The SEC preseason basketball poll has arrived, and if there was any doubt about Kentucky’s resurgence under Mark Pope, this should end it. The Wildcats have been picked to finish second in the SEC, trailing only defending national champion Florida.
It’s a position of respect, and a little motivation, for a Kentucky program determined to reclaim the league’s throne.
The official SEC preseason pecking order
Here’s how the SEC media predicts the league will stack up this season:
- Florida
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Auburn
- Missouri
- Ole Miss
- Texas
- Mississippi State
- Vanderbilt
- Oklahoma
- Texas A&M
- Georgia
- LSU
- South Carolina
A King and His Kingdom: Otega Oweh named SEC Player of the Year
The headline in Lexington isn’t just where Kentucky ranks. It’s who leads them there.
Senior guard Otega Oweh was named the SEC Preseason Player of the Year, an honor that cements his status as one of the most explosive two-way guards in college basketball. The former Oklahoma standout averaged 16.2 points last season and has emerged as the emotional heartbeat of Pope’s new-look roster.
The complete All-SEC preseason teams
Joining Oweh on the All-SEC teams is a mix of familiar names and rising stars from across the loaded conference.
First Team All-SEC
- Alex Condon, Florida
- Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
- Otega Oweh, Kentucky
- Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
- Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
Second Team All-SEC
- Nate Ament, Tennessee
- Boogie Fland, Florida
- Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee
- Thomas Haugh, Florida
- Mark Mitchell, Missouri
Third Team All-SEC
- Malik Dia, Ole Miss
- Aden Holloway, Alabama
- Karter Knox, Arkansas
- Jaland Lowe, Kentucky
- D.J. Wagner, Arkansas
It’s worth noting that Kentucky placed two players among the league’s top 15, a sign of both balance and star power. Jaland Lowe landing on the Third Team hints that the Wildcats’ backcourt could be one of the best in the SEC by season’s end.
Florida may hold the No. 1 spot for now, but Kentucky’s combination of experience, depth, and the conference's best player gives them every chance to chase it down. But that also means a giant target on the back of the Cats, bigger than it normally is, as every team will want to dethrone the Cats.
Are you guys excited for basketball season? We know we are.
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