Men's Basketball - Kentucky Wildcats On SI - Sports Illustrated

Men'S Basketball

Mar 7, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) fives guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) during the first half against the Florida Gators at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Kentucky seniors Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen were massive pieces of this Kentucky team.

Mar 7, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) fives guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) during the first half against the Florida Gators at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Kentucky seniors Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen were massive pieces of this Kentucky team.

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Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope reacts to a play during the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Mark Pope has a ton of work to do this offseason for the 2026-27 roster.

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope looks on against the Santa Clara Broncos during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Can Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats upset the Iowa State Cyclones?

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts to a flagrant two foul charged to Tennessee State Tigers forward Kavien Jones (not pictured) during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

The Wildcats will be matched up with a very aggressive and physical Iowa State team on Sunday.

Mar 7, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) reacts during the second half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Joshua Jefferson being out on Sunday would be a big blow to the Iowa State Cyclones.

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) shoots a three point basket against Santa Clara Broncos guard Sash Gavalyugov (2) to tie the game as time expires in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Kentucky guard Otega Oweh had the sports world in shock after his buzzer beater on Friday.

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Brandon Garrison (10) reacts after dunking the ball against Santa Clara Broncos forward Allen Graves (22) during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

A pair of Kentucky's big men came up huge off the bench in the win against Santa Clara.

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) shoots a three point basket against Santa Clara Broncos guard Sash Gavalyugov (2) to tie the game as time expires in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Kentucky guard Otega Oweh came up big when his team needed him most.

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) celebrates with teammates after shooting a three point basket to tie the game against the Santa Clara Broncos as time expired in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

The Kentucky Wildcats pulled off a thrilling overtime win against Santa Clara in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Jan 7, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Jayden Quaintance (21) reacts during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Quaintance has missed over two months of action for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Mar 19, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) and guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) talk with the media during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Denzel Aberdeen and Otega Oweh were asked what this Kentucky team's identity is ahead of the tournament.

Mar 3, 2026; College Station, Texas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) looks on during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Kentucky needs these three players to have a good tournament for the Wildcats to make a run.

Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

College basketball media does not like Kentucky's chances of advancing to the Round of 32.

Mar 7, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) waves to the crowd during the senior day ceremony before the game against the Florida Gators at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Otega Oweh not listed as a top 25 player in the NCAA Tournament.

Feb 4, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope yells to his players during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

These three things would hurt Kentucky against Santa Clara.

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope reacts during the first half of a NCAA mens basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, February 14, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Men's Basketball

Mark Pope still does not have a recruit in the 2026 class.

Feb 24, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope directs his team against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Friday's matchup with Santa Clara is a big game for Mark Pope.

Kentucky's guard Otega Oweh (00) brings the ball up court against Oklahoma Wednesday night at Rupp Arena.
Feb. 4, 2026

Men's Basketball

Here are three reasons why Kentucky will beat Santa Clara and advance to the Round of 32.

Kentucky's head coach Mark Pope yells at his team against Tennessee at Rupp Arena Saturday night.
Feb. 7, 2026

Men's Basketball

Next year's Kentucky team needs more knockdown shooters.

Feb 28, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) defends against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

The Wildcats need Denzel Aberdeen to have a good NCAA Tournament.

Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Will Kentucky win multiple games in the Big Dance?

Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are getting ready to play a very tough Santa Clara team.

Jan 24, 2026; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Providence Friars guard Stefan Vaaks (7) drives the ball to the basket during the first half against the Georgetown Hoyas at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

As soon as April 7th hits Mark Pope will be hitting the transfer portal hard.

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope reacts during the second half of a NCAA mens basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, February 14, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Men's Basketball

Why Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats will beat Santa Clara.

Feb 7, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope reacts to the action during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Kentucky coach Mark Pope shared some high praise for the Santa Clara Broncos.