Kentucky Cracks Dick Vitale’s “Dazzling Dozen” as One of College Basketball’s Top Teams for 2025-26
Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats just earned another feather in their blue-and-white cap a spot in legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale’s prestigious “Dazzling Dozen,” his annual summer ranking of the top 12 teams in college basketball. With 150 days until the ball is tipped on the 2025–26 season, Vitale believes Big Blue Nation has every reason to dream big.
“Mark Pope reloads again, folks,” Vitale said with his signature enthusiasm. “Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison will be looking to lead an incredible group of transfers including Jayden Quaintance, Jaland Lowe and Mouhamed Dioubate. The Wildcats are roaring loud in Lexington.”
Kentucky Lands at No. 11 in Dickie V’s Dazzling Dozen
The Wildcats landed at No. 11 in the Dazzling Dozen, good for third in the SEC behind Florida (No. 3) and Arkansas (No. 8). While Kentucky fans may have hoped for a slightly higher placement, considering the sheer volume of talent Pope has brought in and retained, inclusion on this elite list is a strong national endorsement of the program’s trajectory.
Dick Vitale’s Top 12:
- Purdue Boilermakers
- Houston Cougars
- Florida Gators
- UConn Huskies
- St. John’s Red Storm
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- BYU Cougars
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- Duke Blue Devils
- UCLA Bruins
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Michigan Wolverines
Why the Hype is Real in Lexington
Kentucky returns two of its biggest contributors from last season’s Sweet 16 run Otega Oweh, the emotional engine and explosive scorer, and Brandon Garrison, the defensive anchor in the paint. Around them, Pope has added one of the deepest and most athletic transfer classes in the nation.
Fresh faces like Jayden Quaintance a projected elite rim protector and high-motor big man and Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe a playmaking guard with major upside bring a new level of physicality and versatility. Mouhamed Dioubate’s defensive prowess and rebounding tenacity will add interior grit that Kentucky lacked at times last season.
Other National Rankings Give the Cats Their Flowers
Dick Vitale isn’t the only one buying stock in Pope’s second-year Wildcats. Here’s how Kentucky stacks up in other major preseason rankings:
- ESPN: No. 9
“Kentucky is absolutely loaded on the perimeter next season,” wrote Jeff Borzello.
- The Athletic: No. 9
“Better defensively and more playmaking,” added CJ Moore.
- Sports Illustrated: No. 7
“The Wildcats spent big this spring,” said Kevin Sweeney, referencing Kentucky’s splashy portal additions.
- CBS Sports: No. 12
“Returning two of the top seven scorers from a Sweet 16 team is no small thing,” Gary Parrish said.
- Rothstein 45: No. 12
The Takeaway: Eyes on March, but the Journey Starts Now
Mark Pope has built a balanced and battle-ready roster that can compete with anyone in the country. While shooting may not be this team’s superpower, its physicality, length, and perimeter athleticism offer a new identity built on defensive grit and the potential for an even deeper postseason run.
For now, inclusion in the Dazzling Dozen is just another reminder: the rest of the country is watching, and the Big Blue train is picking up steam.
Get ready, college basketball Kentucky’s coming.
“Made Different”: Mark Pope Opens His Heart About Trent Noah, Kentucky’s Beloved Mountain Mamba
In a candid and emotional moment that is already winning over Big Blue Nation, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope delivered a powerful message of admiration and belief in one of his most beloved players: Trent Noah. The sophomore from Harlan, Kentucky affectionately dubbed the “Mountain Mamba” has not only won over fans with his Eastern Kentucky grit and relentless work ethic, but he’s captured the heart of the Wildcats’ head coach in a way few players ever do.
“It’s going to be impossible for me to love Trent Noah any more than I do right now,” Pope confessed. “Even if he gains the 18 pounds I want him to this offseason. He’s got a chance, guys.”
Pope wasn’t just tossing around coachspeak he was revealing something deeper. As a former Wildcat himself, Pope knows what it takes to earn a lasting legacy at Kentucky. And in Noah, he sees more than just potential. He sees destiny.
“Trent Noah is made different, man,” Pope said. “Doing it here is different than doing it anywhere else, and being a Kentucky legend is different than being anything anywhere else.”
Trent Noah’s freshman season had its share of the typical learning curves. He navigated the challenges of being a young player in college basketball’s most demanding environment, where experience and age often win out. But what sets Noah apart, according to Pope, is how he embraced the grind and soaked in every lesson like a future star.
“Everybody is older than you, and everybody knows more than you,” Pope reflected. “You can get tricked into thinking that that’s your college experience. But then year two hits, and it’s magic.”
