CBS Sports is not the only one who believes that the Kentucky Wildcats under first-year coach Mark Pope have a chance to win a national championship. The Wildcats were included in the list of 20 schools who could potentially hang a banner this coming April. While they were not named as “no-brainers” or “on the doorstep,” they were placed in the third tier of “dark horses.”
CBS Sports highlighted the strong offensive process under Pope, complimenting the roster filled with veterans who excel in passing, dribbling, and shooting three-pointers. The Cats’ point-of-attack defense is expected to be solid with players like Otega Oweh and Lamont Butler on the floor. CBS Sports also noted that historical data shows that every national champion since 2002 was inside the KenPom top 25 entering postseason play.
The article provides a breakdown of the tiered ranking of 2025 NCAA Tournament title contenders, listing schools like Iowa State, Kansas, Duke, and Gonzaga in the top tiers. Kentucky was placed in the “dark horses” tier, along with schools like Illinois and UCLA. While being in the top two tiers would be ideal, being considered a dark horse championship contender in Pope’s first year is still an impressive feat.
It will be interesting to see how the conversation about Kentucky’s championship potential progresses throughout the year, especially with the strong foundation laid by Pope’s coaching style and the talented roster of veterans on the team.
Source
Photo credit www.on3.com