The preseason buzz around Kentucky men’s basketball is picking up fast, and ESPN’s latest wave of projections gives the Wildcats a little bit of everything: respect, skepticism, and a clear sense that this roster still has room to prove itself.
Jeff Borzello’s newest preseason Top 25 has Kentucky sitting at No. 25, which is three spots lower than his previous update. He also noted that if potential fifth-year players are eventually ruled ineligible, Kentucky would jump all the way to No.
- Either way, Borzello still sees the Wildcats as a Sweet 16-level team.
“After a rocky start to the offseason, Mark Pope ultimately put together a roster that should be able to push for a second-weekend NCAA tournament appearance,” wrote Borzello. “Milan Momcilovic was arguably the best player in the portal, establishing himself as the best shooter in the country last season at Iowa State.
“Given the way fellow incoming transfers Zoom Diallo (Washington) and Alex Wilkins (Furman) are able to attack off the bounce, Momcilovic should have plenty of space for catch-and-shoot situations in Lexington. Malachi Moreno taking a step forward is imperative, and international arrival Ousmane N’Diaye, Kam Williams and Justin McBride should fight for the final starting spot.”
Borzello’s projected starting five for Kentucky is Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Milan Momcilovic, Ousmane N’Diaye, and Malachi Moreno. After N’Diaye’s strong showing at Pro Day earlier this week, that lineup looks like a solid guess for the opener. A healthy Kam Williams could still alter that picture later on.
Joe Lunardi’s updated Bracketology also nudged Kentucky in the wrong direction. The Wildcats dropped one seed line to a 6-seed and would open in Minneapolis against the winner of 11-seeded West Virginia and Creighton. For most of the offseason, Kentucky had been sitting as a 5-seed.
Then there’s Dick Vitale’s preseason honors. Kentucky landed one name on his All-Rolls-Royce team, with Momcilovic earning Third Team All-Rolls-Royce recognition. The Wildcats did not have anyone on Vitale’s Diaper Dandies list.
Still, there’s at least one bold prediction floating around: Mason Williams will be one of the better freshman guards in the country by the end of the season.
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The one encouraging note for Kentucky is on special teams, where long snapper Cole Marszalek is expected back after sitting out. Kalen Edwards, meanwhile, has slipped from questionable to doubtful, leaving the Wildcats with even fewer options as they prepare for one of the seasons tougher tests. On the other side, LSUs biggest injury issue centers on linebacker Whit Weeks, who is out with a leg injury. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky's LSU Shot Has Real Upset Energy For One Big Reason
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The interesting part now is that this will be the first time a top-10 team has visited Kroger Field in the Will Stein era, which gives the matchup a different edge even before the ball is snapped. Kentucky has already shown it can pop up with a top-10 upset in 2023, 2024 and 2026, including one against a Lane Kiffin-coached team, so the question is less about whether the Wildcats have ever belonged in this kind of conversation and more about whether they can finally deliver another home breakthrough when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
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There is some relief in the same report, though, because wide receiver DJ Miller and longsnapper Cole Marszalek are expected to be available after dealing with their own uncertainty in recent weeks. Even with those small positives, the overall picture still matters for Kentuckys depth and game-day planning, and the rest of the report will be watched closely as kickoff gets closer. [Read more 🡒]