Take a deep breath, Big Blue Nation. The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here, the preseason awards are out, Big Blue Madness is done. The formal, official start to the college basketball conversation arrives this week with SEC Tipoff ’26, live from Birmingham, Ala. For two full days, the SEC Network will be dedicated to wall-to-wall coverage, and fans will get their first chance to hear directly from the coaches and players who will define the season.
It’s always a fascinating event, offering a glimpse into each team's mindset, and this year promises to be no different. For Kentucky fans, it’s a can’t-miss opportunity to see Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks set the tone for their highly anticipated seasons.
When to watch the Wildcats
Circle these times on your calendar, because Tuesday is Kentucky’s day to shine. Both the men's and women's coaches will take the podium in the evening, joined by some of the most important players on their rosters.
Kentucky Women's Basketball (Tuesday, Oct. 14):
- 4:20 p.m. ET: Head Coach Kenny Brooks takes the main podium.
- 4:35 - 4:45 p.m. ET: Players Teonnie Key, Tonie Morgan, and Clara Strack will be on stage for interviews.
Kentucky Men's Basketball (Tuesday, Oct. 14):
- 5:20 PM- Head Coach Mark Pope takes the main podium.
- 5:35 PM- Payers Denzel Aberdeen, Jaland Lowe, and Otega Oweh will also be joining the media showcase throughout the afternoon.
How to tune In live
SEC Network will provide 18 hours of live coverage with SEC Now: SEC Tipoff, running from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The individual press conferences for each head coach will stream in their entirety on SEC Network+.
Here’s how you can access the coverage:
- Cable/Satellite: The SEC Network is included in many standard packages, but may require a specific subscription. Check with your local provider.
- Streaming Services: You can watch via services that carry the ESPN family of networks, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, Sling TV (Orange Plan)
- ESPN App: The coaches' full press conferences will be available to stream on SEC Network+ through the ESPN App for authenticated subscribers.
The full Coaches' schedule
Want to scout the competition? Here is the full press conference schedule for every coach in the league.
Tuesday, October 14 (All Times ET)
- 9:05 a.m. - Mike White (Georgia Men)
- 9:35 a.m. - Mark Byington (Vanderbilt Men)
- 10:05 a.m. - Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (Georgia Women)
- 10:35 a.m. - Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt Women)
- 11:20 a.m. - Yolett McPhee-McCuin (Ole Miss Women)
- 11:50 a.m. - Dawn Staley (South Carolina Women)
- 12:20 p.m. - Chris Beard (Ole Miss Men)
- 12:50 p.m. - Lamont Paris (South Carolina Men)
- 1:35 p.m. - John Calipari (Arkansas Men)
- 2:05 p.m. - Nate Oats (Alabama Men)
- 235 p.m. - Kelsi Musick (Arkansas Women)
- 3:05 p.m. - Kristy Curry (Alabama Women)
- 3:50 p.m. - Vic Schaefer (Texas Women)
- 4:20 p.m. - Kenny Brooks (Kentucky Women)
- 4:50 p.m. - Sean Miller (Texas Men)
- 5:20 p.m. - Mark Pope (Kentucky Men)
Wednesday, October 15 (All Times ET)
- 9:05 a.m. - Steven Pearl (Auburn Men)
- 9:35 a.m. - Chris Jans (Mississippi State Men)
- 10:05 a.m. - Larry Vickers (Auburn Women)
- 10:35 a.m. - Sam Purcell (Mississippi State Women)
- 11:20 a.m. - Kelly Rae Finley (Florida Women)
- 11:50 a.m. - Kim Caldwell (Tennessee Women)
- 12:20 p.m. - Todd Golden (Florida Men)
- 12:50 p.m. - Rick Barnes (Tennessee Men)
- 1:35 p.m. - Matt McMahon (LSU Men)
- 2:05 p.m. - Bucky McMillan (Texas A&M Men)
- 2:35 p.m. - Kim Mulkey (LSU Women)
- 3:05 p.m. - Joni Taylor (Texas A&M Women)
- 3:50 p.m. - Kellie Harper (Missouri Women)
- 4:20 p.m. - Jennie Baranczyk (Oklahoma Women)
- 4:50 p.m. - Dennis Gates (Missouri Men)
- 5:20 p.m. - Porter Moser (Oklahoma Men)
Get ready, BBN. The conversation is about to begin, and the journey to March starts now.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion