Kentucky Opens Season Against Nicholls Amid High Expectations

Kentucky opens its regular season Tuesday at Rupp Arena against Nicholls. Second‑year coach Mark Pope leads a transfer‑heavy, deep Wildcats roster that national outlets project as a national contender, earning multiple preseason Final Four and championship picks. Exhibition play was mixed — a 78-65 win over preseason No. 1 Purdue was followed by an 84-70 loss to Georgetown that exposed defensive lapses and offensive inconsistency. KenPom lists Kentucky about a 30.5‑point favorite and projects roughly a 90-62 Wildcats win. The availability of guards Jaland Lowe and Denzel Aberdeen is uncertain and has been cited as a factor in Kentucky’s recent struggles and its ability to find consistent offensive rhythm.