The Kentucky Wildcats are gearing up for their Sweet 16 showdown against Tennessee, but let’s be real—their regular season wasn’t exactly dominant. With a 24-11 record (10-8 in the SEC), they had their moments, but their biggest flaw was clear: defense. All season long, the Wildcats struggled to slow down opponents, allowing 77.2 points per game—ranking 315th in the country. Their defensive rating of 106.0 wasn’t much better, sitting at 217th nationally. Simply put, they could put up points, but stopping teams? That was a different story. But here’s the thing—Mark Pope knows this is his shot to flip the script. And he’s prepared too!

While the Cats are still dancing in the tournament, Pope knows the importance of staying ahead in the portal race. He’s balancing game preparation with roster construction and yet is confident in his approach.

“We’re getting all the reporting that everybody’s getting in terms of who’s in the portal, who’s getting in the portal, who’s leaning that way,” Pope said during his call-in show Monday night. “While our communication with those people that are rumored to be entering the portal is limited, we’ve been doing a ton of planning.”

Well, it’s important too. On the first day alone, the transfer portal had over 700 players—more than double last year’s total. Since the Cats’ current roster is also an advantage of the portal, the next one is also expected to be. Assistant video coordinator Matt Santoro, Kentucky’s lead expert on scouting and evaluation, is spearheading the portal research. His job? To identify the best possible fits for the Wildcats’ unique system. Pope described the process as a “minute-by-minute ordeal,” with an ever-expanding list of potential targets being monitored.

Unlike recruiting high school players, where there’s always an element of projection, the transfer portal offers something invaluable—proven college-level data. And Pope believes this gives the Cats a unique edge.

“The portal gives you a huge advantage over recruiting high school because you have data from college. You have film running elite-level sets against elite-level defense, doing it over and over again,” Pope said. “You’re recruiting guys that aren’t just trying to learn the college game. They’re trying to fine-tune the college game.”

Pope has built his system around a pro-style offense with constant movement and spacing. That means Kentucky isn’t just looking for talent—they’re searching for players who fit their style of play seamlessly.

“Because our style of play is almost easier for us to go pick out those guys that actually have the skill set that translates to what we do,” Pope added. Are you thinking this is too much expectation? Well, they’ve got not just one but two players to focus on too.

According to reports by Matt Jones of KSR, the Cats will be involved with sharpshooter Lamar Wilkerson, who lit up Conference USA with 21 points per game while shooting a blistering 45% from three. At 6-foot-5, Wilkerson’s ability to stretch the floor makes him an ideal candidate for Pope’s three-point-heavy offense.

Another name on Kentucky’s radar? Robert Morris forward Alvaro Folgueiras, the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year. The 6-foot-9 Spaniard brings versatility to the table, averaging 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and shooting 41% from deep. His ability to play as a point-forward could make him a valuable asset in Pope’s system, especially since this is the type of point-center Pope has had in his offenses. But the question is—will they transfer to a program like the Cats? Yes, at least, that’s what Pope believes.

Kentucky vs. Tennessee: can the Wildcats’ defense hold up when it matters most to lure transfer players?

In his first offseason at BBN, Pope dived headfirst into the transfer portal and secured nine players in a single month. Guards Lamont Butler, Koby Brea, Kerr Kriisa, Otega Oweh, and Jaxson Robinson, forwards Ansley Almonor, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams, and center Brandon Garrison—the entire roster was built through transfers.

Over the season, this bold strategy paid off in a massive way. The Cats are back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019, so Pope feels this success will attract new talent. “I think guys have seen the massive success that we have had this year, and I think we’ll have great success recruiting the portal,” he shared in a press conference.

Well, given the accomplishment the Cats have seen in this March Madness run, his confidence feels justified. When people doubted them against Illinois, they came back with a resounding 84-75 victory. Notably, the star was Koby Brea, a crucial addition from the transfer portal who dropped 23 points to the team’s total.

But Pope has another task at hand too—pulling off a victory against Tennessee to surge to the Elite Eight. But he doesn’t need anyone to remind him about Kentucky’s defensive struggles. He knows it, the team knows it, and heading into their Sweet 16 battle against Tennessee, they’re well aware that offense alone won’t be enough to survive. The Vols are an elite defensive squad, and Pope himself admitted,

“Continuing to improve on the defensive end is going to be key for us.”

The good news? The Wildcats have been making strides, climbing from 86th in defensive efficiency in mid-January to 45th now, with Bart Torvik ranking them even higher at 16th. That’s a defense clicking at the right time. But to take down Tennessee—and keep their Final Four dreams alive—they’ll need to take it up another notch.

This is their shot to prove they’re more than just an offensive juggernaut. The question is—can they rise to the challenge?