Kentucky isn't supposed to be projected as a top five team (at least not currently) but come on, ESPN. In releasing their latest way-too-early top 25, ESPN took a number of controversial swings throughout their men's basketball ranking. The one sure to catch the Big Blue Nation's eye is Kentucky's placement all the way down at No. 19.
This puts Kentucky being Tennessee, Arkanas, Louisville, Alabama, and Missouri. The last of that list may be the most confusing nod of them all. This is a Mark Pope team that, according to ESPN's own transfer portal ranking, landed the undisuputed top player on the market in Milan Momcilovic.
Zoom Diallo comes in at No. 32, and Alex Wilkins at No. 39. Three top fifty transfers to pair with a returning projected first round draft pick, in Malachi Moreno, and Kentucky just ever so slightly makes the cut for a ranking before the season begins.
Factor in Florida's and Texas' placements (No. 1 and No. 4, respectively) and ESPN would have the 2026-27 Wildcats finishing all the way down at seventh in the SEC. That's the exact spot that Kentucky finished last season, in what was notoriously one of the program's worst in recent memory. That begs the question:
Is Kentucky Doomed to Repeat a Historically Bad Season?
The answer may vary on a case-by-case basis, but this isn't at all the same Kentucky team that lost 14 games in their last campaign, including nine in SEC play. All of the major flaws that last year's Cats suffer seem to have been resolved with the formation of this year's group.
Where that squad couldn't find ways to score, and more importantly lacked a point guard, our current Kentucky team shouldn't struggle with either. Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins both have experience at the top of the lineup, and that isn't even counting Jerone Morton and Mason Williams on the bench.
On the shooting front, Momcilovic should shoulder the bulk of any worries that the BBN has there. He was the best three-point shooter in all of college hoops last season, posting a percentage just under 50%. Momcilovic will also have the help of Kam Williams, Justin McBride, and Trent Noah. It'd be an understatement to say that the Wildcats have improved in this category, too.
All the team can do now is prove it. Seeing ESPN dock Kentucky down to No. 19 (from their previous post at No. 17) may feel unusual for Kentucky fans at first, but remember, Mark Pope's first team entered the season at No. 23. That crew went on to topple No. 6 Duke in the Champions Classic.
Watch and see this team prove the world wrong, Kentucky fans.
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