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

Men'S Basketball

Dec 9, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jaland Lowe (15) drives to the basket during the second half against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Kentucky played excellent defense, but its offense still has some work to do, and Jaland Lowe helped that.

Dec 9, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jaland Lowe (15) drives to the basket during the second half against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Kentucky played excellent defense, but its offense still has some work to do, and Jaland Lowe helped that.

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Dec 13, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Collin Chandler (5), guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) and center Malachi Moreno (24) celebrate with guard Jaland Lowe (15) after he scores a basket during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

The Wildcats responded well on Saturday by displaying a full-game of nonstop effort.

Dec 13, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Brandon Garrison (10) celebrates a basket during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Garrison responded in a huge way on Saturday against Indiana.

Dec 13, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Mouhamed Dioubate (23) reacts to a travel called against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

The Wildcats responded when they needed to in a big way on Saturday.

Dec 9, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Darian Devries looks on during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

The old-school rivals will meet for the first time in nine years on Saturday night in Rupp Arena.

Nov 21, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope calls out to his players while forward Trent Noah (9) directs his teammates during the second half against the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Pope says the starting lineup will continue being a 'revolving door.'

Men's Basketball

Could Quaintance be a week or two away from making his debut?

Dec 9, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks to his players from the sideline during the first half against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Pope says his program has a 'ridiculous' amount of support from partners, but acknowledges it's still his responsibility.

Dec 9, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope looks on during the first half against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

The Wildcats can't lose to the Hoosiers and go to 0-5 in power conference games.

Recruiting

One of the top in-state prospects took an unofficial visit to Kentucky on Tuesday.

Dec 2, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) high-fives forward Andrija Jelavic (4) during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Kentucky needs more players to step up as leaders right now, and Oweh took a step in that direction Tuesday.

Indiana's Lamar Wilkerson (3) and Tayton Conerway (6) share a laugh after Wilkerson checked out for the final time during the Indiana versus Penn State men's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.

Men's Basketball

A former Kentucky target in the transfer portal just had a historic night for the Hoosiers.

Recruiting

Kentucky was once an overwhelming favorite to land this top recruit.

Dec 9, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Trent Noah (9) reacts after making a three point basket during the first half against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Noah played a big role in Kentucky's blowout win against NC Central.

Dec 9, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope looks on during the first half against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

This Kentucky team has lacked in effort, and Mark Pope is fed up with it.

Dec 9, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks with forward Brandon Garrison (10) during the first half against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Pope knows Kentucky's efforts haven't translated at all from practices into games.

Dec 9, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks to his players from the sideline during the first half against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

The Wildcats played much cleaner on Tuesday night in Rupp Arena.

Men's Basketball

Is Quaintance close to making his Kentucky debut?

Dec 2, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Collin Chandler (5) talks with head coach Mark Pope during the second half at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Pope is confident that his team can get to where they want to be.

Dec 2, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) fives forward Andrija Jelavic (4) during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Pope says his players are doing a lot of "extra" work outside of games.

Nov 21, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jaland Lowe celebrates from the bench during the first half against the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Aberdeen knows how much Lowe can help this team, and Kentucky has struggled badly without him.

Nov 26, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks with guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) during the first half against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

This Kentucky team has gotten bashed for the efforts lately, and Aberdeen understands why.

Men's Basketball

Another abysmal showing against a quality opponent has dropped Kentucky out of the top 25.

Dec 2, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope yells to his players during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Men's Basketball

Kentucky has struggled mightily with their effort on the court lately, showing no signs of care at all.

Kentucky coach Mark Pope turns back to his bench after another turnover against Gonzaga during their game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

Men's Basketball

The Wildcats were embarrassed by Gonzaga in Nashville on Friday, and Goodman voiced his concerns.