College basketball is in a very interesting spot. NIL money and loaded transfer classes make the headlines. Coaching change has become more and more common, as loyalty in the sport is seeming to slip away. Kentucky, similar to many other teams, is beginning the 2025-26 season with a reloaded roster, ready to compete at a high level. Being heralded by many as the deepest team in the nation, fans and players alike only have one goal in mind. It’s time for banner #9. Mark Pope burst onto the scene this past season, quickly receiving deserved praise for his excellent coaching. Overall, this past season for Kentucky concluded with many fans content. They were content with Mark Pope, content with a Sweet 16 appearance, and content with where the future is going for BBN. However, if there’s one thing we know about Wildcat fans, it’s that their expectations will remain high and their hunger for success will always be strong. With UK’s season tipping off on November 4th, BBN is holding their breath, waiting to see if this could be the year where their team is the last remaining in March. This Friday, the Wildcats will face a treacherous, telling, test. They are going head to head in an exhibition match with the #1 ranked Purdue Boilermakers. Folks, college basketball is back.
Purdue’s Analysis: Similar to Kentucky, Purdue enters this season with lofty expectations. Led by Preseason National Player of the Year, Braden Smith, and star big man Trey Kauffman Renn, this team will be a nightmare to opposing coaches. They have enough firepower on both sides of the ball to blow teams out of the water. Lead guard Braden Smith is the best floor general in the country. Last season he finished second in assists per game averaging a whopping 8.7 dimes. He is a maestro in the pick and roll, and has been ever since arriving to the program.
Stepping into the Zach Edey sized hole this past season, was TKR. TKR established himself as one of the most improved, reliable big men in the country. Averaging 20.1 points per game this past year, he can score the rock in a multitude of ways. His footwork is akin to NBA players, and his post bag is impressively deep. He is joined in the frontcourt by South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff and 7 ‘4 sophomore Daniel Jacobsen. Cluff was tremendous at SDS last season, averaging roughly 17-12-3 in only 27 minutes a night. His athleticism doesn’t jump out when watching him play, but rather his finesse and feathery soft touch. Daniel Jacobsen, Matt Painter’s ideal big man, is a towering figure in the post, using his long limbs to swat shots. Keeping him healthy is highly important to Purdue reaching their end goal of a national championship. This past season he only played 2 games due to injuries, but he is ready to be back out on the court this year and prove that his game is much more complex than simply his height. Besides Braden Smith, the team’s backcourt is bolstered by returners Gicarri Harris, Foster Loyer,and CJ Cox, as well as Israeli newcomer Omer Mayer. Loyer and Mayer will likely slide in on the wings, while Harris and Cox will provide a much needed punch off the bench. Foster Loyer, Braden Smith’s right hand man, is looking to improve on an already highly respectable college career. He’s the best shooter on almost every court he steps on. The past 2 seasons he has shot 44.4% from 3, absolutely torching the nets. He has a tendency to hit dagger 3’s in big moments. Smith and Loyer’s experience in high pressure March situations have made them incredible options in the clutch.
Omer Mayer, the freshman from Israel, is likely the Boilermakers biggest wildcard. As a highly touted prospect, he is expected to step into a starting role immediately. He will likely need to learn how to play without the ball in his hands. He will go from being the go to guy to being a role player, a transition that can be challenging for young guys in sport. I believe Mayer will be able to thrive in Matt Painter’s system as a pace pushing, playmaking point forward. Purdue will not be an easy team to defeat, even in a preseason exhibition game. UK fans should be ready to watch their team really fight against this experienced group. Returning the big 3 of Smith, TKR, and Loyer is what gives Purdue their #1 preseason ranking, yet the team’s health and depth will likely dictate their true ceiling.
Kentucky’s Analysis: You simply can’t bring up this Kentucky team without immediately thinking of Otega Oweh. Oweh is the Preseason SEC POY and a household name in college basketball. After arriving at Kentucky last season with relatively mild expectations, Oweh stepped into the role of team leader. He was the team’s leading scorer last year, averaging 16.2 points per game, shooting 49% percent from the field. He’s a ridiculously explosive athlete, crafty finisher, and determined downhill driver. He buzzed his hair this offseason, going for a “new look”, as he steps into his new role on the team. He remains the team leader, yet his responsibilities are even more lofty as the only returner from last season’s starting 5. He knows Mark Pope’s system and will be tasked with teaching the new guys the intricate details of the high level offense. There will be plenty of new guys for Oweh to teach, as UK has brought in a transfer class full of diverse skillsets and strengths.
