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Men's Basketball

Most Exciting Potential SEC/ACC Challenge Matchups For Kentucky This Season

Published

1 year ago

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Mark Pope greets fans during the father and son camp
Marissa Gilchrist | UK Athletics


Kentucky’s nonconference slate will test Pope, Wildcats early

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats will be truly battle-tested in the 2025-26 season, as their nonconference schedule is expected to rank among the most difficult in the country. High-profile matchups with Purdue (exhibition), St. John’s, Louisville, Michigan State, Indiana and Gonzaga are already on the slate.

As it stands, Kentucky is preparing to face arguably the nation’s toughest nonconference lineup—a challenge Pope appears to have welcomed. One question remains: Who might the Wildcats host in the SEC/ACC Challenge after traveling to Clemson last season?

Here are some potential Atlantic Coast Conference opponents who could visit Rupp Arena and add even more firepower and excitement to Kentucky’s already loaded schedule.

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Duke or North Carolina

Off the top, Big Blue Nation would relish the chance to host either Duke or North Carolina. A true blue blood hasn’t visited Rupp Arena since Kansas earned a 77–68 win in January of 2023.

Last season, Pope shocked the college basketball world with a 77–72 victory over No. 3 Duke in the Champions Classic, delivering one of BBN’s most memorable nights in recent years. That game, however, took place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta; Catlanta if you will.

Incredibly, Duke has never played a regular-season game at Rupp Arena. The Blue Devils haven’t faced Kentucky in Lexington since their 55–54 win in the 1980 NCAA Tournament regional semifinals. Their last visit for a regular-season contest was in 1969 at Memorial Coliseum, where Kentucky won during the early-season Kentucky Invitational Tournament. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 13–11.

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With Jon Scheyer’s squad again projected to be among the nation’s elite, a Duke-Kentucky clash at Rupp would be one of the most anticipated games in college basketball next season.

North Carolina, meanwhile, isn’t drawing as much preseason hype. Despite reportedly spending more than $14 million on its roster, the Tar Heels have built a lineup many analysts consider underwhelming. Head coach Hubert Davis is entering the season squarely on the hot seat.

Still, Carolina is Carolina. Even amid recent inconsistency, the Tar Heels remain one of the sport’s premier brands, and their presence in Lexington would electrify Rupp Arena. UNC hasn’t played at Rupp since 2014-15. Before that, at Rupp Arena, it was Kentucky’s 73–72 win in December 2011, capped by Anthony Davis’ iconic late-game block. That Wildcats team went on to win the national title. Could history repeat itself?

NC State

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The 2025–26 season is shaping up to be one of NC State’s most exciting in recent memory. Just two years removed from a Final Four run, the Wolfpack are reloading, not rebuilding, under new head coach Will Wade.

Wade, who made headlines declaring he wouldn’t be undergoing a rebuild, made an aggressive push in the transfer portal. Key additions include All-Big 12 honoree Darrion Williams, former Tar Heel Ven-Allen Lubin, Houston’s Terrance Arceneaux, Michigan State’s Tre Holloman and McNeese State’s Quadir Copeland.

“We’re going to have a damn good roster,” Wade told Inside Pack Sports last month.

NC State looks poised to challenge Duke and Louisville atop the ACC, and a trip to Rupp Arena would offer an early proving ground for a hungry fanbase and a fiery first-year head coach. Big Blue Nation would surely embrace the matchup.

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Virginia

Throughout the 2010s, Virginia stood atop the ACC. Under Tony Bennett, the Cavaliers won six regular-season titles, two ACC tournament crowns and the 2019 NCAA championship—still the ACC’s most recent national title.

But the program has since hit a rough patch. With Bennett’s unexpected retirement just days before the 2024–25 season, UVA stumbled to a 15–17 finish under interim head coach Ron Sanchez.

Enter Ryan Odom.

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Odom made history in 2018 when his UMBC team shocked the basketball world, defeating top-seeded Virginia 74–54—the first-ever win by a No. 16 seed over a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history. Ironically, Odom grew up as a ball boy for the Cavaliers in the 1980s while his father, Dave Odom, was an assistant coach in Charlottesville.

Having coached at UMBC and VCU, Odom now returns to Virginia in a true full-circle moment. And in today’s transfer portal era, rapid turnarounds are possible. His roster is already considered above average in ACC circles, with hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament in Year 1.

