25-11 Season Record
Kentucky
54
The Texas Longhorns secured a commanding 76-54 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, fueled by a massive first-quarter run and superior offensive efficiency. Madison Booker and Jo...
The Wildcats are showing interest in Senegal-born forward Ousmane N'Diaye, a 6-foot-11 prospect awaiting NCAA clearance. The 22-year-old averaged 10.2 points and 6.7 rebounds overseas last season while developing a three-point shot, addressing Kentucky's need for frontcourt depth.
Jordan Burks, a 6-foot-9 forward who played at UCF this season, has entered the transfer portal and could be a target for Mark Pope's Kentucky program. The Alabama native averaged 13.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for the Knights while shooting 45.5% from the field and 37.3% from three-point range, providing potential frontcourt depth for the Wildcats.
Former Kentucky Wildcat Keldon Johnson claimed the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 13.2 points off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs. Johnson became the first player in franchise history to score at least 1,000 bench points in a season, finishing second in the NBA with 1,081.
Kentucky is pursuing Dayton guard De'Shayne Montgomery in the transfer portal, with assistant coach Cody Fueger making contact. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 13.4 points and shot 49% from the field while earning All-Atlantic 10 Third Team honors and recording 77 steals this past season.
Former Kentucky standout Keldon Johnson earned NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors after averaging 13.2 points for the San Antonio Spurs while becoming the first player in franchise history to score 1,000 points off the bench in a season. Johnson is the second ex-Wildcat to win the award in recent years.
NCAA President Charlie Baker is pushing for a vote in May on a 5-year eligibility proposal that could take effect in June. If approved, Kentucky's Otega Oweh would have the option to return for a fifth season, along with other fourth-year seniors across the country.
Kentucky is in the mix for Dayton guard De'Shayne Montgomery, a 6-foot-4 junior who averaged 13.4 points and shot 49% from the field while earning All-Atlantic 10 Third Team honors. Assistant coach Cody Fueger has made contact as the Wildcats compete with Louisville, Ole Miss, and South Carolina for his services.
Kentucky remains in pursuit of three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford to join Mark Pope's coaching staff as an assistant. Crawford currently coaches at his Seattle-area high school alma mater and works as an NBC broadcaster, making him a challenging target despite the Wildcats' continued interest.
Kentucky is actively recruiting James Madison forward Justin McBride after his official visit to Lexington. The 6'7 forward averaged 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds last season while shooting 40% from three-point range, a skill set that could bolster the Wildcats' roster depth.
After parting ways with the Chicago Bulls, Billy Donovan has drawn speculation about his next destination. ESPN's Colin Cowherd mentioned Kentucky as a possible landing spot alongside the Orlando Magic, noting the Wildcats could benefit from adding a coach of Donovan's caliber. The comment comes as Kentucky enters a pivotal Year 3 under Mark Pope following a disappointing 2025-26 season.
Former Florida coach Billy Donovan stepped down as Chicago Bulls head coach after six seasons, reigniting speculation about a potential return to college basketball. Donovan has been linked to Kentucky in the past after John Calipari's departure, though the program hired Mark Pope instead. If Pope's tenure struggles, Donovan could emerge as a candidate in Lexington.
Kentucky's pursuit of two high-profile transfer portal guards fell short as Paulius Murauskas committed to Arizona State and Terrence Brown chose North Carolina. The 6-foot-8 forward from Saint Mary's averaged 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, while the Utah guard posted 19.9 points per game with strong shooting efficiency. The Wildcats now pivot their focus to James Madison transfer Justin McBride to address backcourt depth.
Billy Donovan ended his tenure with the Chicago Bulls after six seasons. The former Florida and Thunder coach had been previously linked to the Kentucky job before Mark Pope's hire, and could emerge as a candidate if Pope's tenure hits rough waters.
Wing Braydon Hawthorne has committed to returning for the 2024-25 season after redshirting. The 4-star recruit and 6-foot-8 prospect figures to compete for the starting small forward position and gives Kentucky depth at a key position.
Kentucky
54 - 76
Texas
Kentucky
74 - 73
West Virginia Mountaineers
Kentucky
64 - 87
South Carolina
Kentucky
76 - 61
Georgia
Kentucky
93 - 73
Arkansas
Vanderbilt
84 - 83
Kentucky
Kentucky
53 - 64
Texas
Ole Miss
57 - 74
Kentucky
Kentucky
63 - 56
Auburn
South Carolina
60 - 56
Kentucky
Arkansas
64 - 94
Kentucky
Kentucky
79 - 81
Vanderbilt
Texas A&M
55 - 75
Kentucky
Georgia
72 - 67
Kentucky
Kentucky overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat #24 Tennessee 80-78 in a thrilling SEC showdown. Denzel Aberdeen led the Wildcats' comeback with 22 points while Ja'Kobi Gillespie paced Tennessee with 24 points and 8 assists in the losing effort. The victory moves Kentucky to 4-2 in SEC play while dealing the Volunteers a costly home loss. - Stacy Stanfield