Category: Kentucky wildcat

 

 

The Kentucky Wildcats have swiftly shifted gears toward roster enhancement. Head Coach Mark Pope is moving aggressively in the recruiting landscape, particularly in the transfer portal. One of his top priorities? San Diego State transfer Magoon Gwath.

 

Momentum is already building between Kentucky and Gwath. Over the weekend, sources confirmed that the highly touted transfer engaged in a Zoom call with the Wildcats’ coaching staff, signaling serious interest from both sides.

 

The Emergence of Magoon Gwath

Once overlooked as a high school recruit, Gwath has quickly rewritten his narrative. Now ranked as the No. 12 overall player in the transfer portal, he has become one of the most sought-after talents in college basketball. During his freshman campaign at San Diego State, Gwath delivered an electrifying performance, showcasing his versatility and defensive prowess.

 

Hailing from Euless, Texas, before finishing high school at Veritas Prep in California, Gwath racked up accolades as the Mountain West Conference Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. His imposing presence in the paint was undeniable, averaging 2.6 blocks per game and proving himself as a game-changer on the defensive end.

 

Why Kentucky Makes Sense

With multiple frontcourt departures, including Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr, Kentucky faces an urgent need to replenish its size and interior defense. While Pope has already targeted several mid-major guards, Gwath represents a premium frontcourt acquisition who could immediately impact both ends of the floor.

 

What makes Gwath particularly valuable is his ability to stretch defenses. Unlike traditional rim protectors, the 7-foot, 205-pound standout isn’t confined to the paint-he shot an impressive 37.8% from three-point range and 50.6% from the field last season. His skill set aligns perfectly with Pope’s up-tempo, space-oriented system, making him an ideal fit for Kentucky’s evolving roster.

 

The Recruiting Battle Heats Up

Kentucky isn’t alone in the race. According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Michigan is also emerging as a serious contender for Gwath’s services. Additionally, a potential return to San Diego State remains on the table. With multiple elite programs in the mix, his recruitment has quickly become one of the most closely watched sagas of the offseason.

 

The Wildcats have already secured former Tulane standout Kam Williams to fortify their backcourt, but adding a dynamic two-way presence like Gwath would elevate their roster significantly. His combination of shot-blocking, rebounding, and three-point shooting could provide the perfect balance to a Kentucky squad aiming to make another deep postseason run.

 

What Lies Ahead for Gwath?

Kentucky’s proactive approach suggests they are determined to secure Gwath’s commitment, and with Pope-a former big man himself-leading the charge, the Wildcats present a compelling case.

 

As the offseason unfolds, Gwath’s decision looms large. Will he embrace the challenge of playing in Lexington, or will another suitor sway him elsewhere? One thing is clear-wherever he lands, his impact will be felt across the college basketball landscape.

 

 

 

 

Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope and players Lamont Butler and Andrew Carr talk to the media after the Wildcats’ 78-65 loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament on March 28, 2025, in Indianapolis.

In our In the Spotlight stories, Herald-Leader journalists bring you continuing coverage of news and events important to our Central Kentucky community. Read more. Story idea?

 

Transfer portal season has progressed to a new stage for the Kentucky men’s basketball program.

 

Potential additions for Mark Pope’s 2025-26 roster are starting to show up on campus.

 

Former Florida State player Taylor Bol Bowen is arriving in Lexington on Tuesday for an official visit, and the Herald-Leader has confirmed that he will be the first recruit to be hosted by the Kentucky coaches on campus since the transfer portal opened last week.

 

Bol Bowen — a 6-foot-10, 195-pound forward — played the past two seasons for the Seminoles and will have two more years of NCAA eligibility remaining. As a sophomore, he averaged 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals in 24.9 minutes per game while making 27 starts over 29 total appearances.

 

He also shot 41.4% from 3-point range, going 29-for-70 from long range this season.

 

Bol Bowen has a 7-2 wingspan and is known for his defensive ability. His individual stats placed him as one of the 10 most valuable defenders in the ACC last season, according to the metrics at EvanMiya.com.

 

Florida State finished 17-15 (8-12 ACC), and it was announced in February that longtime coach Leonard Hamilton would resign at the end of the season.

 

Bol Bowen was the No. 73 recruit in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings that year. As of Tuesday, 247Sports ranks Bol Bowen as the No. 76 available transfer in the portal this spring.

 

Kentucky has already received a pledge from former Tulane wing Kam Williams, who committed to the Wildcats on Friday, without visiting UK’s campus.

