One of the biggest reasons Kentucky pursued Milan Momcilovic was his reputation as one of college basketball’s elite three-point shooters. After knocking down an incredible 48.7% of his shots from beyond the arc last season, the Wildcats are adding the type of perimeter weapon Mark Pope has wanted since arriving in Lexington.
Surprisingly, however, Pope hopes that percentage drops this season.
It sounds strange at first glance, but the Kentucky head coach has a clear vision behind the idea. Rather than focusing on efficiency alone, Pope wants Momcilovic to become an even bigger volume shooter, believing that a slight decline in percentage would actually signal greater offensive impact.
Speaking with UK Sports Network, Momcilovic shared the message Pope delivered after his arrival in Lexington.
“Pope was telling me he doesn’t want me shooting 48% from three this year – he’d see it as a failure because it would mean I wasn’t taking enough,” Momcilovic explained. “He wants me taking a lot more, 10 threes a game, and take that percentage down a little bit.”
More Attempts Could Mean Greater Production
Momcilovic fully embraces Pope’s philosophy and believes he can elevate his game even further.
“I feel like I can do the same thing this year as last year, but even better,” Momcilovic said, expanding on the approach Pope is encouraging.
Last season at Iowa State, Momcilovic averaged 7.5 three-point attempts per game. If that number climbs to around 10 per contest while he continues making roughly four triples each night, Kentucky would receive 12 points from its best outside shooter before accounting for anything else he contributes offensively.
He connected on at least eight three-pointers in four different games last season, making four made threes per game feel like a realistic baseline rather than an ambitious target. If Pope’s plan works, Kentucky’s offense could become even more dangerous despite a slightly lower shooting percentage.
A Loaded Supporting Cast
Momcilovic’s value extends well beyond his perimeter shooting. His polished post fadeaway gives Kentucky another reliable scoring option, and the talent surrounding him should create even more clean looks throughout the season. Pope has finally assembled a roster capable of consistently launching the 30-plus three-point attempts per game that have long defined his offensive philosophy.
Discussing Kentucky’s backcourt, Momcilovic praised the players who will help create those opportunities.
“We have a lot of talent on this team… Obviously, it starts with the guards. I think we have elite guards that can play-make, they can score, they can shoot. That’s really important.”
That confidence is backed up statistically. Kentucky is one of only two teams in the country with two players posting an assist rate of at least 30%, with Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins leading the way. Their ability to create offense should generate plenty of open perimeter looks for Momcilovic throughout the season.
Ultimately, Pope is placing significant trust in a player who will likely draw the full attention of opposing defenses every night. But that’s exactly why Kentucky invested so heavily in bringing Momcilovic to Lexington. Entering what could be a defining season of Pope’s tenure, the Wildcats are fully embracing his preferred style of play, and there’s arguably no better shooter to build the offense around than Momcilovic.