Dick Vitale isn't the only national media member buying what Mark Pope is selling. In a college basketball landscape defined by parody from year to year, CBS Sports' Matt Norlander has planted his flag firmly in Lexington, ranking Kentucky No. 3 in his preseason "100-plus-1" rankings.
This isn't just a courtesy ranking; it's a bold declaration that the Wildcats are back among the nation's elite.
Why Matt Norlander believes Kentucky is a national title contender
"Nobody's higher on Kentucky than me," Norlander wrote, citing the program's impressive Year 1 under Pope, which included tying a D-I record with eight top-15 wins and a Sweet 16 run.