Justin McBride Picked Kentucky and Mark Pope Just Solved His Biggest Portal Headache

Mark Pope's Kentucky team took another swing at the power forward position this offseason, and this time it connected. After whiffing on Donnie Freeman, who chose UConn instead, the Wildcats landed former JMU forward Justin McBride. He's officially a Wildcat, and he pairs up with Ousmane N'Diaye, the 6'11 Senegalese power forward Pope grabbed first when the Freeman deal fell through.

McBride's Offensive Game Is a Perfect Fit

Last season for the Dukes, McBride was a bucket. He averaged 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 49.4% from the field and 40% from three. That kind of efficiency from deep is exactly what Pope's system needs. A four who can shoot it? That was a major issue for Kentucky's power forwards last season. McBride can absolutely provide that.

The Defense Question Lingers

Here's where it gets real though. McBride is 6'7, which is a legit concern playing the four in the SEC. He posted a negative defensive rating in the Sun Belt, so defense could be a problem at this level. That's the trade-off you're making here. His offensive game is undeniable, but defenders in the SEC are going to test him.

The Backup Four Plan

The way Pope should use McBride is as the backup four, with N'Diaye starting. N'Diaye has way more upside long term, and his experience matters. That said, McBride's college seasoning could make a case for him starting over N'Diaye depending on how things shake out. But the real win is that both guys can make the three-ball. That pairing solves a real problem.

Kentucky needed frontcourt depth badly after the Freeman miss, and McBride was a solid grab. The one-two punch of N'Diaye and McBride should give Pope some real flexibility up front.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.