Kentucky basketball has plenty of questions to answer before the 2026-27 season begins, but Tuesday night’s Pro Day at Rupp Arena revealed one thing that could make Mark Pope’s third Wildcats team extremely difficult to defend.
Kentucky can shoot — and it has shooters at almost every position.
With NBA scouts watching from the sidelines, the Wildcats went through shooting drills and short scrimmages that offered an early glimpse of Pope’s offensive vision.
The results were encouraging.
Pope has made no secret of his desire to build an offense that relies heavily on the 3-point shot. During his first season at Kentucky, the Wildcats attempted 25.3 3-pointers per game. That number dropped to 23.9 last season.
Both figures were well below Pope’s preferred target of 35 attempts per game.
This year’s roster, however, could finally give him the personnel to get there.
Kentucky Has No Shortage of Confidence
Milan Momcilovic was one of the biggest reminders of why Kentucky could be dangerous from the perimeter.
The Iowa State transfer led the nation in 3-point shooting last season and showed that same confidence during Pro Day.
He knocked down a quick-release corner three before later hitting a deep fadeaway as time expired during a scrimmage.
But Momcilovic isn’t the only player capable of stretching defenses.
Alex Wilkins continued his impressive preseason by knocking down multiple deep shots. The Furman transfer had already won the 3-point contest at Big Blue Madness, and his Pro Day performance suggested that wasn’t a fluke.
Freshman Mason Williams also displayed plenty of confidence from beyond the arc.
Even Kentucky’s bigger players are willing to shoot.
Ousmane N’Diaye and Justin McBride both showed a willingness to step outside and fire away, giving Pope even more options when it comes to spacing the floor.
That kind of depth could create problems for opposing defenses.
Wilkins Adds Another Dimension
Perhaps the most intriguing part of Kentucky’s perimeter attack is that Wilkins brings more than shooting.
The 6-foot-6 guard can handle the basketball, change speeds and attack defenders off the dribble.
Pope has indicated that Wilkins will play both point guard and combo guard, with Kentucky experimenting with a two-lead-guard system.
That versatility could make the Wildcats much harder to predict.
If defenses close aggressively on Kentucky’s shooters, Wilkins has the ability to attack the openings.
If defenders back off, he has demonstrated that he can make them pay from deep.
There Is Still One Big Question
For all the excitement surrounding Kentucky’s shooting, Pro Day also exposed an area that remains unresolved.
The power-forward position is still a work in progress.
Pope attempted to strengthen the position during the offseason, pursuing Jaxon Kohler before landing Mark Mitchell. Mitchell ultimately returned to Missouri, leaving Kentucky to rely on its current options.
N’Diaye has intriguing upside, while McBride brings size and physicality.
Neither player, however, clearly separated himself during Pro Day.
That battle could remain one of Kentucky’s biggest preseason storylines.
The Potential Is Obvious
Kentucky doesn’t have to solve every problem in October.
What matters is that Pope appears to have a roster capable of executing the style he has envisioned.
Malachi Moreno provides size inside. Zoom Diallo brings playmaking. Momcilovic provides elite shooting. Wilkins offers another dynamic perimeter weapon.
And there are shooters throughout the roster who can punish defenses for leaving them open.
If Kentucky can consistently move the ball, limit turnovers and establish a reliable option at power forward, the Wildcats could become a very difficult matchup.
Pro Day was only an early preview.
But it revealed why this Kentucky team could be dangerous: there may be nowhere on the floor where opponents can afford to relax.
The Wildcats will get their first exhibition test October 16 against Little Rock, giving Pope another opportunity to determine how all those pieces fit together.