For Kentucky, that means the possibility of hosting a solid, well-coached team with a new leader who has deep ties to his program. Add in the fact that Virginia borders Kentucky, and the appeal to Big Blue Nation is clear.

Syracuse

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Syracuse is coming off four consecutive seasons without an NCAA Tournament bid, the program’s longest drought in 50 years. Head coach Adrian Autry enters the 2025–26 season on arguably the hottest seat in college basketball.

Still, Syracuse remains a notable brand in the sport, and the Orange could be an intriguing draw for Rupp Arena. Their incoming recruiting class has potential, and the combination of desperation and tradition could result in fireworks.

Who knows? Maybe Carmelo Anthony shows up in the stands.

Kentucky’s 2025–26 Nonconference Schedule (As of June 9)

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  • Oct. 24: vs. Purdue | Rupp Arena (Exhibition)
  • Nov. 18: vs. Michigan State | Champions Classic (New York)
  • Dec. 5: vs. Gonzaga | Nashville
  • Dec. 13: vs. Indiana | Rupp Arena
  • Dec. 20: vs. St. John’s | CBS Sports Classic (Atlanta)
  • Dec. 23: vs. Bellarmine | Rupp Arena
  • TBD: at Louisville
  • TBD: SEC/ACC Challenge | Rupp Arena
  • TBD: vs. North Carolina Central | Rupp Arena

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Men's Basketball

Jersey Numbers Revealed for 2026-27 Kentucky Basketball Team

Published

4 days ago

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June 8, 2026

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Kentucky basketball's new-look roster has its numbers. See every player's jersey assignment for the 2026-27 season and what it means for the Wildcats.

It’s been an exciting weekend for Kentucky basketball. In addition to Mark Pope getting a commitment from his highest-ranked prospect in his career, 2027 top-10-ranked wing Ryan Hampton, this coming season’s roster arrived on campus this weekend.

As they prepare to get their first workouts in the Joe Craft practice facility, with practice set to start later this month, player lockers are ready for them. In a social media video posted by assistant coach Mo Williams, player numbers were revealed for this upcoming season.

Of the returnees, Braydon Hawthorne is the sole player to make a change in number, choosing #2, the number he wore in high school and was taken by Jasper Johnson last season.

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As for the incoming players, the majority of them are wearing numbers that have been worn in recent seasons. However, Ousmane N’Diaye is choosing #19 and will be the first player since Willie Rouse in 1954 to sport the number.

Player numbers listed below:

  • Zyon Hawthorne #0
  • Jerone Morton #1
  • Braydon Hawthorne #2
  • Kam Williams #3
  • Mason Williams #4
  • Zoom Diallo #5
  • Trent Noah #9
  • Alex Wilkins #10
  • Franck Kepnang #11
  • Ousmane N’Diaye #19
  • Justin McBride #21
  • Milan Momcilovic #22
  • Malachi Moreno #24
  • Reece Potter #33

Also posted on A Sea of Blue.

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BB Recruiting

Kentucky Earns Commitment From No. 6 Prospect in 2027 Class Ryan Hampton

Published

5 days ago

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June 7, 2026

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Photo via UK Athletics


How about a Sunday boom in the recruiting world for you BBN? 

Ryan Hampton, the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2027 class, has officially committed to the University of Kentucky! This is Mark Pope’s first top-10 prospect that he’s earned a commitment from.

Hailing from Rockwall, Texas, Hampton recently took an official visit to campus with his family, which began on Friday, June 5 and spilled into Sunday, June 7, his commitment day. 

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The five-star wing averaged 21.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the most recent EYBL Circuit, playing for LivOn and Nightrydas.

Hampton was the first recruit in the 2027 to officially visit with the Wildcats, and now he’s the first to call their shot early and choose the blue and white. 

Pope has signed Milan Momcilovic, the No. 2 ranked transfer, and Hampton, his first top-10 high school prospect just in the past week.

It’s been a crazy week for recruiting, with the narrative around Pope’s ability slowing fading as the top guys continue to be attracted to the Kentucky brand. 

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Men's Basketball

Rankings Roundup: Where Kentucky Basketball Stands After the NBA Draft Deadline

Published

1 week ago

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June 5, 2026

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ESPN, CBS, FOX, and other national media have all released Kentucky basketball preseason rankings after the NBA Draft deadline. Here's the full breakdown — and what it means for BBN.
IMAGN

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have been a hot topic of debate this college basketball offseason.

