There’s a new name rising fast in Lexington — and Mark Pope just used one single word to describe him that’s got the whole SEC on notice. This freshman isn’t just putting up stats — he’s bringing a level of toughness that even Pope admits might “surprise” people. Let’s break down why Malachi Moreno could be Kentucky’s biggest weapon yet.
Freshman Malachi Moreno continues to look like a future star in the making. After a solid debut, the 7-footer followed it up with a dominant outing — 18 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and zero turnovers — in Kentucky’s 107–59 blowout win over Valparaiso.
When asked what makes the young big man so effective, head coach Mark Pope used one word that might catch the rest of the SEC off guard.
> “I think he’s got a physicality that might be surprising actually,” Pope said. “When you look at him, you might not think that — but he’s way stronger than he looks.”
Pope didn’t hold back his praise either, calling Moreno “our best rebounder on both sides of the ball” and saying his “ceiling is really, really high.”
But the most impressive part of Moreno’s performance wasn’t the points or rebounds — it was his poise and decision-making.
> “Probably the most important thing — he’s a three-assist, zero-turnover guy as a freshman big who had a ton of usage,” Pope said. “You don’t see that very often.”
For a team still finding its rhythm early in the season, Moreno’s steady play inside gives the Wildcats a reliable anchor in the paint — and a glimpse of how dominant he could become in SEC play.
Pope’s Baffling Quote on 3-Point Shooting — That Actually Makes Sense
Kentucky knocked down 11 of 28 threes (39.3%) in the win — a much-improved showing after a few cold shooting nights. But when Mark Pope was asked about the shooting, his response raised a few eyebrows.
He doesn’t care about the percentage.
> “You guys will be upset with me — we don’t spend a lot of time talking about our three-point percentage,” Pope admitted. “I know that’s unconventional, but for us, a lot of times the offense starts when we shoot it. It’s not a finish.”
In Pope’s system, a missed three isn’t the end of the possession — it’s the beginning of another chance. He’s focused on volume and opportunity, not percentages.
> “We might have a game where we shoot 11%, and we should win that game. We might have a game where we shoot 40%, and we should win that game. It’s just baked into the cake.”
His only complaint after the win? The Wildcats didn’t shoot enough.
> “I’m still frustrated we’re not getting up more. We’ve just got to find a way to get over that 30 mark.”
So don’t be surprised if Reed Sheppard, Otega Oweh, Collin Chandler, and the rest of the backcourt start letting it fly even more in the coming games. And with Malachi Moreno cleaning up everything around the rim, that strategy could make Kentucky one of the most dangerous teams in the SEC this season.
