Something’s changed in Lexington — and you can feel it in every drill, every rep, every huddle.
When the Wildcats hit the court for this summer practice session, it wasn’t about showboating or highlight plays. It was about intent. From the first whistle, you could see it: this group isn’t just trying to compete — they’re trying to impose their will.
Mark Pope’s fingerprints are all over this team already. Practices have a crispness, a ruthless pace, and an edge that hasn’t been this sharp in years. Gone are the days of easing into the season. This squad is coming in with purpose and hunger.
Take Malachi Moreno, for example — the freshman big looked like a seasoned vet, locking down the paint and barking out rotations. Jayden Quaintance? A walking mismatch with an attitude to match. And when Otega Oweh went chest-to-chest with a teammate during a competitive set? No fight, no drama — just grit. It was iron sharpening iron.
Even Denzel Aberdeen and Mo Dioubate, returnees from last season, look like new versions of themselves. The way they’re talking, moving, leading… it’s not just about improvement — it’s about ownership.
And the chemistry? It’s not just good — it’s violent in the best way. This team moves like a unit that knows what it wants. You don’t see that this early in July unless something special is brewing.
If this practice was any indication, the Wildcats are done with just “being in the mix.” This team is mentally wired to win, and they’re ready to prove it.