Things didn’t start off great, as Kentucky only had two commitments for the first three weeks of the portal period and missed on multiple targets, including Rob Wright and Donnie Freeman. That gave opportunity for critics to voice their opinion on Mark Pope and his roster building, including the national media.

There are certainly valid criticisms, such as the pursuit of Tyran Stokes, despite all signs pointing to him signing with Kansas, which he ultimately did, for months. In the weeks since, Kentucky has recovered to build a roster that has even upgraded in some areas from last season. They retained Malachi Moreno and finished with the second-ranked portal class, which features Milan Momcilovic, one of the best players in the portal.

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Let’s see where the national media has the Wildcats at this point in the offseason.

EvanMiya

Roster Ranking Range: 8-13

ESPN

17. Kentucky Wildcats

Previous ranking: Unranked

Momcilovic’s commitment dramatically changes the Wildcats’ 2026-27 outlook, giving them the best shooter in the country and a legitimate focal point on offense. Transfer guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins are both dynamic off the dribble, and Momcilovic’s gravity and spacing will make them far more effective. Malachi Moreno‘s decision to withdraw from the NBA draft was another massive boost for Pope; Moreno is a potential first-round pick at this time next season. International prospect Ousmane N’Diaye and returnee Kam Williams should battle for a starting spot. The offensive potential of this group is as high as any team in the country.

Projected starting lineup

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Zoom Diallo (15.7 PPG at Washington)
Alex Wilkins (17.8 PPG at Furman)
Milan Momcilovic (16.9 PPG at Iowa State)
Ousmane N’Diaye (9.8 PPG for Cremona in Serie A)
Malachi Moreno (7.8 PPG)

CBS Sports

17. Kentucky

Previous Ranking: NR

This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning one of the top six scorers — specifically Malachi Moreno — from a team that finished 22-14 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, Washington transfers Zoom Diallo and Franck Kepnang, Washington State transfer Jerone Morton, James Madison transfer Justin McBride, Providence transfer Alex Wilkins, four-star prospect Mason Williams, and international prospect Ousmane N’Diaye.

FOX Sports

25. Kentucky

Previous Ranking: NR

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Big Blue Nation was starting to worry that Kentucky wouldn’t have a top-25 roster. The late addition of Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic changes that. He was the top-ranked transfer available in May, and Kentucky landed him.

The retention of Malachi Moreno, who averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game last season, is also huge. He’s due for a breakout year. A projected starting five of Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Momcilovic, Ousmane N’Diaye, and Moreno looks very solid and should have Kentucky firmly in the top-25 conversation.

Aaron Torres

15. Kentucky Wildcats

Key Returnees: Malachi Moreno, Kam Williams, Braydon Hawthorne (redshirt), Trent Noah
Key Additions: Milan Momcilovic (transfer), Zoom Diallo (transfer), Alex Wilkins (transfer), Justin McBride (transfer), Jerone Morton (transfer), Franck Kepnang (transfer), Ousmane N’Diaye, Mason Williams, Zyon Hawthorne
Key Departures: Otega Oweh, Jayden Quaintance (NBA Draft), Collin Chandler (transfer), Jaland Lowe (transfer), Brandon Garrison (transfer), Denzel Aberdeen (transfer), Jasper Johnson (transfer), Mo Dioubate (transfer), Andrija Jelavic (transfer)

It took Mark Pope a little longer to finalize his roster than anyone (including Mark Pope) would’ve hoped. But he has his team, and I’ve got to say: I think it has a chance to be really good. And transparently, the pieces fit much better than they did a year ago.

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The big splash was the most recent one, as the Wildcats added transfer star Milan Momcilovic. The former Iowa State star averaged 16.9 points on nearly 49 percent three-point shooting this year and should be able to continue to put up big stats in Pope’s system. Malachi Moreno could be a national breakout star after a productive freshman season and a very productive NBA Draft cycle where he was talked about as a buzzy, fringe first-round pick. And I personally believe the transfer backcourt of Zoom Diallo (Washington) and Alex Wilkins (Furman) fits better than most.

Finally, don’t sleep on returnees Kam Williams and Braydon Hawthorne (who redshirted this past year) as high-upside wings that can knock down shots.

For all the criticism of Pope this off-season — including by me

Also posted on A Sea of Blue.

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