Comparing 2025-26 to the 2015 and 1996 Wildcats
“This is UK’s most loaded roster since 2015,” TJ Walker said. “Probably the deepest team in the history of the program.” TJ Walker has been covering the Cats since 2010 when he was at Rivals. So he was around covering the 2015 team.
That’s a massive statement, especially considering the 1996 Wildcats rolled through the NCAA Tournament with NBA talent galore, and the 2015 team nearly went undefeated with two full platoons. But what if he’s right?
Let’s break down Mark Pope’s 2025-26 Kentucky basketball roster and see how it stacks up against two of the most iconic teams in school history.
The 2025-26 Wildcats: versatility, size, and no wasted scholarships
Mark Pope’s second-year roster isn’t just deep—it’s usable. Every player brings something to the table. Every position has multiple reliable options. This might be Kentucky’s most balanced team from top to bottom.
Guards & Wings
- Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh transfer): Third Team All-ACC selection in 2024-25. Averaged 16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG, and 1.8 SPG. Shot 37.6% FG, 26.6% 3PT, 88.6% FT. Notched a triple-double (11p/10r/10a) and ten 20+ point games.
- Jasper Johnson: 5-star freshman with elite scoring instincts.
- Collin Chandler: Explosive athlete returning from injury and mission work. Averaged 2.7 PPG as a freshman.
- Denzel Aberdeen (Florida transfer): 38.6% three-point shooter with combo guard versatility.
- Otega Oweh: Veteran wing, averaged 16.2 PPG and 4.7 RPG on 49.2% FG and 35.5% from three.
- Trent Noah: Kentucky native, averaged 2.7 PPG and shot 33.3% from deep as a freshman.
- Braydon Hawthorne: Top-40 2025 recruit, chose UK over West Virginia.
Forwards & Centers
- Kam Williams (Tulane transfer): Tough, switchable defender at the 3/4. Averaged 9.6 PPG and 6.0 RPG as a freshman.
- Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama transfer): SEC All-Freshman. Elite rebounder with positional versatility.
- Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State transfer): 5-star big with elite rim protection potential.
- Brandon Garrison: Averaged 5.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG in 2024-25.
- Malachi Moreno: 7-foot freshman, top-30 recruit, defensive anchor.
- Andrija Jelavic: Skilled Serbian center with pro experience.
- Reese Potter: 7-1 developing as a stretch big.
This isn’t a group where five guys will play 30 minutes a night. It’s a true 12–13-deep rotation with positionless flexibility and few gaps. And that makes this team different.
Remember 2015? Two platoons. One loss.
John Calipari’s 2015 squad is still the gold standard for modern college basketball depth. He didn’t just go deep—he built two starting-caliber units.
Key Players:
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 10.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, No. 1 overall pick.
- Willie Cauley-Stein: 8.9 PPG, elite defender and shot blocker.
- Devin Booker: 10.0 PPG off the bench.
- Others: Trey Lyles, Dakari Johnson, Tyler Ulis, Andrew & Aaron Harrison, Alex Poythress—all future NBA players.
That team went 38-1 with the nation’s No. 1 defensive rating (84.4). The platoon system overwhelmed opponents.
But even in 2015, some scholarship players rarely saw the floor. In contrast, Pope’s 2025-26 team could get real minutes from everyone.
The 1996 national champions: “The Untouchables”
Rick Pitino’s 1996 Wildcats still represent the ultimate standard for many UK fans.
Key Players:
- Tony Delk: 17.8 PPG, Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
- Antoine Walker: 15.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG.
- Supporting Stars: Walter McCarty, Derek Anderson, Ron Mercer, Nazr Mohammed, Mark Pope, Jeff Sheppard, Anthony Epps, Wayne Turner, Cameron Mills, Jared Prickett
They went 34-2, dominated by 22-point average margins, and played suffocating defense with lethal three-point shooting. While not as deep as 2015, they had 9–10 elite contributors, and a bench that could start elsewhere.
What made them special? Star power, versatility, and cohesion.
Comparing all three: Where the 2025-26 team wins
✅ Depth
2015 had elite top-line talent but leaned heavily on 6–7 players. The 2025-26 squad could play 12–13 without a major drop-off. The 96 team is much closer.
Push- 96 Kentucky and 2025 Kentucky
✅ Balance
Pope’s team has point guards (Lowe), bucket-getters (Johnson, Oweh), shooters (Aberdeen), defenders (Dioubate, Williams), rim protectors (Quaintance, Moreno), and stretch bigs (Jelavic, Potter). Neither the 1996 nor 2015 squads had this much positional balance.
Advantage- 2025 Kentucky
✅ Experience + Youth Blend
The roster features veteran transfers (Lowe, Aberdeen, Oweh, Dioubate, Garrison) and elite freshmen (Johnson, Quaintance, Moreno), giving Pope a mix built for a deep March run.
Mercer and Turner were solid freshman, but Moreno, Johnson, and Hawthorne may have the edge stats wise. Experience is a push, so we will call this
Advantage-2025 Kentucky
✅ Defense
With defensive specialists like Dioubate, Quaintance, and Moreno, this might be Pope’s best defensive group yet—possibly even rivaling 2015’s top-ranked defense. But nothing touches the hectic pressure the 96 team could apply and suffocate teams for deadly runs.
Advantage- 96 Kentucky
Final Verdict: could be the deepest ever—if the stars align
Kentucky fans know the truth: depth on paper doesn’t guarantee banners. But Mark Pope’s 2025-26 roster isn’t just a collection of talent—it’s a carefully assembled unit with real cohesion potential.
There may not be a surefire top-10 NBA Draft pick just yet, but Pope may have found something even more valuable: 12–13 players who could start for high-major programs.
If chemistry forms and egos stay in check, this team won’t just be deep—it could be historic.