No. 23 Kentucky survived a lively test from James Madison on Friday night, and the biggest reason the Wildcats walked out with an 89-80 win was the group coming off the bench.
With Milan Momcilovic off target, Alex Wilkins slowed by foul trouble and Ousmane N’Diaye giving Kentucky very little from the starting power forward spot, the reserves took over. The Wildcats got 39 points from their bench, a haul that carried them past a quality Dukes team.
Justin McBride led that second unit with 13 points, while freshman guard Mason Williams kept building on an eye-catching start to his college career with 12 points and five assists. Braydon Hawthorne added 10 points, three rebounds, an assist, a blocked shot and a steal. For a team that had some questions about depth heading into the season, that kind of production is a strong early answer for Mark Pope.
McBride’s night had a little extra meaning, too. The senior forward was facing the program he played for last season, and he handled the matchup well. He played 15 first-half minutes against James Madison and had seven points at the break, then added six more after halftime to finish with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Williams’ return also gave Kentucky another boost. After a complicated recovery from a foot injury, the 6-foot-7, 210-pound junior wing finally made his season debut. He checked in for the first time with 9:37 left in the first half and got a warm reception from the Rupp Arena crowd.
His first stint was brief, and he missed a 3-pointer from the deep left wing with 7:03 left before halftime. Williams came back with 10:42 remaining in the game, knocked down two free throws, set up Braydon Hawthorne for a layup with a sharp pass and missed two more shots. He finished with two points, a rebound and an assist.
Williams’ road back has been a long one. He suffered a Jones fracture - a break in the fifth metatarsal bone on the outside of the foot - in his left foot during UK’s 85-80 win over Texas on January 21 of last season. He later returned for Kentucky’s three SEC Tournament games and two NCAA Tournament contests.
Then came another setback. Over the summer, Mark Pope said Williams’ recovery had “stalled,” and the wing eventually needed a second surgery in July. That kept him out of much of Kentucky’s offseason work, all three exhibition games and the Wildcats’ 85-57 win over Manhattan in Tuesday night’s 2026-27 opener.
Before the original injury, Williams had been trending up. Last season he averaged six points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 35.9% from 3-point range. The Lafayette, Louisiana, product was “coming on,” as he averaged 9.9 points over the final nine games before getting hurt.
James Madison’s visit also brought a familiar face back into the building. Preston Spradlin, now the Dukes’ head coach, spent time on Kentucky’s staff as a graduate assistant from 2009-2011 and later served as assistant director of operations from 2011 through 2014.
Spradlin is now 0-2 against the Wildcats as a head coach. He previously took Morehead State into a 81-45 loss to Kentucky in the 2020-21 season opener. Kentucky finished that coronavirus-impacted season 9-16, while Morehead State went on to win the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and reach the NCAA Tournament.
By the count in the story, Spradlin is the 17th former UK aide to face the Wildcats as an opposing head coach. The only ex-Kentucky assistants to beat the Cats are Billy Donovan, Jim Hatfield and Ralph Willard.
The Dukes also made their presence felt from deep, launching 45 3-point attempts and making 15. That was the most treys ever attempted against Kentucky at Rupp Arena, topping Alabama’s 14-of-40 effort in a 90-81 loss to the Wildcats on Feb. 19, 2022.
In Other News...
Kentucky Heads Into Tennessee With One Big Availability Concern
The SEC Availability Report for Kentuckys trip to Tennessee has been updated, and it gives the Wildcats a clearer picture of who will and wont be available heading into a rivalry game that already carries plenty of weight. Kentucky did get one player moved up to probable, which is at least a small sign of progress as the team continues to work through a list of long-term injuries that have thinned the roster.
Tennessees report brings its own set of concerns, with multiple long-term injuries and several starters already ruled out for the season. For Kentucky, the bigger question is how much the latest availability shift changes the rotation and whether the Wildcats can absorb the absences well enough to stay competitive in a game where depth and health may matter as much as anything else. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Gets One More Clue About Mark Pope Before Bigger Tests
Preston Spradlins return to Lexington adds a little extra texture to a game Kentucky is expected to handle comfortably. The former Wildcats assistant now leads James Madison, a program that has established itself as one of the stronger teams in the Sun Belt, so this is not just a nostalgia visit for an old staff hand. It is also another early look at how Mark Popes group is settling in before the schedule gets tougher.
Pope has already made one notable roster decision by ending recruiting efforts with two five-star prospects after adding a new center, a sign the front office is focused on the pieces already in place. For Kentucky, the bigger picture is less about one December-like matchup and more about how the coach balances evaluation, development and the realities of a roster that may be largely set. Games like this can still offer a useful read, even if the betting line suggests the Wildcats should be in control. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Heard Is Giving Kentucky Fans One More Reason To Watch Tennessee
Lance Heard has given Kentucky fans a fresh reason to keep an eye on Tennessee, even with the rivalry game still ahead. The Wildcats offensive lineman was named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2026 Lombardi Award and is also on the Outland Trophy watch list, recognition that reflects just how steady he has been this season.
Heard has logged 461 snaps and drawn praise for both his performance and the way he has carried himself inside the program. Coach Will Stein has singled out Heards leadership and overall impact heading into Kentuckys matchup with Tennessee, adding another layer to a game that already carries plenty of weight for the Wildcats. [Read more 🡒]