Kentucky basketball will look different this year, but the expectations in Lexington are always the same: win the NCAA championship.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Kentucky basketball.
Big Blue Nation may be in the midst of an inspirational season on the gridiron, but make no mistake: basketball is king in the Bluegrass State. Last season was a bit of a disappointment, with a preseason top-10 ranking culminating in a blowout loss in the Round of 32 to Iowa State and a 22-14 record. As evidenced by John Calipari’s exit a few seasons ago, expectations in Lexington are about as high as anywhere in the nation, and the pressure is on Mark Pope to at least return to the Sweet Sixteen this year.
At point guard, Washington transfer Zoom Diallo will start. A one-time high four-star recruit with the Huskies, he averaged 15.7 PPG at Washington last season and has two years of eligibility remaining. Four-star freshman Mason Williams will back him up at point.
Rounding out the backcourt is Furman transfer Alex Wilkins. As a freshman with the Paladins, Wilkins turned into one of the best players at the low-major level, earning All-SoCon honors along with being named the SoCon Tournament MVP. Behind him on the depth chart is Washington State transfer Jerone Morton, who grew up in Winchester, Kentucky, just a half hour away from Lexington.
One of the big additions for Kentucky basketball this offseason was Milan Momcilovic from Iowa State. He spent three season in Ames, but now will start at the wing for the Wildcats. Momcilovic will immediately become one of the frontrunners for SEC Player of the Year.
Braydon Hawthorne, who redshirted last season, and returnee Trent Noah will also see minutes at the wing position. Both are capable of playing SEC basketball in the event that Momcilovic misses any time.
The first true position battle of the season for Kentucky basketball will come at the power forward position. While Pope brought in James Madison transfer Justin McBride, he’ll face competition for the starting position from international recruit Ousmane N’Diaye, who is from Senegal but most recently played professional basketball in Italy. We’ll give the nod to N’Diaye, but either could find themselves in the starting lineup on the first game of the season.
At center, it’s Malachi Moreno returning to the five-spot for the second straight season. As a freshman last year, he made a huge impact defensively and likely will again this season. Another Washington transfer, Franck Kepnang, and Miami-Ohio transfer Reece Potter, who did not play last season, will provide depth down low behind Moreno.
Ultimately, Kentucky basketball has one of the most dedicated fanbases in the nation. BBN shows up every home game, and they expect to Wildcats to as well. Mark Pope likely isn’t in danger of losing his job unless they miss the postseason, but every season in Fayette County entails a coach sitting on pins and needles after a loss. Kentucky basketball has the talent to make waves this season and in March, but putting it together in a deep conference is never a certainty.
Head coach: Mark Pope (12th season overall, 3rd at Kentucky)
2025-26 record: 22-14 (10-8)
2026 postseason finish: Lost to Iowa State (82-63) in second round of NCAA Tournament
Notable departures:
- All contributors except for Malachi Moreno, Trent Noah, and Kam Williams
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Kansas (Nov. 10) – Chicago
- vs. Indiana (Nov. 24) – Indianapolis, IN
- at Virginia (Dec. 2)
- vs. Louisville (Dec. 12)
- vs. UNC (Dec. 19) – New York City
Projected Rotation
PG: Zoom Diallo (6-6, 195, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 15.7 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.9 RPG (Washington)
SG: Alex Wilkins (6-6, 170, So.)
2025-26 stats: 17.8 PPG, 4.7 APG, 2.0 RPG, 82.4 FT% (Furman)
SF: Milan Momcilovic (6-9, 220, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 16.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 48.7 3P%, 87.8 FT% (Iowa State)
PF: Ousmane N’Diaye (7-0, 220, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.9 SPG (Cremona – Italy)
C: Malachi Moreno (7-0, 250, So.)
2025-26 stats: 7.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 58.2 FG%
6: Justin McBride (6-8, 245, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 15.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 40.0 3P% (James Madison)
7: Franck Kepnang (7-0, 270, Gr.)
2025-26 stats: 6.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.2 APG, 2.1 BPG (Washington)
8: Kam Williams (6-7, 210, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 6.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 35.9 3P%
9: Mason Williams (6-3, 210, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 126 ranked recruit
10: Jerone Morton (6-4, 200, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 7.8 PPG, 2.6 APG, 1.9 RPG, 82.0 FT%, 38.8 3P% (Washington State)
11: Braydon Hawthorne (6-8, 195, So.)
247Sports Composite No. 33 ranked recruit in Class of 2025*
*Redshirted 2025-26 season
12: Trent Noah (6-6, 225, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 3.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.5 APG
13: Reece Potter (7-1, 235, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 6.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, (Miami-Ohio)*
*Did not play in 2025-26 season
Kentucky basketball team MVP: Milan Momcilovic
Arguably the best player in the transfer portal this offseason, Momcilovic brings size and shooting to Kentucky basketball. As a freshman at Iowa State, Momcilovic started all 37 games for the Cyclones, shooting 35.9% from deep. Despite that solid clip for a taller wing, he improved upon that rate as a sophomore (39.6 3P%) and a junior (48.7 3P%). That’s a skill that will pay dividends for the spacing of Kentucky basketball’s offense.
His 136 makes from deep last season led D-I basketball, and Momcilovic took care of the ball, too. His turnover percentage of just 6.4% was one of the best rates in the Big 12 last season. His true shooting percentage, eFG%, offensive box plus/minus, and offensive rating all placed either first or second amongst qualified players in the conference last season. Momcilovic will make an immediate impact on a roster that desperately needed some offensive juice.
Kentucky basketball make-or-break player: Zoom Diallo
Kentucky basketball is at its best when they have an elite point guard. Diallo might not be elite, but he’s in the upper echelon of SEC guards and is up for the challenge and responsibility of being a Kentucky guard. Diallo saw huge jumps in production and efficiency last season as he developed from his freshman to his sophomore season with the Huskies. There’s hope in Lexington that he will continue that upward trajectory.
Diallo must balance the ups and downs of starting in the SEC while mentoring freshman guard Mason Williams. Given the type of statistical increases over the past season for Diallo, it’s worth a gamble that he’ll do well in both aspects for Kentucky basketball.
Key statistic: Personal fouls per game
Last season, Kentucky basketball averaged 18.4 fouls per game, a rate that ranked 272nd out of 365 D-I teams. While fouls aren’t a do-or-die type of statistic for teams, it certainly helps to limit free throws to your opponent and get back on offense without making undisciplined mistakes. Big men N’Diaye and Moreno will be tasked with bringing havoc to the frontcourt without fouling, which is no small task itself in the SEC.
Kentucky basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 7th in the SEC
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance