The expectations around Kentucky basketball are always sky-high — that’s just the standard in Lexington. But this preseason feels different.
Heading into his second year leading the program, Mark Pope hasn’t just embraced those expectations — he’s doubled down on them. Last season served as a learning experience, and this year’s roster was built with one thing in mind: a national championship.
And after what happened Friday night inside Rupp Arena, that goal doesn’t seem all that far-fetched.
In their first real test of the 2025–26 campaign, No. 9 Kentucky ran the preseason No. 1 team — Purdue — right out of the gym, winning 78–65 in front of a raucous home crowd. The Wildcats took the lead less than two minutes into the game and never looked back. They led by as many as 17 and didn’t trail for a single second after the opening minutes.
Purdue head coach Matt Painter didn’t sugarcoat it afterward:
> “They walked us,” he said. “And look at the guys we played … this could’ve been worse, right?”
He wasn’t exaggerating. Painter’s veterans played heavy minutes — Braden Smith logged 32, Fletcher Loyer had 31, and Trey Kaufman-Renn played 28. Meanwhile, Pope spread the minutes evenly across his roster. Ten Wildcats saw at least 16 minutes of action, with Denzel Aberdeen leading the way at 29 while filling in for injured point guard Jaland Lowe. No one else played more than 23.
Despite that balance, Kentucky controlled the game from start to finish.
Jasper Johnson Steals the Show
Freshman guard Jasper Johnson led Kentucky with 15 points, knocking down three triples and showing off the silky, slithery scoring moves that made him such a highly coveted recruit. But Pope was more impressed with how Johnson fit into Kentucky’s system.
> “I’m really proud of Jasper because he’s trying so hard to learn what we do,” Pope said. “He’s got a really unique game and skill set, and he’s committed to doing it our way — then letting his talent come out through that. That’s why he’s growing so much, so fast.”
It’s a sign of maturity — and buy-in — that Pope believes will define how far this team goes.
Collin Chandler’s Energy Changes Everything
Sophomore Collin Chandler, one of four returnees from last season, only scored two points — but they were two of the loudest of the night. His explosive dunk brought Rupp Arena to its feet, and he was so hyped he headbutted the ball, earning a delay of game warning.
But for Pope, Chandler’s biggest contributions weren’t on the scoreboard.
> “He made two full-speed cuts early in the game that really got us started,” Pope said. “Everyone else saw how that felt — it was contagious.”
Chandler finished with a plus-15 rating in 16 minutes, and Pope didn’t hesitate to call him the game’s MVP.
> “He was unbelievable,” Pope said. “If this team wants to do something historic, that’s what we need — and we need to celebrate it.”
Kentucky Looks Tough — Really Tough
For Pope, perhaps the most satisfying feedback came from Painter himself.
> “More than anything, I thought they embraced the physicality of the game,” Painter said. “The tougher team won.”
That wasn’t something anyone said about last year’s Wildcats. But it’s exactly what Pope and his staff built this roster for — more length, toughness, and athleticism.
It showed. Kentucky outrebounded Purdue 42–30, outscored them 36–26 in the paint, and dominated 14–4 on second-chance points.
Forward Mouhamed Dioubate was a force inside, pulling down nine rebounds and setting the tone for Kentucky’s physical play.
> “We got a lot of tough guys on this team,” said Brandon Garrison, the starting center. “Coach always preaches, ‘We’re gonna go out there and punch first.’ And I feel like we did that tonight.”
And They’re Not Even Fully Healthy
Perhaps the scariest part? Kentucky wasn’t even close to full strength.
They played without Jaland Lowe, a preseason All-SEC selection recovering from a shoulder injury. They also missed Jayden Quaintance, the projected NBA lottery pick still rehabbing an ACL tear from March. Even Otega Oweh, the SEC’s preseason player of the year, played just 17 minutes — and still put up 10 points with a few highlight plays.
> “Once we get everyone back, we’re gonna be lethal,” said freshman big man Malachi Moreno. “Even without those guys, we showed we can come in waves. When we’re full strength, I think we’ll be unstoppable.”
Keeping Perspective — and a Familiar Blueprint
Of course, it was still just an exhibition. Painter admitted Purdue didn’t do much scouting and joked,
> “I don’t think either team’s gonna get compared to the ’85 Bears right now.”
Pope, meanwhile, saw room for improvement:
> “I actually felt like we didn’t play as hard as we’re going to have to play to win consistently,” he said.
Sophomore Trent Noah echoed that mindset.
> “After tonight, you just kind of flush it, watch film, and fix mistakes,” he said. “We can always get better.”
Still, Pope couldn’t help but notice something when he looked over the box score later with his wife, Lee Anne. Ten guys with meaningful minutes. No one over 15 points. Balanced, selfless basketball.
It reminded him of something.
> “This feels like my ’96 team, in terms of point distribution,” Pope said.
That was 30 years ago — but Pope’s trying to recreate the magic.
“Can we pull it off in 2025–26 — where guys care more about Kentucky and each other than their own numbers?” he asked. “If we can do that, it’s a really fun way to play, man. It’s pretty special.”