 

The Cats lost backup point guard Kerr Kriisa to the transfer portal Monday — a move that had long been expected — but they could still return Otega Oweh, Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, Trent Noah and Travis Perry from this season’s team.

 

UK will also bring in talented freshman recruits Jasper Johnson, Acaden Lewis and Malachi Moreno — as well as Williams — as newcomers to the 2025-26 roster.

 

That leaves a few more spots to fill for Pope and his coaching staff, with Bol Bowen’s visit to Kentucky on Tuesday indicating he’s among the most serious potential additions via the transfer portal.

 

Bol Bowen is scheduled to visit Alabama next, and more on-campus visitors for Kentucky should reveal themselves in the coming days.

 

Taylor Bol Bowen averaged 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game game at Florida State this season.

Taylor Bol Bowen averaged 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game game at Florida State this season. Troy Taormina USA TODAY NETWORK

 

Profile Image of Ben Roberts

 

 

 

 

The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off a heartbreaking loss in the Sweet 16 to Tennessee, as Mark Pope’s first season in Lexington has come to an end.

 

Now, his attention will turn directly to the transfer portal as he looks to fill out his roster for the 2025-26 season.

 

As college sports have changed, NIL has become a major factor in college basketball, especially when it comes to recruiting. A major question entering this portal recruiting period consistently surrounds how much money each program has to spend.

 

Thankfully, it sounds like the Cats have a healthy budget to spend this offseason.

 

According to Pete Nakos of On3, the Cats have a budget of around $8-10 million to spend on the 2025-26 roster.

 

“Pope could be working with an $8 to $10 million payroll, depending on how much Kentucky allocates to its basketball team in revenue sharing. Kentucky has already proved it is ready to play ball in this year’s transfer portal. Despite losing out to UCLA on New Mexico guard Donovan Dent, the Wildcats were a top contender. Dent’s reported asking price was around the $3 million mark.”

 

If the Cats’ have $6 million in NIL dollars plus this settlement, it appears that this Kentucky staff could be working with one of the best budgets in the sport.

 

 

 

He said thank you BBN, but really all of BBN is thanking Carr. What a ride it has been

championships, others with records. But some leave with something even more meaningful—a legacy of restoring Kentucky basketball to where it belongs.

 

Andrew Carr was one of those players.

 

After Kentucky’s season ended, he posted a heartbreaking farewell—a photo of himself high-fiving fans on his way off the court earlier this year, captioned with nothing but a few 💔 emojis. Sometimes, words aren’t necessary.

 

A Season of Fighting Through Pain

Carr’s numbers won’t tell the whole story. He battled back spasms all year, yet he never made excuses. He just kept lacing up his shoes, stepping onto the court, and giving everything for the name on the front of the jersey.

 

 

He was a do-it-all forward who brought toughness and leadership everywhere he played

 

His production may have dipped, but his impact never wavered.

 

A Team That Made History

 

Carr was part of a team that finally brought Kentucky back—the first Sweet 16 since 2019, wins over Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, and Tennessee (twice), and a postseason run that tripled Kentucky’s win total since 2021.

 

After the loss, he struggled to take off his jersey, telling reporters:

 

“I don’t want to untie my shoes or take off this jersey. Shoutout to BBN—it’s like nowhere else I’ve ever experienced.”

 

Then, in a moment that will live on, he interrupted the press conference to send a message to any player considering their next move:

 

“If you’re in the transfer portal and looking for a place to go—go to Kentucky.”

 

With those words, he flexed the jersey one last time.

 

A Wildcat, Forever

Andrew Carr didn’t have the season he envisioned, but he was part of something bigger than himself. He helped lay the foundation for Kentucky basketball’s resurgence.

 

 

“They set a higher standard—on the court and off. I’m grateful for that, and that standard will carry us a long way. We’ll be talking about these guys 10 years from now for what they did to establish that.”

 

Some players are remembered for stats. Others for banners. But Carr will be remembered for the fight, the heart, and the belief that Kentucky was still Kentucky.

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Carr’s college career came to an emotional end on Friday as Kentucky fell to Tennessee in the Sweet 16.

 

Carr started his career at Delaware, where he spent two seasons before transferring to Wake Forest. After a pair of seasons there, he headed to Kentucky as part of Mark Pope’s initial recruiting class.

 

An understandably disappointed Carr took the podium after the Wildcats’ defeat in Indianapolis.

