The preseason AP Top 25 poll was released Monday afternoon, and Kentucky men’s basketball will begin the season in familiar territory under head coach Mark Pope.
Kentucky comes in at No. 23, matching its preseason ranking from Pope’s first season at the helm in 2024; that year, the Cats danced as far as the Sweet 16.
Despite entering the season ranked, Kentucky has a lot to prove in terms of making its way back to national prominence. The standard that Pope often talks about is not fulfilled at No. 23; yes, there are 365 Division I programs, and being ranked at No. 23 is a strong start, but UK’s loyal, yet crazy, fans will seek for the team to make its way up.
The good news is that Kentucky will have multiple chances to beat teams that are also starting the season ranked in the top 25, and that’s before conference play even rolls in. In its non-conference schedule alone, Kentucky has three scheduled top-25 opponents: No. 17 Kansas (State Farm Champions Classic), No. 9 Virginia (SEC/ACC Challenge) and No. 11 Louisville. The Kansas contest is at a neutral site (Atlanta), against Virginia is a true road game, and against Louisville is at Rupp Arena.
Moving to SEC play, seven SEC teams will start the season ranked, and three of them will start the season ranked in the top ten: Florida (No. 1), Texas (No. 7), Tennessee (No. 8), Arkansas (No. 12), Alabama (No. 20), Kentucky (No. 23) and Vanderbilt (No. 24). By the time 2027 rolls in, these rankings will be shifted around; however, there is a boatload of contending teams in the SEC, and UK will have to run through a gauntlet. The good news about that, though, is that there are multiple opportunities for the Cats to boost their tournament resume and build some momentum ahead of the postseason.
Kentucky has two more exhibition contests, and then it’s the real deal. The Wildcats open their season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, against the Manhattan Jaspers in Rupp Arena. Tipoff for that game is set for 7 p.m. ET and can be viewed on SEC Network +.
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