The shopping list for Mark Pope’s Transfer Portal has to be completed. The days of “slow-playing” the gateway are past, as the new NCAA regulations move toward a shortened transfer window immediately following the National Title game. After searching through the teams that have previously been disqualified from the NCAA Tournament, I discovered six guys who perfectly fit the Pope system.
Mark Pope must first get back to what he truly knows. With Mo Dioubate, Brandon Garrison, Malachi Moreno, and Andrija Jelavic as the team’s main big men and wings who are poor shooters, he is not a coach.
He made a risky roster swap, but it didn’t work out. He must return to the offensive output and 3-point bombs that earned him the position.
Kentucky cannot afford to wait, as the transfer portal window is closing to a few days following the national championship game. Choose the first option.
1. Brett Decker Jr. is a pure shooter (Liberty)
Brett Decker Jr., a sophomore at Berty, is the best Pope guard. This season, he averaged 16.8 points per game and shot an incredible 48.1% from beyond the arc on 231 shots, which is quite similar to someone who performed admirably the previous season.
Before coming to Lexington, Dayton’s Koby Brea had a 49.8% long-range shooting percentage on 201 shots. On additional shots, he shot nearly the same percentage.
Go fetch Mark; he’s a native of E-Town as well.
2. Joel Foxwell is the missing playmaker (Portland)
In fact, Kentucky is in dire need of two floor generals who can survive in the paint. Joel Foxwell, an Australian freshman who averaged 15.6 points and 6.5 assists this season, was a revelation for Portland. His ability to go to the rim and finish is something the Cats simply couldn’t do this year, even though his 31% deep shooting clip isn’t particularly good yet. The ability and willingness to identify available teammates are demonstrated by the approximately seven dimes per game. He is the kind of intelligent guard who does well in a sophisticated offensive scheme.
3. Baraka Okojie provides more rim pressure (Mercer)
I stated that the Cats required two point guards. This is the second number. Baraka Okojie, who averaged 19.7 points per game and ranked in the top 50 nationally in assists (5.3), was outstanding for Mercer. What is the most striking statistic, though? Every game, he made nine trips to the free-throw line. Elite rim pressure like that opens up the wings and destroys defenses. And he can finish with the best of them if they don’t give up.
4. We’ve seen this one before, Jack Karasinski (Bellarmine)
A scorer who is accustomed to the big lights is what we need. Jack Karasinski of Bellarmine shot more than 50% from the field this season, averaging 21 and 4. He won’t accept a shot he doesn’t like since he understands how to acquire the shot he wants. He shoots it so brilliantly because of this. Additionally, earlier this year, he scored 24 points on just 9 shots for the Cats. He is effective, has reportedly one more season remaining, and gives Kentucky the seasoned scoring punch it sorely needs from the wing.
5. Carter Bjerke provides a stretch 4 (St. Thomas
When guards compress the paint, the Cats need a “stretch 4” to keep defenses honest. Garrison, Dioubate, and Moreno are unable to. Despite being under 30%, Jelavic continues to shoot them. Therefore, you may as well go out and get someone who can make the open shots that the Cats are receiving.
Carter Bjerke, a huge man from St. Thomas, Minnesota, is the solution. The 6-foot-9 big shot 45.6% from outside the arc while averaging 9.6 points per game. To free up the center for whatever Kentucky plays down low, that is precisely the kind of output you need from the corner.
6. Every team needs an eraser, Chol Machot is that guy (College of Charleston)
Lastly, a true defensive anchor is needed for the backline. This season, the Cats rotated poorly and allowed far too many easy shots. Chol Machot comes in. In just 20 minutes of play, the 7-footer and CAA Defensive Player of the Year swats 2.5 shots every game. I’d say that’s pretty good.
At seven feet tall, he completely alters the court’s geometry and eliminates defensive errors at the rim, but he isn’t a polished player offensively. This enables guards to take risks and exit in transition, something Kentucky excelled at this season.
Get back to the basics
All Mark Pope needs to do is return to being Mark Pope. Kentucky hired him for this reason. They had John Calipari, a defensive coach who had trouble with contemporary offense, so they didn’t want to hire him.
Pope would be able to return to the fundamentals because to the shooting, passing, and rim protection provided by these six players.
