The wait is finally over—Kentucky men’s basketball officially hit the court Monday for its first fall practice under Mark Pope, and fans got exactly what they wanted: intensity, swagger, and a highlight reel worth buzzing about.
Pope set the tone early, bursting into the gym with a huge smile and shouting, “I love the first day! Let’s go!” before diving right in with his team. The energy carried through every clip Kentucky shared from the session, showcasing both the new faces and the returners making plays.
One standout sequence saw Jaland Lowe feed Brandon Garrison, who drew three defenders before kicking it out to Trent Noah—better known as the “Mountain Mamba”—for a smooth, wide-open three. Moments later, Denzel Aberdeen connected with Malachi Moreno, who recovered a near turnover and then delivered the highlight of the day: a monster dunk over Garrison that had social media buzzing.
The action didn’t stop there. Aberdeen tried to toss an alley-oop to Moreno that just missed, but the pace and aggression never slowed down. Garrison showed off his versatility by bringing the ball up the floor and finding Lowe, who immediately swung it to Noah for another corner triple.
To cap things off, Mouhamed Dioubate reminded everyone why he’s such a fan favorite—spinning through the lane and throwing down a thunderous dunk before flexing at the camera.
With Big Blue Madness less than three weeks away, it’s already clear Pope’s Wildcats are more than just excited to play—they’re eager to put on a show. And if day one is any indication, fans should buckle up for a season full of highlight-worthy moments.
