The preseason is over. After a spectacular high against Purdue and a humbling low against Georgetown, the real games finally begin. Kentucky basketball officially tips off the 2025-26 season Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET, hosting Nicholls State at Rupp Arena.
With injuries and inconsistent play dominating the preseason, how will Mark Pope's first real starting lineup look? Here’s what we think the team will look like when the ball tips off.
Kentucky basketball's projected starting lineup and key rotations
Point Guard: Jaland Lowe (Jr.)
Pope has been cautious with Lowe's shoulder injury, but all indications suggest he's ready. After the Georgetown game, Pope said they were taking it "day by day," and Lowe has reportedly been practicing without pain. Expect him to start, though his minutes may be limited if the game gets out of hand.
Backups: Denzel Aberdeen (Sr.), who sat out the last game with a minor leg injury, should be the primary backup. If he's also limited, freshman Jasper Johnson will see time at the point, Collin Chandler looked really bad at point guard Thursday night, so probably won't see much time here.
Shooting Guard: Otega Oweh (Sr.)
This is a lock. The SEC Preseason Player of the Year is 100% and will be the team's primary scorer and emotional leader. He should see the most minutes of anyone on the roster.
Backups: Collin Chandler (So.) and Jasper Johnson (Fr.). Expect Chandler to get the first crack at the backup 2-guard minutes, but this will likely be a "hot hand" rotation all year long.
Small Forward: Trent Noah (So.)
Noah started both exhibitions and seems to have earned Pope's trust with his high basketball IQ, hustle, and system experience. However, he must make shots. If his shot isn't falling, his lack of lateral quickness can be a defensive liability too much to overcome.
Backups: Kam Williams (So). Williams has been in a deep slump, scoring just 6 points in 40 exhibition minutes. If that funk continues, freshman Braydon Hawthorne could get an opportunity.
Power Forward: Mo Dioubate (Jr.)
This is another lock. Dioubate might be the most important player on the floor for Kentucky. He is a relentless rebounder, a versatile defender, and brings a physicality the Cats desperately need. His only enemy is foul trouble.
Backup: Andrija Jelavic (Fr.). "Yella" looked much more comfortable against Georgetown. He's a skilled passer and rebounder who offers a different, more finesse-oriented look than Dioubate. It is a great one-two pairing.
Center: Brandon Garrison (Jr.)
Garrison gets the start. He's comfortable in Pope's system and provides a solid, athletic presence. His main challenge will be avoiding the "drifting" that sometimes plagued him in the exhibitions and all last year.
Backups: Malachi Moreno (Fr.) / Reece Potter (Jr.). Moreno's defensive struggles in the post will likely limit his role early, but his ability to run the floor is an asset. Potter is a floor-spacing option if the offense needs a jolt, but expect Garrison to get the vast majority of the minutes.
There you have it, come back and see how wrong or right we were.
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