In the frontcourt, the Cats have brought in Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe and Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen. Lowe has been a vocal leader at summer practice and will be expected to lead alongside Oweh. Lowe had the ball in his hands constantly at Pitt. He was the key target of opposing teams gameplans, and was often forced to create for his team time and time again. Pitt had a disappointing season last year, failing to make March Madness. Lowe was the lone bright spot for the team, putting up 17,4,and 5.5 as only a sophomore. Well these stats display Lowe’s scoring prowess they fail to tell the whole story. He struggled with efficiency, shooting 37% from the field and 26% percent from 3. He also turned the ball over 3 times a game, a rate alarmingly high for a team’s lead guard. In Kentucky’s system he will be able to get his shots in a much more fluid way, needing to force late shot clock heaves. As for his shooting, I believe he is capable of being an upper 30s guy, given better opportunities. His shooting stroke is smooth and steady.
His predicament at Pitt reminds me of past Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey’s time on the team. Maxey shot 29% from 3 in his lone season at Kentucky before becoming a great shooter early on in his NBA career. When guys are the number one target of opposing team’s gameplans, their percentages slip to rates that often don’t reflect their true abilities. If Lowe can play with confidence, he will be an excellent addition to an already strong UK backcourt. As previously mentioned, UK also stole Denzel Aberdeen from the clutches of Todd Gulden’s reigning championship Gator’s squad. Aberdeen was crucial for Florida’s success, providing consistent bench scoring as the team’s 6th man. Backing up Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Alijah Martin left less minutes for Aberdeen than he may have deserved. Expect Aberdeen to shine as a reliable shotmaker for the Cats, whether he is a starter or a sparkplug off the bench. His winning experience will be highly important for the younger guys on the team to take notes from. He knows how a national championship team practices, gameplans, and prepares.
Other notable transfers for the Cats include Jayden Quaintance and Kam Williams. Williams earned consistent minutes as a freshman at Tulane, which is uncharacteristic of the program’s usual practices. The team heavily favors upper classmen when dividing out minutes, which exemplifies how impressive Williams was in his time with the team. Williams and Noah will be the team’s best shooters this season, both expected to provide valuable minutes on the wing. Williams is the type of 3 and D guy that NBA scouts salivate over, and he will likely step into a role similar to that of former Wildcat Koby Brea.
Jayden Quaintance, the former McDonalds All-American will be out for the early part of the season, but likely will insert himself into the starting 5 when healthy. Quaintance has a very raw offensive game, yet he showed flashes of greatness last year at Arizona State University, including a 20 point outburst against UCF. His true strength lies on the defensive end of the floor where he averaged 1.1 steals and a whopping 2.6 blocks per game. He can switch out onto the perimeter and punish guards who try to take it to the rim. Returners from last season include Brandon Garrison, Trench Noah, and Collin Chandler. All of these guys have been working tremendously hard this off season. Garrison can act as a playmaking hub in the post, as Pope likes to have, similar to Amari Williams last season. He will continue to thrive off backdoor cuts and gritty finishes. Chandler is sneaky bouncy, and has continued to work on his 3 ball this offseason. Last season, he was coming off a 2 year mission trip in which he did not touch a basketball. His transition back into the game took time, but by the end of the season he looked like a totally new player than he did in November. I expect him to continue to make major strides this season. Noah plays every game for his homestate, being the classic homebred UK hustle guy. He’ s been shooting the lights out in practice, as well as at the Big Blue Madness 3 point competition. He won’t back down from anyone in the SEC, and I expect for him to be a fan favorite this year. This UK roster also includes versatile freshman talent. The team has brought in Croatian big man Andrija Jelavic, No.18 ranked guard Jasper Johnson, No. 26 ranked center Malachi Moreno, and No. 85 ranked lanky wing Braydon Hawthorne. Mark Pope’s most challenging task this season will be ensuring everyone is happy with their minutes. If the team can buy into playing for each other and to win, they will go exceptionally far.
Overall Thoughts: This game, while only an exhibition game, will be telling of the potential of both Kentucky and Purdue. You can expect a fast paced, high scoring game. Both teams will look to run the floor and shoot the 3 ball. Ultimately the team that comes out on top will likely be the team that can pull down boards and knock down shots. With the absence of Lowe and Quaintance, I would expect Purdue to come out on top. In order for Kentucky to win, they must punish Purdue’s drop coverage, as looks around the rim will not come easy. Staying alert on both sides of the ball is crucial. No matter the result of the game two things remain true. One, this game will be a great learning experience for both teams, providing excellent preparation for the season. Secondly, college basketball is back and who couldn’t be happier. GO CATS!
