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Kentucky Men’s Basketball Season Preview And Outlook
STILL FROM VIDEO: Kentucky basketball’s Mark Pope talks loss to Georgetown in exhibition finale

Kentucky Men’s Basketball Season Preview And Outlook

Originally posted on Stadium Rant  |  By Jon Hammons  |  Last updated Nov 3, 2025 11:28 AM ET

With preseason behind them, the Kentucky Wildcats are setting their sights on a national championship. Given the high expectations, is a Sweet 16 run sufficient, or should the Wildcats aim for even greater achievements?

Preseason Rankings

Kentucky has received a lot of praise in the early polls as the season tips off Tuesday, November 4th.

  • AP Top 25 Poll: No.9
  • USA Today Coaches Poll: No.9

Season Outlook

After a rollercoaster season of injuries, the Wildcats aim to build on their Sweet 16 appearance from last year, stepping into the new season with even higher expectations.

Strengths:

Frontcourt is Loaded:

The combination of Mo Dioubate, Andrija Jelavić, Jayden Quaintance, and Brandon Garrison returns to form a trio of players aiming to build on a strong balance.

The addition of freshmen Braydon Hawthorne and Malachi Moreno provides the Wildcats with much-needed depth in the frontcourt.

High impact guard play:

The one thing last year’s team lacked was depth, and this season, Kentucky has two players ready to make an impact early on.

Jaland Lowe, a transfer from the Pittsburgh Panthers, and freshman Jasper Johnson, a homegrown Kentucky talent, are poised to shine. Johnson, in particular, aims to establish himself as one of the top freshmen in college basketball on the biggest stage.

Returning talent:

On the flip side, SEC preseason player of the year Otega Oweh is returning for his senior season. He is joined by Trent Noah, a key contributor to the Wildcats’ offense last year, and one of the standout stars during crucial moments.

With the return of Collin Chander as well, this group has the potential to achieve something special.

Adding to this team are the experienced Kam Williams, a transfer from the Tulane Green Wave, and Denzel Aberdeen, a guard from last year’s national champions Florida Gators.

With the depth and talent at their disposal, there’s no reason this Wildcat team can’t make a run, especially to the Final Four, which they last reached in 2015.

2025-2026 Schedule

Key non-conference games:

  • Nov.11 at Louisville: The Wildcats will face off against the Cardinals at the Yum Center.
  • Tue Nov 18 vs. Michigan St: Champions Classic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
  • Tue. Dec 2 vs. North Carolina: ACC/SEC Challenge.
  • Fri. Dec 5 vs. Gonzaga: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Sat. Dec 13 vs Indiana : Rivlary renewed with the Hoosiers taking place at Rupp Arena.
  • Sat. Dec 20 vs. St John’s : Rick Pitino facing off against his former player Mark Pope in CBS Sports Classic

Key SEC Basketball games:

  • Sat. Jan 3 at Alabama: The SEC schedule kicks off with an opener on the road in a challenging environment.
  • Sat. January 17 at Tennessee: A rivalry game taking place in Knoxville, Tennessee.
  • Sat. January 31 at Arkansas: Kentucky takes on their former coach, John Calipari.
  • Sat. Feb 14 at Florida: This will include two games home and home.
  • Sat. Feb 21 At Auburn: Bruce Pearl is no longer the coach, as they’ll face off against his son Steven Pearl.
  • Sat. Mar 7 vs. Florida: Another crucial game to end the season in Rupp Arena.

Season Prediction

Mark Pope’s second season promises to be an exciting one, as he works with a mix of veterans and freshmen who need time to gel into the team they’re destined to become.

The preseason loss to Georgetown has raised some concerns among fans. It’s worth noting, though, the Wildcats’ impressive wins last year against teams like Duke, Gonzaga, Tennessee (twice), and the national champions, Florida.

This team is still a work in progress and hard to judge this early, but they have the potential to achieve something special.

With a floor of the Elite Eight and a ceiling of the Final Four, expectations are understandably high—it is, after all, the University of Kentucky.

The Wildcats will finish in the top three of the SEC and will make a run to the final four, led by a group of experienced veterans and freshmen.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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