LEXINGTON — The preseason is over.
It’s time for real games to begin.
Kentucky basketball‘s second season under coach Mark Pope starts Tuesday, hosting Nicholls at Rupp Arena.
The Wildcats began their preseason with their annual Big Blue Madness event Oct. 11. The Blue-White game followed six days later. Then, UK put together a stellar showing to knock off top-ranked Purdue in a preseason exhibition Oct. 24. Kentucky wasn’t able to end with an undefeated exhibition record in 2025, however, falling to Georgetown by 14 points on Oct. 30.
Advertisement
The Courier Journal will follow Pope and the Cats all season. To help you gear up for UK’s 2025-26 campaign, we’ve got all of our preview coverage from the offseason in one place.
Below, you’ll find a mix of stories from CJ reporters Ryan Black and Payton Titus as well as columns and podcasts from columnist C.L. Brown.
Kentucky basketball features
What’s it like preparing for Kentucky basketball under Mark Pope? What SEC foes are saying
Beyond Jaland Lowe, what does UK have at the PG spot? What we learned about the position in exhibition win over top-ranked Purdue
A glimpse of the future? New Kentucky basketball practice facility would have unique sports medicine component
Advertisement
Kentucky basketball’s most precious resource? Here’s what coach Mark Pope says
Back home: What to expect from Reece Potter, the Lexington native and transfer big man
Lessons: Mark Pope learned from last season. Here’s what he’s changing
‘Dominance’: Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate aims to bring physicality to Lexington
‘Mourn with the people that are mourning’: Kentucky basketball brings joy, hope to London community devastated by deadly tornado
Otega Oweh: Kentucky basketball star says NBA draft process couldn’t have been more beneficial
Kentucky basketball roster 2025-26: The second team of UK’s Mark Pope era
Advertisement
The future is now: How Kentucky Wildcats, Mitch Barnhart are preparing for revenue sharing in college sports
Transfer market: How does Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope’s second transfer haul stack up in the SEC?
U of L vs. UK: The 2025 Louisville-Kentucky basketball game will be the rivalry’s earliest ever. Why?
Goin’ to school: What his first season at UK taught Mark Pope about his core philosophies
Kentucky basketball analysis
Scouting report: Who’s back with Kentucky basketball? Who’s new? Breaking down the Wildcats’ 2025-26 roster
3 keys for success: These factors will determine how good 2025-26 Wildcats are
Advertisement
3 questions: UK must answer these questions in 2025-26 to see success
Circle these games on your calendars: Kentucky basketball and Mark Pope have numerous marquee matchups in 2025-26. Here are the five most notable, in our estimation
Blue-White game: Three takeaways from the intrasquad scrimmage
A jump in Year 2 for Kentucky’s returning players? Here’s how returnees at Mark Pope’s previous stops performed in their second year under his guidance
Second-year UK coaches: How previous Kentucky basketball coaches have fared in Year 2
Kentucky basketball news
John Wall: Why the UK great returned to Lexington even after former coach John Calipari’s departure
Advertisement
What really happened? Kentucky basketball’s Mark Pope speaks on reported altercation with U of L’s Pat Kelsey
Money: Kentucky’s Kam Williams drains half-court shot during Big Blue Madness; fan profits
Karl-Anthony Towns: Kentucky hoops great inducted into UK Athletics Hall of Fame
Ex-Cats: Where transfer portal has taken 13 former Kentucky basketball players for 2025-26 season
The slate: Here’s the Wildcats’ 2025-26 schedule
‘It definitely stung’: Trent Noah speaks on transfer of Travis Perry, his roommate and fellow Kentucky high school hoops superstar
‘I was devastated’: Mark Pope reacts to Travis Perry’s departure
Advertisement
Meet the Cats: How Wildcats’ 2025-26 roster came together
C.L. Brown
C.L. Brown, columnist for the Courier Journal. Oct. 11, 2023
Column: Rupp Arena was good for Georgetown. For Kentucky basketball, building might hold Cats back
Column: Jasper Johnson’s Kentucky basketball debut just the beginning for him under Mark Pope
Column: Kentucky basketball should sit Jayden Quaintance for entire season so he can get healthy
Podcast: Kenny Brooks tells what area Kentucky women’s basketball is better than Final Four squad
Column: Kentucky basketball still winning on recruiting trail with Mark Pope’s deliberate approach
Column: Kentucky basketball handled NIL payments with maturity. Revenue-sharing era will be same
Advertisement
Column: Kentucky’s Otega Oweh had decision to make on NBA draft withdrawal deadline because of NIL
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 2025-26 predictions, analysis, features
