Mark Pope is already shifting his focus to the offseason following Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament exit, and his message is clear: keeping as much of the current roster intact as possible will be the starting point.
The Wildcats are set to lose two major contributors in Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen, who both led the team in scoring during the 2025–26 season. Their departure leaves a significant gap, and there’s also a strong possibility that Jayden Quaintance enters the 2026 NBA Draft. Despite appearing in just four games due to an ACL recovery, the 6-foot-10 big man is still projected as a first-round pick.
With those potential losses looming, Pope made it clear that retention will be central to Kentucky’s offseason strategy.
“Retention is a big part of this, and we have good young players,” Pope said after the loss to Iowa State. “We ended up starting a first-year center, a first-year power forward, and a sophomore two guard. That wasn’t the plan, but those guys gained valuable experience and they’re going to keep improving. We’ll start there and build from that.”
The trio Pope highlighted — Malachi Moreno, Andrija Jelavić, and Collin Chandler — were key pieces this season, finishing third, fourth, and sixth in scoring. While none have officially announced their decisions, Pope’s comments suggest optimism that they will return.
Kentucky also has a long list of players eligible to come back, including Mo Dioubate, Brandon Garrison, Jasper Johnson, Kam Williams, Trent Noah, and Jaland Lowe. Redshirt players Braydon Hawthorne and Reece Potter are also in the mix, with Hawthorne already stating his intention to return next season.
In total, up to 11 players could be back in Lexington, with eight of them playing consistent roles this year. However, with the realities of the transfer portal and NIL, it’s unlikely all will return. Decisions from both players and the coaching staff are expected to unfold quickly in the coming weeks.
Even if Kentucky retains a solid core, Pope knows reinforcements are necessary. The Wildcats currently have no incoming high school recruits, meaning the transfer portal will be crucial — especially when it comes to replacing the scoring production of Oweh and Aberdeen.
After a season that ended below expectations as a No. 7 seed, Pope now faces a critical offseason. How well he balances roster retention with key additions could define Kentucky’s trajectory heading into next year.
