Kentucky Doubles Down on Defense With New Transfer Additions as Mark Pope Builds His Wildcats’ Identity
Last offseason, Mark Pope faced the challenge of shaping his first Kentucky Wildcats basketball team from scratch. One clear pattern emerged in those early roster moves: a strong focus on defense. Pope’s additions like Lamont Butler, Brandon Garrison, Otega Oweh, and Amari Williams were initially seen as defense-first players. Over time, some, like Oweh, proved they could contribute offensively as well, but the core identity remained grounded in defense.
Fast forward to this offseason, and the Wildcats are once again leaning heavily into defensive talent through the transfer portal. College basketball statistician Evan Miyakawa, known for his deep analytics work at EvanMiya.com, has tracked this trend closely. His data-driven analysis reveals that Kentucky’s latest portal additions are among the very best defensive players available, reinforcing Pope’s continued defensive emphasis.
Two new Wildcats stand out immediately: Mouhamed Dioubate from Alabama and Jayden Quaintance from Arizona State. Both rank in the top four nationally in Miyakawa’s Defensive Bayesian Performance Rating (DBPR), a metric that measures how many defensive points a player saves per 100 possessions compared to the Division I average. Quaintance is projected to be the best defensive addition from the portal this offseason, with an astounding 3.86 defensive points better than average per 100 possessions. His numbers at Arizona State last season speak volumes — 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game.
Dioubate is not far behind, boasting a projected DBPR of 2.78 for next season. At Alabama, he averaged 5.9 rebounds and nearly one steal per game, showcasing his ability to disrupt opposing offenses and protect the rim.
“They clearly focused again on the defensive end for some of these players, especially on the interior when you’re talking about Jayden Quaintance and Mo Dioubate being two of the highest value defensive guys in the portal,” Miyakawa told the Herald-Leader.
The defensive commitment does not stop with those two. Kentucky’s incoming guard Jaland Lowe (DBPR 1.51) and wing Kam Williams (1.22) are also expected to be above-average defenders next season. Additionally, there’s Denzel Aberdeen, a transfer from Florida with championship experience. Though Aberdeen’s defensive rating is only slightly positive at 0.22, Miyakawa highlights his reputation as one of the best on-ball defenders in the SEC last year, playing a key role in Florida’s SEC and NCAA Tournament titles.
Kentucky’s defensive shortcomings last season underscored the importance of this approach. The Wildcats finished the 2024-25 season ranked 51st nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom. While that placed them among the top 20 teams overall, it was still the third-worst defensive ranking among those elite squads. Defensive lapses at critical moments — such as losses at Georgia and Ole Miss, and their Sweet 16 exit to Tennessee — exposed the need for a stronger defensive foundation.
Historically, teams that win the NCAA Championship boast a top-tier defense, with most champions ranking in KenPom’s top 15 defensive teams. Exceptions like North Carolina (18th in 2009), Baylor (22nd in 2021), and Kansas (17th in 2022) are rare outliers. For Kentucky to fulfill its championship aspirations, continued defensive progress is essential.
Mark Pope’s approach this offseason reflects a clear understanding of this reality. By prioritizing players with proven defensive value from the transfer portal, he is laying the groundwork for a more resilient Wildcats team next season. Miyakawa praised this strategy, saying, “I love that approach of making sure that you’re bringing in pieces who are going to lay the defensive foundation.”
Beyond the newcomers, Pope expects notable defensive improvements from his returning players. Collin Chandler, Trent Noah, Brandon Garrison, and Otega Oweh have all opted to withdraw from NBA draft consideration to return for another year. Last season, Garrison and Oweh were key contributors on defense, with individual DBPRs of 0.63 and 1.81 respectively. Collectively, the four returnees were responsible for nearly half of Kentucky’s steals and close to 30 percent of their blocks last season.
With this blend of high-impact defensive transfers and experienced returnees, Kentucky is poised to build on last year’s gains and strengthen its defensive identity. For Mark Pope and the Wildcats, the goal is clear: forge a team that can consistently stifle opponents on defense and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on Kentucky to see if this renewed defensive focus translates into tangible success on the court. With strategic roster moves and a growing defensive culture, the Wildcats are setting the stage to be a force on both ends of the floor.
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