Kentucky Leaning on Last Season’s Team to Define the Standard of the Program

In Lexington, Kentucky basketball is more than a game — it’s a legacy. For decades, the Wildcats have been one of the standard-bearers in college basketball. But in recent years, that standard has been up for debate. Disappointing tournament exits, roster turnover, and questions about development have cast shadows over a program that once defined excellence. Now, in 2025, Kentucky is attempting to re-establish that standard — and they’re doing it by pointing to last season’s team as the foundation.

It might seem ironic, given that Kentucky once again fell short of making a deep NCAA Tournament run. But internally, coaches and players insist that the 2024 squad represented the grit, growth, and potential that could mark the beginning of a cultural reset. It wasn’t a perfect team. It wasn’t a Final Four team. But it was, in their words, a “standard-setting” team.

The Need for a New Standard

For head coach Mark Pope, who replaced John Calipari amid the shifting sands of the NIL and transfer portal era, culture has become the new currency. Pope has spoken often about effort, toughness, and accountability — principles he believes were embodied by last season’s roster, despite its flaws.

“When I got here, I knew Kentucky needed more than talent,” Pope said this spring. “We needed an identity. We needed to compete like our lives depended on it. And last year’s guys — especially late in the season — started to show that.”

The 2024 team went 24-10 overall, a respectable record in a grueling SEC landscape. The roster was a mix of holdovers, transfers, and young pieces. It never quite gelled early, leading to uneven play and skepticism from the fan base. But down the stretch, Kentucky played with renewed urgency, pulling off key wins over Tennessee, Alabama, and Auburn — all top-15 teams at the time. The Wildcats finished 2nd in the SEC standings and earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament before being ousted in the Sweet 16 by Houston.

It wasn’t a banner year, but after back-to-back early exits and Calipari’s departure, it felt like a step forward.

Players Who Set the Tone

One of the names that comes up frequently when Kentucky players and coaches discuss “last year’s standard” is Reed Sheppard. The Kentucky-born guard, who emerged as a breakout star, led the team in steals and assists while shooting over 40% from deep. His energy, work ethic, and competitiveness became a rallying point.

“Reed showed what it means to care every possession,” said sophomore forward Adou Thiero, now a veteran leader himself. “He wasn’t always the loudest guy, but you knew what he stood for. He brought it in practice, in games, every single day. That’s the culture we’re trying to keep alive.”

Sheppard entered the 2024 NBA Draft and was selected in the late lottery, but his influence remains. Younger players watched how he studied film, how he defended 94 feet, how he turned down easier shots to make the right basketball play. It’s that level of selflessness and commitment that the coaching staff now uses as a teaching tool.

Alongside Sheppard, veteran center Ugonna Onyenso made significant strides last season. Known early in his career as a raw shot-blocker, Onyenso became a consistent presence in the paint. He battled injuries but played through pain, earning the respect of teammates.

“Ugonna’s toughness was unreal,” assistant coach Cody Fueger said. “There were nights he could barely jump off that ankle, but he still went out there and gave us everything he had. That’s the Kentucky way.”

A Shift in Program Identity

In the past, Kentucky was synonymous with one-and-done lottery picks and highlight-reel dunks. But the 2024 team didn’t lean on flash. Instead, it leaned into defense, ball movement, and playing for each other. Mark Pope emphasized a more disciplined, motion-heavy offense — a stark contrast to Calipari’s dribble-drive attack — and while it took time, the system began to pay off.

Players bought into roles. Bench guys celebrated like starters. Fans noticed the body language. The locker room was unified.

Pope believes that chemistry and accountability are now non-negotiable.

“We’re done chasing stars,” he said bluntly. “We want competitors. We want guys who love the game, not just the attention. If you’re not about the team, this isn’t your place. That message got through last year, and it’s going to define us moving forward.”

It’s a strong statement in the NIL era, where individual brand and transfer movement can easily fracture locker rooms. But Kentucky is leaning into that message as a point of pride — a throwback to when playing for the name on the front of the jersey mattered more than the name on the back.

Roster Turnover and Returning Voices

The 2025 team looks different on paper. Several players transferred out, while others graduated or entered the draft. But several key contributors — including Thiero, freshman sensation Karter Knox, and point guard DJ Wagner — have returned with a clear mission: build on what last year’s team started.

Thiero, in particular, has emerged as the vocal leader. He’s taken over as the guy who holds others accountable, organizing players-only workouts and film sessions.

“It’s about legacy,” Thiero said. “We’ve seen what happens when the locker room gets too quiet. I’m not letting that happen again. We’re not taking shortcuts.”

Newcomers, too, are being indoctrinated quickly. Freshman guard KJ Evans, a top-30 recruit, said the veterans made it clear during his first practice what the expectations are.

“They said, ‘We don’t care what your ranking is. If you don’t dive on the floor or sprint back on defense, you’re not playing,’” Evans said. “That hit different. It made me want to prove I belong.”

Pope echoed that sentiment.

“It’s not about who scores 20. It’s about who shows up in film study, who claps for their teammate’s success, who closes out hard in practice. That’s the Kentucky we’re building.”

From Lessons to Legacy

Last season’s Kentucky team may not go down in the record books as an all-time great, but its significance may be felt years from now if this cultural pivot sticks.

For a program that has won eight national championships and produced dozens of NBA stars, the standard has always been high. But there’s a growing belief within the program that the standard isn’t just winning titles — it’s how you represent the program every day.

Strength coach Brady Welsh noted that offseason attendance in the weight room has been the best in a decade.

“These guys are hungry. You can feel it,” Welsh said. “They talk about Reed. They talk about Ugonna. They talk about the guys who showed them what commitment looks like. And now they’re doing the same for the next group.”

It’s a chain reaction the program hopes will redefine Kentucky basketball’s identity in the transfer portal era.

Fan Buy-In and Patience

Fans, of course, are both encouraged and anxious. Big Blue Nation is passionate and knowledgeable — and they want banners. Many acknowledge the effort and chemistry of the 2024 team, but they also remember early tournament exits and unfulfilled potential.

Pope is asking for time. And more importantly, he’s asking for alignment.

“I want our fans to understand the journey we’re on,” he said at a summer fan event. “Yes, we want to win now. But we’re building a culture that can last. And that takes more than a season.”

Still, in Kentucky, patience is never in abundance. The Wildcats will need to turn promise into postseason success to truly cement this new era.

But if last season was about planting the seeds, the 2025 team is expected to begin the harvest.

Looking Ahead

The schedule won’t offer any grace. Kentucky will play Kansas, Michigan State, and Baylor in non-conference action, and the SEC gauntlet remains unforgiving. But Pope believes this team is tougher, more focused, and built for adversity.

DJ Wagner, who struggled with consistency last year, is reportedly sharper and more confident in offseason scrimmages. Knox has added 15 pounds of muscle and looks poised for a breakout sophomore season. And Thiero has taken the reins as the emotional anchor.

“Our leadership is different this year,” Pope said. “It’s player-driven. Coaches can set the tone, but it’s the locker room that enforces it. And right now, our locker room is locked in.”

Whether or not that translates into an Elite Eight or Final Four berth remains to be seen. But the foundation is there. And Kentucky — after years of flash without substance — is finally leaning into substance as the defining trait of its program.

Last season’s Kentucky team may not have raised a trophy, but it may have done something just as important: it reminded everyone what Kentucky basketball should look like. Tough. Unselfish. Relentless. Proud.

For the coaches, players, and loyal fans, that version of Kentucky is now the new standard. And the 2025 team knows exactly what they’re being measured against.