The Kentucky Wildcats were a very good team last season, but they are expected to be even better in the 2025-26 season. Mark Pope brought in a highly talented group of players from the transfer portal to go along with a couple of top 30 recruits and some returning stars.
The season is still a ways away, but the Cats are already getting a lot of positive feedback. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has Kentucky as a two seed in his very early Bracketology projections, which is the highest of the SEC teams.
Also, The Field of 68 released their way-to-early top 25 for next year, and they ranked the Wildcats fourth in the country. That is also the highest of the SEC teams. Arkansas and John Calipari are next at number eight.
On3 has Kentucky in the top five as well. They’re fourth there as well, and again, the highest in the conference, just ahead of the Auburn Tigers.
Expectations are going to be high for Kentucky basketball, and they are equipped to handle them, with plenty of talented, but experienced players. Right now, plenty of experts think they’re one of the nation’s best teams.
