There are plenty of reasons Kentucky fans are excited about the arrival of Milan Momcilovic, but Mark Pope may have just revealed the one quality that could make the talented sharpshooter truly special in Lexington.
Momcilovic was already regarded as one of the most dangerous shooters in college basketball before arriving at Kentucky. His numbers from last season at Iowa State were extraordinary, and his ability to consistently knock down difficult three-point attempts made him one of the most coveted players available in the transfer portal.
But according to Pope, there is something beyond the statistics that makes Momcilovic such an intriguing addition.
It is his mindset when the pressure is at its highest.
After spending much of the summer putting Momcilovic through difficult situations during Kentucky’s practices, Pope has apparently discovered that the 6-foot-8 wing does not become uncomfortable when the game gets tougher.
Instead, he may actually become even more comfortable.
And that could be enormous news for the Wildcats.
Momcilovic arrived at Kentucky with enormous expectations
When Kentucky eventually landed Momcilovic in late May, there was considerable excitement surrounding the program.
The Wildcats had spent weeks waiting for a decision from one of the nation’s premier shooters, and when Pope and his staff finally secured his commitment, it immediately became clear why Kentucky had pursued him so aggressively.
Momcilovic was not simply another perimeter player.
He was coming off a remarkable season with Iowa State in which he established himself as one of the most efficient three-point shooters in the country.
He shot an incredible 48.7% from three-point range, while also making 136 three-pointers on 7.5 attempts per game.
That combination of volume and efficiency is what makes the numbers so remarkable.
He was not simply taking a handful of open shots and posting an impressive percentage. Momcilovic was attempting threes at a significant rate while still converting them at an extraordinary level.
That is exactly the type of offensive weapon Pope wanted to bring to Kentucky.
And now, after eight weeks of summer competition, the Wildcats’ head coach appears even more impressed.
Pope deliberately tried to make things difficult
One of the most fascinating parts of Momcilovic’s summer has been the way Pope has challenged him.
Rather than allowing the nation’s best shooter to simply continue doing what he already does well, Pope has intentionally placed him in uncomfortable situations.
The goal was essentially to discover whether Momcilovic’s extraordinary shooting numbers would remain intact when the circumstances became more difficult.
Pope even admitted that he wanted to find ways to knock Momcilovic off the shooting leaderboard.
That turned out to be much harder than expected.
Speaking during an interview with The Field of 68, Pope described the competitive edge he has seen from his new star.
“He is so great, and he’s got a little cutting edge to him, too — a little fearless cutting edge to him,” Pope said.
The Kentucky coach explained that he spent much of the summer talking trash to Momcilovic, putting him in unusual situations and challenging him to take shots that other players were not being asked to attempt.
The message was clear: if Momcilovic could remain effective under those circumstances, Kentucky could have something extremely special.
And Momcilovic kept answering the challenge
For many players, being placed under constant pressure can affect their confidence.
A shooter can start thinking about mechanics. A player can become hesitant. A difficult shot can suddenly feel even more difficult when everyone is watching.
But Pope has seen something different from Momcilovic.
Instead of becoming overwhelmed, the young star appears to possess an unusual level of calmness.
That may ultimately be his greatest weapon.
Pope explained that competition naturally creates anxiety for athletes, including Momcilovic. However, there is an important difference when the moment involves shooting the basketball.
According to Pope, Momcilovic seems to become more comfortable when the pressure increases.
That is a potentially terrifying development for Kentucky’s opponents.
“It’s just his peaceful place”
Pope compared Momcilovic’s mentality to former Kentucky sharpshooter Koby Brea and explained why he believes his new player is so dangerous in important situations.
The Kentucky coach said Momcilovic has a calmness when competing and suggested that the biggest moments may actually bring out the best in him.
Pope’s description was particularly telling.
He explained that when he watches Momcilovic play, the moments when the shooter appears most free and comfortable are when he is taking a shot — especially when that shot carries significant importance.
In Pope’s words, “It’s just his peaceful place.”
That is precisely the type of mentality every coach wants from a player who could eventually be responsible for taking game-winning shots.
Kentucky could give Momcilovic the ultimate green light
The implications for Kentucky are enormous.
If Momcilovic can maintain his shooting efficiency while playing in a bigger role, the Wildcats could have one of the most dangerous perimeter weapons in the country.
Pope is clearly not interested in limiting him.
Instead, the summer appears to have been about testing how far Momcilovic can be pushed.
And if those tests have confirmed what Pope already suspected, Kentucky fans could be looking at a player who receives an enormous amount of freedom offensively.
The Wildcats need players who can stretch defenses, punish teams for helping off shooters and knock down difficult shots when offensive possessions break down.
Momcilovic checks all of those boxes.
His size makes him particularly difficult to defend. At 6-foot-8, he can shoot over smaller defenders while also creating spacing for Kentucky’s other offensive weapons.
That could become a major problem for opposing teams.
The Jodie Meeks record is now in sight
There is another fascinating subplot surrounding Momcilovic’s shooting.
Pope reportedly wants to challenge him to pursue Kentucky’s single-season three-point record.
Jodie Meeks currently holds the program mark after making 117 three-pointers in a single season.
Considering Momcilovic made 136 threes at Iowa State last season, the possibility of him threatening that record is certainly intriguing.
Of course, transferring to a new program comes with different circumstances.
He will have different teammates, different offensive schemes and different defensive attention.
Kentucky’s schedule will also present a much different challenge.
But if Momcilovic receives the type of freedom Pope appears prepared to give him, the record could become one of the most interesting individual storylines surrounding the Wildcats throughout the season.
Kentucky may have found its pressure-proof shooter
The most exciting part of this story may not actually be Momcilovic’s 48.7% three-point shooting.
It may be the fact that Pope believes the player becomes even more comfortable when the pressure rises.
That is a quality that cannot always be taught.
Coaches can improve mechanics. They can create better offensive schemes. They can put players through difficult drills.
But genuine confidence in the biggest moments is different.
Momcilovic appears to possess it.
And that could be exactly what Kentucky needs.
The Wildcats will face plenty of difficult games throughout the upcoming season, and eventually there will be moments when the offense needs someone to step forward and take a huge shot.
If Pope’s assessment proves correct, Momcilovic may not hesitate.
He may actually want the responsibility.
That possibility should have Kentucky fans extremely excited.
The Wildcats did not simply add one of the nation’s most accurate shooters through the transfer portal. They may have added a player who genuinely enjoys the pressure that comes with taking the biggest shots.
After spending the summer trying to make Momcilovic uncomfortable, Pope appears to have discovered something important.
The harder the challenge becomes, the more comfortable his new sharpshooter may
become.
And if that trend continues once the real games begin, Kentucky could have a devastating weapon waiting for the biggest moments of the season.