 

“It’s certainly very difficult. Don’t want to untie my shoes. Don’t want to take off this jersey,” he said. “Definitely shout-out BBN and all of the fans. It’s like nowhere I’ve ever experienced, and (I) really have have just had the most fun playing basketball this season.”

 

Carr averaged 10.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game with the Wildcats. He totaled 9 points against the Volunteers after 4 points against Illinois in the second round and 13 points against Troy in the first round.

 

Despite the loss, Carr credited the support of Kentucky fans throughout the year as they welcomed him “with open arms” as he transferred in to the program in the offseason.

 

“It hurts right now, but as we continue, (we) just look back and be more and more proud as time goes on,” he said.

 

 

 

 

Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope talks to the media on Thursday, March 27, 2025, as the Wildcats prepare to play Tennessee on Friday in the NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis. Pope was asked about his time with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers.

Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats are still playing in the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament.

 

But, that hasn’t stopped Pope and the UK coaching staff from already looking toward the 2025-26 season.

 

That was evident Friday morning — the day of Kentucky’s Sweet 16 matchup in Indianapolis against longtime SEC rival Tennessee — when the Wildcats got a commitment out of the NCAA transfer portal from former Tulane freshman guard Kam Williams.

 

ESPN first reported Williams’ commitment to the Wildcats.

 

“Not many people get opportunities like this, so I wanted to pull the trigger fast,” Williams told ESPN. “More people are waiting to fill that spot, so I had to take advantage.”

 

A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, the 6-foot-8 Williams spent his freshman season close to home at Tulane in New Orleans in the American Athletic Conference.

 

The 19-year-old Williams — who functioned as a wing for Tulane — averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game for the Green Wave this season. Williams started 28 times and played in all 33 of Tulane’s games this season.

 

According to ESPN, Williams also considered schools such as Arkansas, Baylor, Florida, Louisville, LSU, Southern California, Texas and Texas Tech during his brief time in the portal. Williams entered the transfer portal on Monday, the first day that the portal was officially open.

 

“My dream is to play in the NBA,” Williams also told ESPN. “Kentucky’s culture and background shows that they care about their players, especially developing them into the best players they can be.”

 

Kam Williams (3) averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game for Tulane this season.

Kam Williams (3) averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game for Tulane this season.

247Sports national basketball analyst Travis Branham told the Herald-Leader that he projects Williams as a late-blooming forward.

 

“I really like this pickup for Kentucky — getting a late-blooming forward with all the tools and high upside,” Branham said. “He is continuing to gain more and more confidence and has the ability to defend multiple positions, and he’s continuing to grow as a shooter. He’ll fit in well with Kentucky’s offensive scheme and provide size and length on the defensive end.”

 

Williams’ shooting splits were certainly a major reason why UK targeted him as its first transfer portal add for next season’s roster: Williams shot 48.5% from the field and 41.2% on 3-pointers in his first college season. This made Williams one of the top shooters available in the portal.

 

“The key with him will be gaining strength and confidence,” Branham added. “He could see a rapid rate of improvement if that all comes together. He’s one that is already well on the NBA radar.”

 

ESPN reported that Williams was planning on testing NBA draft waters this offseason while also entering his name into the transfer portal, but he will no longer do that.

 

According to college basketball statistician Evan Miyakawa, Williams ranked as the No. 179 available player in the transfer portal, as of Friday morning, out of more than 1,300 portal entrants.

 

 

Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope watches his team during an open practice at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Thursday, March 20, 2025, a day before Kentucky’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against Troy.

Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope watches his team during an open practice at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Thursday, March 20, 2025, a day before Kentucky’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against Troy. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens

Kam Williams (3) shot 48.5% from the field and 41.2% on 3-pointers in his first college season, making Williams one of the top shooters available in the transfer portal.

Kam Williams (3) shot 48.5% from the field and 41.2% on 3-pointers in his first college season, making Williams one of the top shooters available in the transfer portal. Chris Jones

Kentucky basketball to use NCAA transfer portal to fill out 2025-26 roster

Pope and the Wildcats won’t have to do a full-scale rebuild of the Kentucky basketball roster this offseason like they did one year ago.

 

Pope’s first UK squad in the 2024-25 season didn’t include a single returning scholarship player from the season prior.

 

Six players from the 2024-25 UK team are expected to now be out of NCAA eligibility. Guard Kerr Kriisa could receive a sixth year of eligibility due to his injury issues, but Kriisa is not expected to be part of Kentucky’s roster for next season.

