Kentucky men’s basketball (5-2) has been on the receiving end of negative talk regarding its lack of efficiency and inability to show up against solid opponents at this point in the young season.

UK has handled business against its mid-major opponents so far, beating Nicholls, Valparaiso, Eastern Illinois, Loyola Maryland and Tennessee Tech all pretty easily.

The concerns root from Kentucky’s performances against the quality opponents it has faced so far, losing 96-88 to in-state foe No. 12 Louisville on Nov. 11 while also suffering an embarrassing 17-point loss to No. 17 Michigan State in the State Farm Champions Classic.

The Wildcats have only played a grand total of seven games thus far and there really isn’t a true reason to overreact yet. However, with all the preseason expectations they had while being labeled as the “deepest team in the nation,” it’s safe to say this is not the start that head coach Mark Pope and his team would have expected or hoped for.

But through all the negative chatter, there lies a diamond in the rough that many fans seemed to have overlooked in the midst of a couple losses.

True freshman center Malachi Moreno has been UK’s rock so far, shining as one of the few Wildcats who has truly excelled in their role, averaging 10.6 points, a team-high 7.6 rebounds and two assists per game.

Moreno has also recorded two double-doubles this season, putting up 18 points and 10 rebounds on Valparaiso and 13 points and 11 rebounds on Tennessee Tech.

As the third-best ranked center in the class of 2025, Moreno was expected to make an immediate impact at Kentucky, mainly because of his size, strength and basketball IQ.

However, as a freshman, finding your role at one of the most prestigious basketball universities in the nation brings immense pressure and it’s something that many average humans wouldn’t be able to handle.

But Moreno has been taking it slow and trying to fully develop his mindset while elevating his game at the collegiate level.

“It’s been a gradual process,” Moreno said when asked about the process of settling into Kentucky. “I’ve kind of just been trying to take it one day at a time, trying to get better every single day and try to make an impact in any way that I can.”

Moreno has had a bit of a wacky path en route to averaging just over 20 minutes of playing time as the third-listed center on the depth chart.

UK’s first option, Jayden Quaintance, a projected lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has yet to see the court this season as he is currently rehabbing a torn ACL he suffered as a member of the Arizona State Sun Devils last season.

With Quaintance’s early absence known, Moreno was expected to see more time on the hardwood, but he wasn’t quite expected to see the opportunities he is currently seeing now, originally coming off the bench for other big man Brandon Garrison, one of four returning players from last season’s Sweet 16 team.

Garrison, who plays with an edge and grit on a nightly basis, has had an underwhelming start to the season, averaging 5.9 points and 5.6 rebounds while getting exposed on the defensive end and on the glass as well.

Due to Garrison’s play through the first seven games, Moreno was presented with a golden opportunity to really prove that he belongs, and he seized the moment.

In UK’s 88-46 win over Loyola Maryland on Nov. 21, Pope rearranged the starting lineup by slotting Moreno in for Garrison at the five spot, giving him the opportunity to make his first career start while searching for a much-needed spark.

Moreno contributed 10 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and one steal in the Cats’ 88-46 win over the Greyhounds, proving to be reliable on offense and defense.

“Malachi is a great player,” Kentucky forward Kam Williams said after the win. “He can pass, rebound, he knows the game, great IQ. We just put Mally (Malachi) in different situations and he just adapts quickly to any situation that we do.”

Through UK’s first seven games, Moreno is ripping a 58.7% field goal percentage while also leading the team in total blocks with eight, averaging 1.1 per game.

The Georgetown, Kentucky, native’s strongest showing came in UK’s second matchup of the season against Valparaiso, where he recorded his first double-double, shooting 8-for-14 (57.1%) from the field.

“It felt great. Coach has said it before; it was only a matter of time before I got comfortable, and tonight I felt really comfortable,” Moreno said after UK took down the Beacons. “So having that comfortability and having that trust for my teammates just gave me more confidence to perform.”

It is unclear which route Pope will take regarding how he manages his big men once Quaintance is fully healthy, but one thing is certain: Moreno has been one of the most dependable competitors that Kentucky has on its roster.

Moreno and the Cats are back on Tuesday, Dec. 2, when they battle No. 16 North Carolina (6-0) inside Rupp Arena as part of the ACC/SEC Men’s Challenge.

Tipoff for Kentucky’s showdown with the Tar Heels is set for 9:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed on ESPN.