When Kentucky players gathered to prepare for Iowa State during last season’s NCAA Tournament, one player kept coming up in every discussion: Milan Momcilovic.
The Wildcats knew he was dangerous. They studied the film, adjusted their defensive schemes, and searched for answers. But when the game arrived, none of it seemed to matter.
“I remember last year,” Reece Potter said. “We were all sitting there trying to figure out how to guard him. Then he goes out and shoots 50 percent anyway.”
That frustrating reality is now becoming one of Kentucky’s biggest advantages.
After spending three seasons at Iowa State and helping eliminate Kentucky from the NCAA Tournament, Momcilovic transferred to Lexington, giving Mark Pope exactly the type of player he desperately wanted to add to his roster.
And according to his new teammates, it didn’t take long to understand why Pope worked so hard to bring him to Kentucky.
The 6-foot-8 forward arrives with a reputation as one of the most dangerous shooters in college basketball. Last season, he led the nation by shooting 48.7 percent from three-point range while knocking down 136 triples.
Those numbers alone are impressive, but Kentucky players are learning that his impact goes far beyond statistics.
Freshman guard Mason Williams admitted that Momcilovic wasn’t exactly what he expected when they first met.
“Milly is my guy,” Williams said. “He’s super competitive, but he’s also really laid-back and easy to connect with.”
That combination of confidence and humility has quickly made him one of the most respected players on the roster.
Williams recently spent time shooting alongside Momcilovic and came away amazed by both his skill level and work ethic.
“He can really shoot the ball,” Williams said. “Watching how he works and prepares is impressive.”
Malachi Moreno, who watched Momcilovic torch Kentucky during last year’s tournament matchup, believes the sharpshooter fits perfectly into Pope’s vision for the program.
“Guys all over the floor can create for themselves,” Moreno said. “Milan can do that. We saw it firsthand. Coach Pope got exactly what he wanted.”
That may be the biggest reason Kentucky players are so excited.
Last season, the Wildcats often struggled when opponents focused their defensive attention on key scorers. Momcilovic changes that equation immediately.
Simply having him on the floor forces defenses to stretch farther and pay closer attention, creating easier opportunities for everyone else.
“I think he’s going to impact the game in a lot of ways,” Potter said. “Teams are going to be so focused on him that everybody else is going to get easier looks.”
And when those opportunities aren’t available?
Kentucky can simply give the ball to Momcilovic.
According to Potter, the outcome is usually predictable.
“He doesn’t miss,” Potter said with a laugh. “Today he was on my team, and he made my job really easy. I just threw him the ball and it went in.”
That’s exactly what Mark Pope envisioned when he pursued one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal.
While much of college basketball is only beginning to recognize how important Momcilovic could be for Kentucky, it appears Pope saw it long ago.
Now the rest of the country may be about to find out why.