 

The UK scholarship players who still have eligibility are guards Collin Chandler, Otega Oweh and Travis Perry, forward Trent Noah and center Brandon Garrison.

 

Chandler, Perry and Noah were freshmen in the 2024-25 season. Garrison was a sophomore and Oweh was a junior.

 

Currently, the Wildcats are set to bring in three freshmen for next season: Left-handed guards Jasper Johnson and Acaden Lewis and in-state center Malachi Moreno, who is a McDonald’s All-American selection and was this year’s Kentucky Mr. Basketball winner.

 

During the March 24 edition of his weekly radio show, Pope discussed UK’s planned transfer portal strategy for this spring.

 

“We have a dozen massive Excel spreadsheets that we’re updating literally minute by minute,” Pope said on March 24, which was the first day the transfer portal officially opened for NCAA Division I men’s basketball players.

 

”… Guys have seen the massive success that our transfers have had this year and I expect that we’re going to have great success recruiting in the portal.”

 

According to CBS Sports, Kentucky is the only team in the last 20 years to reach the Sweet 16 after returning zero points from the previous season.

 

Previously on Feb. 13, Pope also discussed his transfer portal approach during a weekly press conference when answering a question about Ansley Almonor, a portal addition in May 2024 from low-major school Fairleigh Dickinson.

 

“We have a bunch of different prongs of our portal attack. And one of them is the ‘Moneyball’ space of how we run with guys in the portal. Of course, there’s all the guys we know that are super public facing, high-ranked portal guys. So there’s a bunch of different areas in that space where we attack the portal,” Pope began.

 

“But the ‘Moneyball’ part of it is really interesting, too. … You have your Excel spreadsheet with all of the columns of data, and we start to say, ‘OK. Let’s forget the algorithm that puts all that data together, and then ranks players.’ Let’s just only go to these three data points and throw out all the other data. And see who raises to the top of the list if we do that.”

 

That’s how Almonor became a ‘Moneyball Guy’ for Pope in year one at Kentucky, and exemplifies the template UK uses to find hidden gems in the portal.

 

Tulane freshman guard Kam Williams defends Memphis guard Colby Rogers during a game in the 2024-25 season. Williams has committed to Kentucky basketball as a transfer portal addition for next season.

Tulane freshman guard Kam Williams defends Memphis guard Colby Rogers during a game in the 2024-25 season. Williams has committed to Kentucky basketball as a transfer portal addition for next season.

 

Today we look at the top 30 players in the transfer portal as of 7 AM Tuesday March 25th, and who Kentucky should go after.

 

 

As the madness of March 2025 unfolds, Kentucky basketball, under the steady hand of Coach Mark Pope, is already plotting its next moves in the NCAA transfer portal.

 

With the Wildcats storming into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019—thanks to a transfer portal laden team—Big Blue Nation is dreaming big in 2025. But behind the scenes, Pope and his staff are knee-deep in Excel spreadsheets, tracking the top talent ready to shape Kentucky’s 2025-26 roster.

 

With five (maybe four) scholarship slots to fill, depending on Kerr Kriisa’s decision, the Cats are poised to pounce. Let’s dive into the portal chaos, spotlight the top 30 players per 247Sports, and uncover who Kentucky should chase next—beyond the names they’re already wooing.

 

The Transfer Portal Buzz: Pope’s Plan in Motion

 

On his radio show last night, Pope pulled back the curtain on Kentucky’s transfer strategy:

 

“We’re getting all the reporting that everybody’s getting—who’s in the portal, who’s leaning that way,” he said. “While our communication with those rumored to be entering is limited, we’ve been doing a ton of planning.”

 

Assistant video coordinator Matt Santoro is the unsung hero here, juggling “a dozen massive Excel spreadsheets” updated “minute by minute.” Pope’s excitement is palpable:

 

“There’s incredibly talented players out there. Guys have seen the massive success our transfers had this year, and I expect we’ll have great success recruiting in the portal.”

 

Kentucky’s Roster & Open Spots

 

Kentucky’s current roster is a mix of returning stars and incoming freshmen:

 

Returning Players with Eligibility:

 

Incoming Freshmen:

 

 

Kriisa’s Kentucky future is shaky; it doesn’t sound promising that he’ll wabt to endure another college season. Assuming he bolts and Kentucky misses on top recruit Ament, that leaves eight scholarship players locked in. With 13 spots total, that opens five slots—or four if Kriisa surprises us.

