LEXINGTON - Kentucky’s exhibition against Little Rock at Rupp Arena won’t count in the standings, but it does give Mark Pope’s team a first look against a live opponent and sets up an unusual reunion.
Little Rock is coached by Travis Ford, a Kentucky standout who played alongside Pope in Lexington during the 1993-94 season. Ford said the trip back carries plenty of meaning.
"The University of Kentucky has such a special place in my heart," Ford told Little Rock's official athletics website. "I have so many great memories and relationships from my time there. Kentucky will always be home, and I look forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces while giving our team the opportunity to experience what a special place Kentucky is.”
Ford still sits near the top of the Kentucky record book, ranking ninth in career assists with 428 and tied for fifth in single-season assists with 193 in 1993-94, matching Anthony Epps’ total from 1996-97.
The game is set for 7 p.m. tonight and will stream on SEC Network+, not a traditional TV channel. Andrew Kappes and Ravi Moss will have the call from Rupp Arena, with authenticated subscribers able to watch through SEC Network+ on TV-connected devices, WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
On radio, Darren Headrick and Jack Givens will handle the UK network broadcast on 840 AM in Louisville and on 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington. The radio call is also available online through UKAthletics.com.
Courier Journal sports columnist C.L. Brown is at Rupp Arena and will provide live updates during the game and full coverage afterward. He can also be followed on X at @clbrownhoops.
Kentucky’s starting group listed for the exhibition is Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Ousmane Ndiaye, Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno. Little Rock’s starters are listed as Jalen Lyn, Jah'Likai King, Aaron Clark, Papa Jah'Likai and Terrion Burgess.
The matchup comes in the middle of Kentucky’s 2026-27 schedule, which opens with a pro day on Oct. 6 and includes another exhibition against Texas Tech on Oct. 23 before the regular season begins. The Wildcats’ full slate also features games against Kansas, Indiana, Louisville, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas, along with SEC road trips to Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi State, Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Georgia, Vanderbilt and Florida.
Kentucky’s 2026-27 roster includes Zoom Diallo, Braydon Hawthorne, Zyon Hawthorne, Franck Kepnang, Justin McBride, Milan Momcilovic, Malachi Moreno, Jerone Morton, Ousmane N'Diaye, Trent Noah, Reece Potter, Alex Wilkins, Kam Williams and Mason Williams.
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