Mark Pope did not hesitate to reveal what he was feeling during the first few weeks of summer workouts with Malachi Moreno. Kentucky’s head coach admitted that he was “really frustrated” with his sophomore center, and the early part of the summer was not going the way Pope wanted.
But what happened afterward could be one of the most important developments for Kentucky heading into the 2026-27 season.
Moreno changed something.
And the change has apparently been significant enough that Pope now describes the player he is seeing as almost unrecognizable compared with the version of Moreno who struggled during the opening weeks of the summer.
For Kentucky, that could be one of the biggest reasons for optimism heading into the new season.
During Kentucky’s Media Day, Pope spoke openly about Moreno’s development and acknowledged that the first four weeks of summer workouts were difficult.
“First four weeks of the summer I was really frustrated with Malachi,” Pope explained, describing the feeling as though the team was “stuck in molasses.” He also referenced some stubbornness and friction as Moreno worked through the challenges of becoming the player Kentucky needed him to be.
For a player entering his second season at Kentucky with significantly higher expectations, that could have become a difficult situation.
Moreno, however, did not run from the problem.
Instead, he acknowledged that his own start to the summer had not been good.
“I was kind of lost,” Moreno explained when discussing his early-summer struggles. He admitted that he was not being physical enough, was not always making the right decisions, was missing shots and was turning the ball over. He also acknowledged that he had been stubborn during that period.
But this is where the story takes an interesting turn.
Something changed.
The conversation that changed the direction
After those difficult opening weeks, Moreno had an important conversation involving Mark Pope and his older brother, Michael Moreno.
Moreno did not reveal every detail of the conversation, but he explained that his brother gave him advice that stayed with him. For Moreno, that moment became something of a turning point.
He realized that he had to change.
The message was essentially that he needed to “start his engine,” as Moreno described the mentality he adopted afterward.
From there, things began to look different.
Pope said what Moreno did during the second half of the summer and into the fall was almost unrecognizable compared with where he had started.
For an assistant coach or head coach who had just admitted being frustrated with a player, the difference between those first four weeks and what followed is significant.
And this was not simply about one part of Moreno’s game.
He began improving in multiple areas.
His interior offense became more effective. His explosiveness and movement improved. Pope also emphasized Moreno’s increased aggression when protecting the rim.
Then another important element emerged: leadership.
Pope said Kentucky’s players now view Moreno as a leader and as one of the veterans of the team.
That could be particularly important for the Wildcats.
From reserve to centerpiece
Moreno is no longer simply a young player trying to learn behind older teammates.
During his freshman season, he quickly exceeded expectations.
After only a handful of games, Moreno became a starter and developed into one of Kentucky’s most important players. His first season was strong enough to put him into NBA Draft conversations.
But Moreno chose to return to Kentucky.
Now, the stakes are different.
Pope is no longer simply asking Moreno to be a solid center. The Kentucky coach sees the possibility of Moreno becoming one of the players who defines this team.
And after what happened during the summer, Pope’s optimism appears to be based on what he has actually seen from Moreno in practice.
In a recent scrimmage, Moreno recorded three assists during the opening four minutes, another indication of the way Kentucky wants to use him.
Pope has emphasized the importance of having playmakers throughout the lineup, and Moreno is apparently becoming part of that vision.
That could be one of the biggest changes in his game.
He is not simply a center who catches the ball near the basket.
He can make decisions.
He can pass.
He can help create offense.
And he can contribute in several different ways.
Pope is already seeing the difference
At Kentucky’s Media Day, Pope did not speak about Moreno as someone who was still trying to reach the desired level.
His comments were much more encouraging.
Pope said Moreno is now playing with “huge physicality” and identified him as one of the players capable of defining Kentucky’s physical identity.
That matters because Kentucky is expected to have significant size this season.
Pope has repeatedly emphasized the idea that “length is our strength,” and Moreno is one of the central pieces of that approach.
Alongside other big bodies on the roster, Moreno gives Pope the opportunity to build a team that can use its size and physicality to create advantages.
But size alone is not enough.
That is why Moreno’s development matters so much.
If he can combine his size with mobility, rim protection, finishing, passing and the ability to play extended minutes without wearing down, his overall impact becomes much greater.
And that appears to be exactly what Kentucky has been working toward.
Conditioning has become a priority
Moreno has also discussed the importance of being in better physical condition.
He understands that he cannot afford to get tired after only a few minutes or be physically overwhelmed around the basket.
The SEC is an extremely physical conference, and a center who wants to become one of his team’s leaders must be able to withstand that level of competition.
This part of Moreno’s development could be crucial.
Kentucky does not need him only for a few spectacular possessions.
The Wildcats need him throughout the game.
They need him on the glass.
They need him defensively.
They need him protecting the rim.
They need him finishing around the basket.
And, based on his recent development, Pope also wants him to become a facilitator offensively.
That is why the transformation during the summer could matter so much.
A more complete Moreno could change the way Kentucky plays.
A new role inside the locker room
Perhaps the most interesting part of this entire story is that Moreno’s development appears to extend beyond basketball.
Pope said the players now see Moreno as a leader and a veteran.
For a player entering only his second season, that is a significant change.
Moreno is a Kentucky product with a special connection to the program, but now he has to turn that connection into a meaningful voice inside the locker room.
Kentucky has several new players and transfers, and a roster with numerous new pieces needs established players who can help create a common identity.
Moreno could become one of those players.
Pope has identified this growth as one of the most important developments he has seen.
And the fact that the transformation came after a period when Pope was frustrated with Moreno makes the story even more intriguing.
There was a problem.
There was a challenge.
There was a conversation.
Then something changed.
Now comes the real test
All of this sounds encouraging, but the season will not be won during summer workouts.
Moreno will have to prove that the progress Pope has seen can translate into official games.
Kentucky will need this version of Moreno when the pressure increases.
The expectations are higher than they were last season, and Moreno’s role is different.
He is no longer entering the season as a young player simply trying to find his place.
He is entering it as one of the players Kentucky expects to provide leadership and production.
If the development Pope has witnessed continues, Moreno could become one of the Wildcats’ most important pieces.
For now, the biggest takeaway is that the coach who was frustrated with Moreno early in the summer is now talking about a player who looks almost completely different.
Pope has seen major improvements in interior finishing, mobility, rim protection and leadership. Moreno, meanwhile, says he is in better physical shape and understands what he needed to change.
That does not guarantee what will happen once the season begins.
But it gives Kentucky a legitimate reason for optimism.
Because sometimes the biggest transformations do not begin with a spectacular game.
They begin with a frustrated coach, a player who realizes he needs to change, and one conversation that can unlock a completely different version of that player.
And now, before Kentucky officially begins the new season, plenty of attention will be on Malachi Moreno.
Because Mark Pope appears to be seeing something very different.
