’m at, and I’ll make that decision,” said Oweh.

At the combine, he has improved his stock as a potential pick, being one of the top two-way wings at the combine, shooting 50% from the field while adding two steals and one block per game. Oweh’s physicality, quick feet, and defensive motor were evident throughout scrimmage play—he locked down on the perimeter, fought over screens, and jumped passing lanes for easy runouts. 

Despite impressing, he went from a late second-round pick to an early one. Will that be enough for him? Maybe not. He stands to earn as much as a second-round draft pick in NIL deals if he comes back and with the squad that Pope has built, he could even put up better statistics this season. He would even get a decent payday from Kentucky considering their rumored $20 million budget. Pope would love to have him back. 

“We’ll see what happens with Otega,” Pope told The Sideline with Andy Katz. “He’s knocking on the door of this draft, and so we’re cheering for him like crazy, and if he decides to come back, clearly he probably can come back and be the presumptive SEC Player of the Year.”

Staying another year under such a supportive coach may prove more valuable than entering the NBA as a second-round pick. With Mark Pope assembling a more settled and experienced squad for the upcoming season, expectations in Lexington are rising. Given the investment made in the program, the fan base is hungry for results—and Pope knows he’ll need to deliver.