The early buzz for the 2025-26 college basketball season is already heating up — and according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Kentucky fans might have a small chip on their shoulder heading into year two under Mark Pope.
In Borzello’s way-too-early top 25, Kentucky checks in at No. 10, loaded with talent and promise. But right above them?
Arkansas — now coached by John Calipari — slides into the No. 9 spot.
Let the fireworks begin.
Borzello praised Kentucky’s deep, athletic roster, especially on the perimeter. Between transfers like Jaland Lowe (Pitt), Kam Williams (Tulane), and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), plus five-star freshman Jasper Johnson, Pope has a full cabinet of playmakers. Add in the potential return of leading scorer Otega Oweh and energetic guard Collin Chandler, and suddenly, Kentucky’s backcourt looks built for a deep March run.
The frontcourt, too, has been retooled for toughness and defense — Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama) and Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State) headline the new faces. However, there’s a small cloud hovering: Quaintance, one of the nation’s most exciting young big men, suffered a torn ACL in February and could miss the start of the season.
If Quaintance isn’t ready, the workload will shift. Expect Trent Noah, Dioubate, and returning center Brandon Garrison to take on bigger roles early. Malachi Moreno, the promising freshman seven-footer, could also be thrown into the fire faster than originally planned.
Is that a concern? Maybe.
Is it a reason to doubt Kentucky’s ceiling? Probably not.
Mark Pope has built something rare in college basketball these days — a big, deep, and versatile roster capable of adjusting to injuries or slumps without hitting the panic button. If anything, the uncertainty around Quaintance may just fast-track the development of players Kentucky would need anyway by March.
Meanwhile, Arkansas’ higher ranking will no doubt be a talking point.
With Calipari now running the show in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks have stacked talent through the portal and freshmen — and they’ll have something to prove after a rocky final year under Cal in Lexington.
Borzello’s full top 10:
Purdue
Houston
St. John’s
Texas Tech
Louisville
UConn
BYU
Michigan
Arkansas
Kentucky
Pope and Kentucky aren’t just aiming for a top-10 finish, though. With the roster he’s assembled, the goal is simple: contend for a national title.
And if Kentucky can stay healthy and find its chemistry early, don’t be surprised if they have something extra to say to the doubters — including the ones putting them just one spot behind an old familiar face.