 

So, who’s already on Kentucky’s radar, and who should they target next?

 

Kentucky’s Current Transfer Targets

Sources say Kentucky’s already reached out to some big names from 247Sports’ top 30 transfer portal rankings:

 

Dedan Thomas (PG, UNLV, No. 1, 0.9800) – A 6-1 playmaker averaging stats worth chasing. Kentucky’s in the mix—can they land this top prize?

Josh Dix (SG, Iowa, No. 2, 0.9700) – At 6-6, this sharpshooter’s caught Pope’s eye. His size and scoring could stretch defenses in Lexington.

Elyjah Freeman (SF, Lincoln Memorial, No. 10, 0.9400) – A 6-8 forward with untapped potential—Kentucky’s sniffing around this sleeper.

Nick Davidson (C, Nevada, No. 7, 0.9500) – A 6-10 big man who could bolster the frontcourt. The Cats are watching closely.

Treysen Eaglestaff (G, North Dakota) – Not in the top 30 yet, but a dynamic scorer.

Plus, there’s an international twist: Kentucky has eyes on Hannes Steinbach, a 6-9 German power forward. Pope loves his global finds—think Amari Williams—and Steinbach could be next.

 

Five Fresh Targets Kentucky Should Chase

With five slots to fill, here are five top-30-or-close talents Kentucky hasn’t reportedly contacted yet—but should. These picks blend stats, fit, and that Wildcat wow factor:

 

1. Isaac McKneely (SG, Virginia)

2024-25 Stats: 14.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 42% 3PT

Why UK? – A 6-4 junior who lights it up from deep, McKneely’s a proven scorer and a three-point assassin. With Oweh and Chandler, he’d form a lethal backcourt trio.

 

2. Oscar Cluff (C, South Dakota State)

2024-25 Stats: 17.6 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 62% 2PT

Why UK? – A 6-11 double-double machine, Cluff’s a bruiser who’d pair perfectly with Garrison. His efficiency inside screams “next Amari Williams”.

 

3. Blake Harper (F, Howard)

2024-25 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 40% 3PT

Why UK? – At 6-5, Harper’s a scoring dynamo with versatility. His 19.5 PPG could replace Brea’s spark, and his three-point touch fits Pope’s system.

 

4. Cooper Schwieger (C, Valparaiso)

2024-25 Stats: 15.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG

Why UK? – A 6-9 big with scoring chops and rebounding grit. Schwieger’s a mid-major gem who could thrive in the SEC.

 

5. Mikey Williams (CG, UCF, ex-Memphis)

Why UK? – Once a top-40 recruit, this 6-2 combo guard’s year at UCF (5.1 PPG) didn’t pop, but his upside screams “Kentucky reclamation project.” Think Kerr Kriisa swag—Pope could unlock his potential.

 

 

Kentucky’s already in on Thomas, Dix, Freeman, Davidson, and Eaglestaff, with Steinbach as a wild card. Adding McKneely, Cluff, Harper, Schwieger, and Williams to the wish list would supercharge their portal haul.

 

Pope’s got the spreadsheets humming, the phone lines ringing, and BBN dreaming. As he put it:

 

“It’s really exciting.”

 

With this talent pool, it’s about to get wild in Lexington.

 

Who do you think the Cats should snag? The portal’s open, and Kentucky’s ready to pounce!

 

 

 

The Kentucky Wildcats are in the thick of game prep for their matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers this Friday in Indianapolis, but they are still hot on the recruiting trail as the players are entering the portal from all over.

 

We have heard plenty of names that the UK staff has contacted, but now we can add two more players to the contact list. One will be a very familiar name to the BBN as well.

 

According to Jacob Polacheck of KSR, Kentucky has contacted Indiana transfer forward Mackenzie Mgbako. Polacheck has also reported that the staff has shown interest in Syracuse transfer guard Elijah Moore.

 

Let’s start with Mgbako.

 

The former 5-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American has spent the last two seasons in Bloomington after originally being committed to Duke. He was briefly recruited by Kentucky.

 

From New Jersey, Mgbako had a decent season for the Hoosiers. He finished the year averaging 12.2 points on 43.7% shooting and 33% from deep. He also added 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

 

It seems this may be initial contact, but Mgbako could be a potential fit in an Otega Oweh-type role if he was to head to the NBA after this season. Will be an interesting name to monitor in the coming days and weeks.

