The Kentucky Wildcats are making headlines for all the wrong reasons this offseason, and it's not just the fans who are worried. After a turbulent start to the transfer portal window, USA TODAY Sports has named Mark Pope's squad as one of the biggest losers so far—and it's a label that's hard to shake.

Coming off a season where the Wildcats hoped to build momentum, the reality has been starkly different. Pope and his staff aimed to retain much of last year's roster, but instead watched nearly every key player depart. The plan was to reload through the transfer portal, but the results have left Big Blue Nation anxious about next season's competitiveness.

The misses have been glaring. Kentucky struck out on high-priority targets like Donnie Freeman and Rob Wright, two players who could have provided immediate impact. While the Wildcats did land a pair of top-ranked lead guards—Zoom Diallo from Washington and Alex Wilkins from Furman—questions about the backcourt's chemistry are already emerging. Wilkins, a true freshman last season, posted impressive numbers with 17.8 points and 4.7 assists per game, but his efficiency was a major red flag. He averaged 3.8 turnovers per contest and, along with Diallo, isn't known for reliable shooting. The fit of these two similar players has many wondering if the pieces will come together.

There's still a glimmer of hope for Kentucky. Pope could salvage the offseason by landing one or two players who decide to pull out of the NBA draft. If that doesn't happen, though, it'll be hard to argue that this hasn't been one of the toughest offseasons in recent memory for the Wildcats. For now, the pressure is on to turn the tide before the roster is set.