Ask Mark Anything: Better chance to make 2027 Final Four — UK men or UK women?
This week’s “Ask Mark Anything” includes questions on the strengths of the Kentucky men’s basketball and women’s basketball rosters for 2026-27; UK men’s hoops recruiting; the NCAA’s new “five for five” eligibility rules; Caitlin Clark — and how I sleep at night as a Los Angeles Dodgers fan.
Let’s get to it.
Question one comes from Donald R. Matthews on Facebook: “What do you think of the present roster for the 2026-27 (UK men’s) basketball team?”
Mark’s reply: With a couple of reservations, I like Mark Pope’s third Kentucky roster.
I like the floor spacing that the presence of Milan Momcilovic as an outside-shooting threat should provide.
New guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins were recruited from the transfer portal to give UK downhill drivers who can create for themselves and others.
As a sophomore, Malachi Moreno should take a significant step upward at center.
The concerns I have about Kentucky entering the 2026-27 season are whether there will be enough defensive physicality; rebounding; and backcourt depth.
I am not sure Kentucky has Final Four upside for the coming season, but I do think the Wildcats can make it to the second week of the NCAA Tournament for what would be only the second time in the current decade.
Question two comes from Clay Mason on Facebook: “What is the upside for UK women’s basketball next season? Elite eight or Final Four?”
On paper, this looks like the most talented roster of Kenny Brooks’ three seasons at Kentucky.
If Dominika Paurova is fully healthy after missing the past two seasons due to torn ACLs, UK looks 10-deep with quality players.
The initial challenge for Brooks will be whether he can mix a cohesive unit from:
• The returning players: star center Clara Strack; starting shooting guard Asia Boone; and Paurova;
• The high-profile incoming transfers: power forward Me’Arah O’Neal (Florida); combo guard Diana Collins (Alabama); and forward Ayanna Patterson (Connecticut);
• The incoming recruits: point guard Maddyn Greenway; forward Savvy Swords; and guard Emily McDonald; as well as Slovenian wing Ajsa Sivka, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft.
Kentucky’s ability to make a deep March Madness run may depend on what kind of transition freshman point guard Greenway makes to college hoops.
If it is a smooth one, then I think Kentucky has a legitimate chance to reach at least the NCAA Tournament round of eight for the first time since 2013.
As of now, I would give the UK women a better shot in 2027 to make their first Final Four than I would give the Kentucky men to make their 18th trip to the national semifinals.
Question three comes from Ronald Isham on X: “Will there be additions to current men’s (basketball) roster?”
Mark’s reply: I think there could be an addition. At 14 scholarship players presently, Kentucky has one scholarship remaining open.
UK has been linked in recruiting to 6-foot-8 Serbian wing Nikola Kusturica, as have Michigan and UCLA. After Dusty May’s departure from Michigan to the NBA, it is not clear (at least to me) where Kusturica’s recruitment stands.
Rivals.com also reported last week that Class of 2027 center Caleb Ourigou visited Kentucky two weekends ago. The 6-10 Ourigou also had visits slated for Arkansas, BYU and Connecticut. Ourigou is said to be a candidate to reclassify into the recruiting class of 2026.
Question four comes from David Robinson on X: “What is your take on the new NCAA five-year eligibility rule and how it may impact roster construction going forward?”
Mark’s reply: Initially, the biggest change arising from the new rules may be roster crunches.
You are adding a year of eligibility for many college athletes, but roster limits are not expanding. So there figure to be scenarios where coaches will have to choose between keeping a veteran athlete in a program or bringing in a new player.
Already on X, I’ve noticed several posts from high school athletes saying their places on the rosters of the college teams to whom they had committed have been revoked.
Question five comes from Mike Johnson on X: “Because of Caitlin Clark, the WNBA has seen increased TV viewership, moved to bigger arenas and has brought in new, young fans who will be around for years to come. So why do the league and many of its players seem to resent her very presence?”
Mark’s reply: There are current columns on this topic from writers far closer to the WNBA than I. You can find them here and here and here.
From afar, I would observe that WNBA leadership at the highest level has been wholly unimpressive in how it has managed the Clark phenomenon and the reaction to it. Had that been better, I think the weird dynamic toward Clark that you describe could have been largely averted.
Question six comes from Rick Parsons on X: “How do you sleep at night being a Los Angeles Dodgers fan?”
Mark’s reply: It’s very difficult. Often, I am on the verge of slumber when an image from the 2020, 2024 or 2025 World Series will pop into my brain — and then I am too happy to sleep.
