After three exhibition games, Kentucky’s best starting five is starting to take shape, and the biggest change is at the top.
Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno were always expected to be central to this team, and that part has not moved an inch. What has changed is the group around them. The lineup that gives Kentucky the cleanest fit early in the 2026-27 college basketball season starts with Mason Williams running the point.
Williams has simply been better than Zoom Diallo. Through three games, Williams is averaging eight points, one rebound, one assist and one steal while turning it over less than once per game.
He has looked more in control of the offense, and that matters when the alternative is a guard averaging four points, two rebounds, two assists and two turnovers per night. Diallo played more minutes in the season opener, but Williams has outpaced him in consecutive games since then.
That trend does not appear to be slowing down.
At shooting guard, Alex Wilkins earns the nod. His stat line includes a +32 plus-minus through three games, and he brings instant scoring punch.
The turnovers are still there, but his ability to get hot at any moment makes him a useful piece, especially with Williams helping keep the ball moving. If Wilkins cleans up the mistakes, he becomes even more dangerous.
Diallo could still fit as a change-of-pace option behind him, which only strengthens the case for Williams to start at point guard.
Momcilovic is the easiest call on the roster. He is the best player Kentucky has. He impacts the game in every area, and against UCF he took over early in overtime by making three of the team’s six shots in that stretch.
The tightest battle comes at power forward, where Ousmane N’Diaye gets the edge over Justin McBride for now. McBride has shown flashes, but N’Diaye’s ability to chase loose balls and defend multiple spots gives him the better case.
His shooting has lagged, though, as he is hitting just 31% over three games. If that number climbs, he can lock the role down.
For the moment, his upside wins out. When Kam Williams returns, that picture could shift again, with Williams at the 3 and Momcilovic sliding to the 4.
Moreno anchors the middle. He flashed the full package against UCF, finishing just two assists short of a triple-double.
The next step is obvious: he needs a mean streak. If he starts playing with that edge, he could become a nightmare.
That is where Franck Kepnang fits in as the bench big, bringing a much more aggressive style that can give Moreno something to feed off.
Exhibition basketball is about sorting through all of that. Right now, the answer looks pretty straightforward. Williams at point guard gives Momcilovic and Moreno the best possible support, and that is the lineup Kentucky should roll with.
In Other News...
Braydon Hawthorne Just Gave Kentucky Fans A Real Early Question
Braydon Hawthorne gave Kentucky a useful glimpse of what he might bring in the exhibition against UCF, and it went beyond the scoring. By halftime, he had seven points and three blocked shots, while also showing the kind of confidence that stood out on a night when the Wildcats were operating without some other players. The performance suggested a freshman willing to take on responsibility early, both on the offensive end and in the flow of the game.
Hawthornes biggest moment may have come late, when Kentucky trusted him with the final out-of-bounds play. He didnt convert either look, but the fact that the Wildcats put the ball in his hands there said plenty about how quickly he is earning trust. For a team still sorting out pieces, his all-around showing gave Kentucky fans something tangible to watch as the season starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Nearly Let UCF Steal A Game The Wildcats Should've Closed
Kentucky had plenty of chances to put UCF away in regulation, but the Wildcats kept leaving points at the line and let a double-digit lead slip away. A team that should have been able to close the door instead turned a comfortable night into a tense one, with free throw struggles becoming the biggest reason the game stayed alive longer than it should have.
UCF did its part to make things uncomfortable, cashing in at the stripe and even taking the lead late in regulation before Kentucky finally steadied itself in overtime. The Wildcats still finished with a 90-76 win, but the final margin did not reflect how shaky it got, or how much cleaner this one should have looked long before the extra period. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky's New-Look Team Already Has One Frustrating Problem
Kentuckys new roster got its first real tune-up Saturday night, and the result was encouraging even if it came with a reminder that exhibition games can still feel unfinished. The Wildcats outlasted UCF 90-76 in overtime, getting a strong showing from Mason Williams, who led the way with 18 points, while Malachi Moreno flashed the kind of all-around impact that can make this group interesting as the season gets rolling.
Moreno came close to a triple-double with 16 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, a sign that Kentucky may have more than one player capable of shaping a game in different ways. Still, the tighter stretches and extra five minutes were a hint that theres work to do before the games count for real, and the Wildcats wont have long to sort it out with Manhattan coming to Rupp Arena on Tuesday to open the regular season. [Read more 🡒]