LEXINGTON — After a stellar debut season in which Kentucky basketball knocked off a record-tying eight top-15 teams during the regular season and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years, Mark Pope‘s follow-up campaign had entered choppy waters barely a month into the 2025-26 season.
Ahead of its matchup with bitter border-rival Indiana on Dec. 13, UK was 6-4.
Advertisement
The six wins: all cupcakes from non-power leagues.
The four losses: brand-name foes.
Kentucky fell behind by as many as 20 points in its loss to Louisville. Michigan State manhandled UK at Madison Square Garden. North Carolina rallied in the second half for a victory at Rupp Arena. Most troubling of all, Gonzaga trounced Kentucky, 94-59; it not only was the worst loss under Pope in terms of margin of defeat but also marked only the 12th time in the Wildcats’ illustrious history they had lost a game by 35 points.
After that stunningly one-sided loss to the Bulldogs — which saw the heavily-pro-UK crowd in Nashville boo its own team — Pope faced widespread criticism from the Wildcats‘ passionate fan base for the first time during his tenure.
Advertisement
Mitch Barnhart didn’t blink.
“He knows the adulation of the victory and the celebration and what it means to our people. He also knows the hurt and what it means to our people,” Barnhart, UK’s longtime athletics director, said during a sitdown interview with The Courier Journal on Dec. 16. “And I think that’s why he cares so much. When he says that jersey’s special to him, I mean, he literally means every word. It means that much to him.”
Barnhart pointed to a plaque on his desk.
It contained an excerpt from what’s come to be known as Teddy Roosevelt‘s “Man in the Arena” speech.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better,” Roosevelt said. “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming.”
Advertisement
That, Barnhart said, is Pope.
“He knows what it means to be in the arena,” Barnhart said. “You’re going to have criticism, but make no mistake about it: He gets it.”
That’s rung true recently.
Kentucky ended the calendar year with back-to-back marquee victories, downing Indiana in Lexington and then St. John’s (and former coach Rick Pitino) a week later in Atlanta.
So, what do we know about Kentucky as it prepares to start SEC play Jan. 3?
Here’s what we know, and what we still need to see, from the Wildcats:
What we know
These Cats will fight
Dec 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks to a referee against the St. John Red Storm in the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
In the wake of the Gonzaga rout, and with fan base unrest at an all-time high in the Pope era, it would have been easy for Kentucky to fold. Particularly with Indiana and St. John’s on tap.
Advertisement
The Hoosiers, a team with a first-year coach (Darian DeVries) looking to pull off a season similar to the Wildcats of 2024-25. And a renewal of a regular-season rivalry that had been dormant since 2011.
The Red Storm, a team aiming to make a statement on the national stage. And a matchup with Pitino, Pope’s mentor and one of the best coaches UK has ever had.
A difficult 1-2 combo, to be sure.
But Kentucky found a way to win both. In startingly similar fashion.
It trailed IU by seven at halftime; UK went on to win by 12.
It trailed St. John’s by seven at halftime; UK went on to win by 12.
Precisely how the Wildcats engineered those come-from-behind victories is every bit as essential. Running counter to Pope’s core philosophies and track record, Kentucky is not particularly adept shooting, or scoring, at the moment. As of Dec. 21, it’s averaging 83.8 points per game; that’s 12th in the 16-team SEC. The Wildcats also are outside the top 250 nationally in 3-point percentage (31.8).
Advertisement
Pope is more aware than anyone of his team’s current lack of offensive alacrity. After the win over the Hoosiers, he admitted this season’s team isn’t likely to shoot the cover off the ball and leave viewers in awe with an aesthetically pleasing style.
No.
This season’s team is going to lean on grit. Toughness. Scoring just enough to eke out nail-biting wins. It might not be as pretty as what UK displayed last season.
But last season’s team isn’t this season’s team.
Pope realized that, then adjusted accordingly.
“He came into the season thinking he had this great shooting team, and it’s obvious that it’s probably just an average shooting team,” Pitino said after his squad’s 12-point setback, “and he said, ‘I’m gonna change the whole mindset. We’re going to be a physical team. We’re going to be a tough team.’
Advertisement
“And they totally changed the personality of who they are. I think that’s a brilliant move by Mark. That’s all he talked about was the physicality and toughness.”
Otega Oweh hasn’t been burdened by stardom
Kentucky’s guard Otega Oweh (00) celebrates scoring against North Carolina Central in Rupp Arena Tuesday night. Dec. 9, 2025
As the best player and leading returning scorer of one of the most iconic teams in the sport, Otega Oweh began this season under immense pressure. That only increased when he was named the SEC’s Preseason Player of the Year. One expected to challenge for that honor on the national stage.
So far, so good. At least in the scoring department.
Oweh has scored at least 10 points in each of Kentucky’s first 12 games. He did so in UK’s first 26 contests in 2024-25 (and 33 of 36 outings overall). For a team as offensively challenged as the Wildcats are right now, his mind-numbing consistency is a godsend.
