Big Blue Nation reacts to another Kentucky transfer portal miss

TL;DR

Kentucky Wildcats missed out on transfer Donnie Freeman, who committed to St. John's. Fans express frustration as the team struggles to fill gaps in the roster.

Key points

Donnie Freeman committed to St. John's instead of Kentucky
Kentucky's frontcourt is currently understaffed
Mark Pope has missed on multiple transfer targets
Fans are frustrated with the state of the program

Mentioned in this story

Mark PopeRick Pitino

Kentucky WildcatsSt. John'sDuke Blue DevilsTennessee Volunteers

Monday night was not a good one for the Kentucky Wildcats and Big Blue Nation. Transfer portal forward Donnie Freeman announced his commitment to St. John's and coach Mark Pope whiffed on another target this offseason. It seemed like a lock that he would be a Wildcat last week, but former coach Rick Pitino lured him away, leaving Kentucky fans feeling a familiar disappointing feeling.

The Wildcats have landed guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins so far, and got two talented players. However, the roster is still woefully understaffed, and the frontcourt is currently a mess. Malachi Moreno may not return, and Reece Potter is the only other big man they have.

Pope has targeted several power forwards, but has missed on each of them so far. There are still some good options left, but time is running out, and Kentucky fans are getting nervous.

There are a lot of questions about Pope's ability to land top players, and they seem justified. He has struggled to close while rival schools like the Duke Blue Devils and Tennessee Volunteers continue to rack up talent. Fans took to X on Monday night to express their frustrations with the state of the program. Here are some of their thoughts.

On Mark Pope

Top three portal classes are currently Louisville, Tennessee and Indiana.

Rick Pitino just stole a top target from UK.

It's a Big Blue nightmare right now pic.twitter.com/xSz0URJOSs

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) April 21, 2026

Given all the resources, is Mark Pope the worst recruiter in the country?

— Jason Scheer (@jasonscheer) April 21, 2026

Q&A

Why did Donnie Freeman choose St. John's over Kentucky?

Donnie Freeman chose St. John's due to the influence of former coach Rick Pitino, who successfully recruited him.

What are the current roster issues for Kentucky Wildcats basketball?

The Kentucky Wildcats are facing a lack of depth in the frontcourt, with only Reece Potter available and uncertainty surrounding Malachi Moreno's return.

How has Mark Pope performed in recruiting for Kentucky?

Mark Pope has struggled to secure top transfer targets, missing out on several power forwards while rival schools continue to attract talent.

What are Kentucky fans saying about the current state of the basketball program?

Kentucky fans have expressed their frustrations on social media, questioning Mark Pope's recruiting abilities and the team's overall direction.