That sophomore leap the transformation from wide-eyed newcomer to battle-tested contributor is where Pope expects Noah to shine. With a full year in the system and a hunger to improve, Noah is set to embody everything the Kentucky program stands for. Pope is even pushing him to bulk up adding 18 pounds to his frame to prepare for the physicality of the SEC.
And while Pope looks ahead to the next step in Noah’s career, he’s just as invested in the long-term picture. In his eyes, Noah is on a path that extends far beyond Rupp Arena.
“I just know how this is going to turn out,” Pope said with certainty. “I know how it’s going to turn out in the next couple of years. I know how it’s going to turn out 30 years from now, and I’m happy for him. I’m so happy for him.”
What makes the Kentucky experience so special, Pope added, is that it’s something money can’t buy a lifelong brotherhood and spotlight that shapes not just basketball players, but men.
“You can’t replicate this anywhere else,” Pope explained. “And then for the next 30 and 40 and 50 years of your life, there’s just nothing that can compare to it.”
Trent Noah may only be beginning his journey in Lexington, but in Mark Pope’s eyes, the legacy is already being written. And if Pope’s love and confidence are any indication, the Mountain Mamba is destined to leave a footprint on Kentucky basketball that stretches far beyond the box scores.
One thing’s for sure: you can’t teach heart and you can’t coach love like this.
Mark Pope Has One Rule Change He Wants in College Basketball—And It Makes Too Much Sense
As the college basketball world continues to evolve through the transfer portal chaos, NIL transformations, and nonstop debates about expanding the NCAA Tournament there’s one area that’s often overlooked, but still deeply important: the rules of the game itself.
For Kentucky head coach Mark Pope, the game is already beautiful, chaotic, and captivating. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. And if he had the power to implement just one rule change? He knows exactly what it would be.
Advance the Ball After Timeouts. Simple. Game-Changing.
“I’d like to be able to advance the ball out of timeouts,” Pope said in a recent interview on The Sideline with Andy Katz. “I know it slows down the game, but it makes the game so much more interesting… you have a chance to get elite-level shots and decision-making.”
In short, Pope wants to bring a popular NBA rule to college basketball: allow teams to move the ball to halfcourt after calling a timeout in the final seconds of regulation or overtime. It’s a rule that has fueled countless buzzer-beaters and jaw-dropping finishes in the pros. In the college game? Coaches and players are stuck inbounding from the baseline, 94 feet from glory.
“It extends the game to where you have two or three or four possessions,” Pope explained. “Where in college you can only really squeeze in one because you can’t advance the ball.”
The difference between a desperation heave and a well-executed sideline out-of-bounds play is massive. With the ability to advance the ball, fans would be treated to more drama, more strategy, and more unforgettable moments in March. It’s not about making the game easier it’s about making the end of games richer and more rewarding.
The Case for Change
While other changes like reducing media timeouts, fixing the block/charge call, or even shifting to quarters instead of halves have merit, none touch the endgame quite like this one.
It’s a change that could redefine how teams approach the final minute of play. Imagine a Sweet 16 game where a coach calls timeout with 2.5 seconds left and can draw up a real play from halfcourt giving a star player a clean look instead of a prayer from beyond the opposite three-point line. Imagine the highlights, the heartbreak, the hysteria.
It’s not a gimmick. It’s a modernization.
The Bigger Vision
Pope’s openness to this idea is no surprise. Since arriving in Lexington, he’s made it clear he wants the sport to grow. He’s already floated the idea of expanding the regular season to 40 games a more radical change that could one day reshape the basketball calendar.
But advancing the ball? That’s a tweak, not an overhaul. It wouldn’t disrupt the soul of college basketball. It would enhance it.
So, What’s Stopping It?
Tradition, mostly.
Men’s college basketball has long prided itself on its distinctiveness. It’s the only major level of the sport pro, women’s college, international that still plays two 20-minute halves. It clings to quirks like the one-and-one free throw and inbounding from the baseline. But is tradition really worth keeping if it limits the game’s potential?
The women’s game made the switch to quarters and the advance rule years ago. And the result? Cleaner finishes, fewer fouls, and far more dramatic endings.
If the goal is to put the best version of basketball on the floor, it’s time the men’s game caught up.
Pope’s Vision Is Clear. Will the NCAA Listen?
Mark Pope may be just beginning his tenure at Kentucky, but he’s not afraid to speak boldly. This isn’t about gaining a competitive edge it’s about improving the product. And when a coach with Pope’s passion and platform starts calling for change, it’s time to listen.
Advancing the ball might seem small in the grand scheme. But in the final seconds of a season-defining game? It could make all the difference.
Let’s make it happen.
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