Advertisement
Of course, his scoring prowess wasn’t in question.
The whole reason Oweh returned for a final college season instead of remaining in the NBA draft was to prove to professional talent evaluators he was more than just a scorer.
It’s those other areas — developing a more reliable 3-point shot, becoming a more dependable distributor who can be counted on to set up his teammates for success — that haven’t blossomed as quickly.
While that marinates, he can continue to rely on his top-flight bucket-getting abilities.
What we need to see
Can Kentucky avoid further injury issues the rest of the way?
Nov 21, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jaland Lowe celebrates from the bench during the first half against the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
The second half of the St. John’s game undoubtedly was the best Kentucky has played all season. The Wildcats outscored the Red Storm by nearly 20 points (53-34) in the final 20 minutes. And they made more than half their field goals against a squad that prides itself on defense.
Advertisement
Little wonder that part of the reason UK was so efficient in that second half was because it finally had every scholarship player available.
Forward Jayden Quaintance made his Kentucky debut and was a difference-maker on both ends. Point guard Jaland Lowe fought through an injury to dominate the second half with his scoring (a half-high 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting) and passing (three assists, tying for the game high).
But it’s clear that Kentucky’s margin for error is razor thin.
Lowe is indisputably the team’s most important player. Just as was speculated prior to the season, UK has options behind him. But it doesn’t have a true backup point guard. The Wildcats’ offense is most efficient, and runs more smoothly, when Lowe’s on the floor. But his shoulder injury continues to be a lingering issue. It occurred during the Blue-White game on Oct. 17. He went on to miss both preseason exhibitions, then reinjured the shoulder during a practice Nov. 13. Lowe injured it a third time just seven seconds after subbing in for the first time versus St. John’s before he returned to put on a virtuoso performance in the second half. He’s already missed six games this season due to injury; if he can’t stay healthy, the Wildcats won’t come close to reaching their lofty goals.
Advertisement
Simple as that.
Quaintance sat out the preseason and the team’s first 11 games while rehabbing from an ACL tear. Though he played limited minutes, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, per Pope, what Quaintance brings to the table is evident. And something unlike anyone else on the roster. His athleticism around the basket, on offense and defense, is nearly unparalleled. If Quaintance doesn’t suffer any setbacks, he raises the Wildcats’ ceiling several levels.
And then there’s Mouhamed Dioubate.
The transfer from Alabama missed nearly a month after going down with an injury late in the loss to Michigan State. His 3-point shooting leaves much to be desired: Through Dec. 20, he had missed 11 of his 13 attempts from deep this season — a conversion rate of 15.4%. But he wasn’t brought in to be a sharpshooter. The Wildcats plucked him from the transfer portal to bring a physical edge last season’s team lacked. That hard-nosed nature was front and center in his first game back from the injury, when he propelled UK over IU in a bare-knuckled contest in which both squads shot less than 38% from the field.
Advertisement
Anyone who might question Dioubate’s significance to the team need only listen to his former coach, wistful of what his team is missing.
“Recruit a guy like Mo Dioubate in and you didn’t really have to coach him to be tough,” Alabama’s Nate Oats said Dec. 17. “He was tough. That’s who he is.”
If any member of this trio is sidelined for an extended period, the already arduous conference slate becomes even more challenging.
Will the Wildcats ever start shooting better from distance?
Nov 21, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Collin Chandler (5) reacts after making a three point basket during the first half against the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Barring some heretofore unseen run of torrid showings beyond the 3-point arc, this Kentucky team won’t be within earshot of the last two editions in terms of accuracy.
Advertisement
John Calipari‘s final team set a single-season program record in that category, connecting on 40.9% (327 for 800) of its attempts.
Pope’s first group tied for sixth best in UK’s record book (alongside the 1994-95 team) at 37.5% (341 of 910).
If the 2025-26 campaign ended today, this season’s club would finish ahead of only two Kentucky teams since the 3-point line was introduced to college basketball ahead of the 1986-87 season.
The list, as of Dec. 21:
-
2025-26: 31.8% (98 of 308)
The two teams who shot it worse than this season both were coached by Orlando “Tubby” Smith. Both those Smith-led outfits lost 10 games. And both failed to advance past the Sweet 16.
Advertisement
Those seasons didn’t live up to Kentucky’s standards. And if this team’s season ends in similar fashion, it will qualify as a disappointment as well.
One major difference between this season and those two at the turn of the century, however, is the 3-point shot itself. Back then, 3-pointers were part of the game. But they weren’t the driving force they’ve become today — at all levels.
The Wildcats don’t have to be an elite 3-point shooting team. But they can’t continue along this track and expect superlative results.
In short: Shooting this poorly from long range isn’t a winning formula for UK if it aims for its first Final Four appearance since 2015.
Advertisement
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball, what do we know, need to learn about Wildcats?
