Mark Pope and Kentucky get one more dress rehearsal tonight before the games start counting for real, and it comes against a UCF team that already gave the Wildcats a solid benchmark. The exhibition finale tips at 6:00 pm est, and after this one, Kentucky turns its attention to Manhattan on Tuesday.
The Wildcats have handled their first two exhibition tests so far, beating Little Rock and Texas Tech to go 2-0. Another win over the Knights would complete the sweep and give Kentucky a clean finish to the preseason.
UCF brings a little extra weight to the matchup, too, since the Knights were an NCAA Tournament team last season. That makes tonight another useful proving ground for Pope and his group before the regular season begins.
Kentucky fans will have an easier time tuning in this time around. The game is on the SEC Network, making it the first exhibition that is not on one of the “plus” stations. That matters because Kentucky’s first two regular-season games will be on SEC Network+, so fans will need to be ready for that once the real schedule opens.
As for what Kentucky needs to sharpen, the biggest issue is on the glass. The Wildcats did plenty right in Friday’s win over Texas Tech, but they gave up too many second-chance chances, and that’s the kind of thing that can creep up fast if it is not cleaned up.
Alex Wilkins is another player worth watching. He had some big moments late against Texas Tech, but he has not been efficient from the field in either exhibition game. Tonight against UCF gives him a chance to find a better rhythm.
The encouraging part for Kentucky is that the defense has looked good through these first two exhibition games, which is not a small thing this early. These tune-up games are about fixing problems before they become real ones, and for the Wildcats, defense and rebounding remain the key areas to sort out.
A win tonight would send Big Blue Nation into year three of the Pope era with plenty of energy. It is an important season for this staff, and Kentucky looks like a team that could wind up being pretty darn good and catch some people off guard.
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Braydon Hawthorne Just Gave Kentucky Fans A Real Early Question
Braydon Hawthorne gave Kentucky a useful glimpse of what he can bring in the exhibition matchup with UCF, and it went beyond just the points. He had seven by halftime, mixed in three blocked shots and looked comfortable enough on the floor to keep looking for his offense, even as the Wildcats were working through absences from other players.
What stood out most was the trust he earned in a pressure spot, with Kentucky turning to him on the final out-of-bounds play. He did not convert the two chances, but the fact that he was the one taking them says plenty about where he fits right now and why his early showing already has Kentucky fans wondering how much more he can be asked to do. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Open Week Puts The SEC Race Front And Center
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All eyes will turn again toward the Wildcats on Nov. 7, when Tennessee comes to town, but this week gives Kentucky a chance to watch the leagues pecking order shift from the sideline. There are notable games across the SEC schedule and beyond, including ones involving former Kentucky players and coaches, and those results could end up carrying real weight for a team trying to stay in the hunt as the stretch run begins. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Best Lineup Is Taking Shape Around One Big Debate
After three exhibition games, Kentuckys early 2026-27 lineup picture is starting to come into focus, and the biggest decisions have mostly been made on the floor. Mason Williams has pushed ahead of Zoom Diallo at point guard, Alex Wilkins has looked like the better fit at shooting guard even with some turnover issues, and Milan Momcilovic has continued to stand out as the best player on the roster. At the forward spots, Ousmane NDiaye appears to have the edge over Justin McBride at power forward, while Malachi Moreno has settled in as the starting center.
The shape of that group leaves Kentucky with a clearer sense of its rotation, but it also underscores the one debate that still hangs over the front end of the season. The Wildcats have enough performances to see where the preferred five may be headed, yet the exhibition work has also shown how much depends on balancing talent with execution. For now, the staff can point to a lineup that has separated itself, even if the questions around how it all fits together are not fully gone. [Read more 🡒]