College basketball rankings: Milan Momcilovic shows why he could be the sharpshooter Kentucky is missing

Milan Momcilovic played three years at Iowa State and likely would have finished his career there in any other era of college basketball. But in This time, there is a lot of money to be made.

Millions on top of millions.

So, in a potential make-or-break season for its third-year coach, Kentucky decided to make a big offer to Momcilovic this past offseason. Naturally, the 2026 All-Big 12 performer took it – reportedly to the tune of around $6 million. Huge price, obviously. But on Tuesday night, in an 85-57 win over Manhattan, it certainly looked like money well spent.

Momcilovic made 12 shots, made eight and finished with 24 points and five rebounds in his UK debut. The 6-foot-9 forward was 6 of 9 from beyond the arc, serving as a reminder that he really might be the best shooter in the country at this level, especially considering Momcilovic shot 48.7 percent from 3-point range on 7.5 attempts per game last season while helping Iowa State to what was a second Sweet 16 appearance in three years.

“I’d like him to score 15 (3 points per game), if we can get him there,” Kentucky coach Mark Pope said after his third straight season-opening victory with the Wildcats.

I can’t wait to see Kentucky try to get Momcilovic there. Double-digit attempts per game, at least, seems like a reasonable goal given that after Tuesday’s performance, Momcilovic is now shooting 49.3 percent from 3-point range in his last 38 games — 37 last season at Iowa State, one so far at UK.

Kentucky remains No. 20 in the daily CBS Sports Top 25 and 1 college basketball rankings updated Wednesday morning. The Wildcats are one of eight SEC schools in the Top 25 and 1 — along with No. 1 Florida, No. 6 Texas, No. 10 Arkansas, No. 16 Tennessee, No. 21 Alabama, No. 23 Missouri and No. 25 Vanderbilt. No other conference has more than six teams in this ranking.

Rankings Top 25 And 1