 

 

Originally from the Bronx, Moore had a decent freshman campaign for the Orange. He finished the year averaging 5.2 points per game on 39% shooting from the field and 31.5% from deep.

 

As a former 4-star recruit and top-60 player in the class of 2024, Moore possesses plenty of upside that can make an impact in the right system. Will that be in Lexington? It is still too early to tell.

 

It appears the UK staff is casting a wide net once again this offseason. Now, we have two more talented players to add to the portal watch list.

 

 

 

 

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – First Round – Cleveland

 

Ethan DeWitt serves as an editor with us here at A Sea of Blue.

The transfer portal is heating up across the college basketball world, and the Kentucky Wildcats are diving straight into these transfer recruitments. With plenty of names starting to surface for the Cats this offseason, they have now been connected to two of the biggest names in the portal.

 

According to Jacob Polacheck of KSR, Mark Pope and Jason Hart have spoken with New Mexico transfer guard Donovan Dent.

 

The 6-foot-2 point guard from Riverside (CA) is considered one of the best playmakers in the country, and he showed that for the Lobos this season. The junior standout finished the year averaging 20.4 points per game on 49% shooting from the field and 41% from deep. He also added 6.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game.

 

This recruitment will be a heavyweight fight. Let’s see if Pope and his staff can make some quick moves for the Cats in this one.

 

Kentucky has also been in contact with San Diego State transfer center Magoon Gwath, according to College Basketball Content on Twitter.

 

Gwath, a 7-foot center from Euless (TX), earned Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors this season for the Aztecs as a redshirt freshman. He averaged 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks while shooting 37.8% from deep on 1.7 attempts per game.

 

We have seen how impactful one San Diego State transfer has been to this new-look UK program. A second one couldn’t hurt, right? Especially if these shot-blocking skills translate to the SEC.

 

 

 

 

 

Most March Madness wins by school: How Kentucky can leapfrog UNC in NCAA basketball all-time standings image

Cinderella has exited the Big Dance after two rounds, and a slew of blue-blood programs are left in her place.

 

The Sweet 16 of this year’s NCAA Tournament includes some of the biggest names in college basketball, with Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Florida having claimed multiple national championships. More past winners, like Maryland and Arkansas, are also represented, making 2025 a year for the Goliaths of the sport.

 

The programs that are left in the tournament aren’t there by accident, however. They are among the winningest programs in NCAA Tournament history. If Kentucky continues to shine this March and April, it could soon become the all-time winningest program in March Madness.

 

Which school has the most March Madness wins, and can Kentucky pass them this year? Here’s a look at the overall success of blue-blood programs in the NCAA Tournament.

 

Which school has the most March Madness wins?

North Carolina has the most March Madness wins, running its all-time total to 134 with its win over San Diego State in the First Four this year. Most of those wins were amassed under Hall of Fame coaches Roy Williams and Dean Smith.

 

Kentucky is next on the list with 132 wins after it beat Troy in the first round and Illinois in the second round. The Wildcats have also had some legendary coaches like John Calipari and Rick Pitino who’ve led them to success in the NCAA Tournament.

 

Here are the top-10 winningest programs of all-time in March Madness.

 

WINS TEAM

134 North Carolina

132* Kentucky

124 Duke

113* Kansas

111* UCLA

75 Michigan State

70* UConn

68 Indiana

67 Villanova

66* Syracuse

61* Louisville

*Does not include vacated appearances

 

Will Kentucky pass UNC for the most March Madness wins?

Kentucky has a chance to pass UNC for the most March Madness wins this year. Mark Pope and the Wildcats are three wins shy of passing the Tar Heels on the list.

 

In order for Kentucky to leapfrog UNC, it would have to reach the national championship game. While the Wildcats are going to be facing high-quality opponents in the tournament from this point on, they certainly have a chance to get to April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

 

Kentucky plays Tennessee in the Sweet 16, a team it beat twice in the regular season this year. If the Wildcats win, they would play either Houston, whom it last faced in the Sweet 16 in 2019, or Purdue, whom it last faced in the Elite 8 in 1997. If they reach the Final Four, Kentucky will play the winner of the East region.

 

What is a blue-blood program?

The term “blue blood” often refers to programs in college basketball that are considered the most elite. The exact criteria for “blue-blood” status varies depending on who you ask, but national titles, history of success, and national relevance are usually a good place to start. The programs that are often at the center of the blue blood debate are Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, UCLA, and UConn.