Kentucky Cracks Dick Vitale’s “Dazzling Dozen” — Big Blue Nation Gearing Up for a Massive 2025–26
The hype train in Lexington just picked up more steam.
Dick Vitale, the legendary ESPN broadcaster, has named Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats to his annual “Dazzling Dozen”, a summer tradition ranking his top 12 college basketball teams for the upcoming season. The Wildcats landed at No. 11, trailing only Florida (No. 3) and Arkansas (No. 8) among SEC programs — but firmly placing themselves among the national elite.
“Mark Pope reloads again, folks,” Vitale said. “Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison are set to lead an incredible group of transfers including Jayden Quaintance, Jaland Lowe, and Mouhamed Dioubate. The Wildcats are roaring loud in Lexington!”
With 150 days to tipoff, Vitale’s endorsement fuels the excitement surrounding what’s shaping up to be a breakout year for Pope’s second season at the helm.
Kentucky Ranked No. 11 — Vitale’s Full Dazzling Dozen
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Purdue
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Houston
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Florida
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UConn
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St. John’s
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Texas Tech
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BYU
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Arkansas
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Duke
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UCLA
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Kentucky
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Michigan
Why the Buzz Around Big Blue Is Real
Kentucky returns Otega Oweh, a dynamic scorer and emotional leader, alongside Brandon Garrison, the defensive anchor. Pope surrounded them with one of the most athletic and versatile transfer classes in the country — including elite shot-blocker Jayden Quaintance, playmaking guard Jaland Lowe, and high-motor forward Mouhamed Dioubate.
The team’s length, rebounding, and defensive grit could make them a nightmare matchup come March.
National Media Backing the Wildcats
Kentucky’s love from Vitale isn’t a one-off:
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ESPN: No. 9
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The Athletic: No. 9
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Sports Illustrated: No. 7
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CBS Sports: No. 12
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Jon Rothstein: No. 12
The message is clear — the Wildcats are back and primed to make a deeper tournament run.
“Made Different”: Pope’s Emotional Praise for Trent Noah
In an especially heartfelt moment, Mark Pope shared his admiration for sophomore guard Trent Noah, known affectionately as the “Mountain Mamba.”
“It’s going to be impossible for me to love Trent Noah any more than I do right now,” Pope said. “He’s made different, man.”
Pope sees Noah’s sophomore leap as inevitable and transformational. Despite a quiet freshman year, Noah’s grit, toughness, and commitment to growth have made a lasting impression on his coach — and possibly carved out a special legacy in Lexington.
Pope’s Simple Rule Change That Could Transform College Basketball
If Mark Pope could change one rule in college hoops?
Advance the ball after timeouts — just like in the NBA.
“It would make the game so much more exciting. You’d get elite-level decision-making and better endgame drama,” he told Andy Katz.
While tradition has long kept men’s college basketball from adopting the rule (used in the women’s game and pros), Pope believes it’s time to modernize for the sake of the fans and players.
The Takeaway: Kentucky’s Ready — Is the Nation?
Mark Pope is building more than a roster — he’s building a new identity for Kentucky basketball: one defined by intensity, physicality, and belief.
With national praise, elite talent, and a coach unafraid to push boundaries, Big Blue Nation has every reason to believe. From Dazzling Dozen rankings to player development stories to rule-change ideas with real merit — Pope’s fingerprints are all over the present and future of college basketball.
Get ready, college hoops — the Cats are coming.
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