Big Blue Nation is getting closer to finally seeing Mark Pope’s latest Kentucky basketball team in action, with Big Blue Madness set for Friday night and the start of the regular season just over a month away.
As excitement continues to build around the Wildcats, preseason predictions and projections are beginning to emerge. One of the most interesting comes from EvanMiya.com, an analytics site that has identified what it believes could be Kentucky’s most effective five-player lineup for the upcoming season.
The group features Zoom Diallo, Kam Williams, Milan Momcilovic, Ousmane N’Diaye, and Malachi Moreno.
While several of those names may not surprise Kentucky fans, one notable omission immediately stands out.
Alex Wilkins is not included.
The Furman transfer arrives in Lexington after an impressive freshman campaign in which he established himself as one of the Paladins’ top offensive players. Wilkins averaged 17.8 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game last season while leading Furman in scoring.
His production also carried over to the NCAA Tournament.
Against UConn, Wilkins delivered one of his biggest performances of the season, scoring 21 points while adding four assists against the eventual national contender.
Still, the biggest question surrounding Wilkins entering the SEC is how quickly his production will translate from the mid-major level to high-major competition.
That may help explain why the analytics-based lineup leaves him out.
It is also important to understand that EvanMiya.com’s five-player combination is not necessarily a prediction of Pope’s starting lineup. Instead, it represents the group the analytics project as potentially being Kentucky’s most effective five-man unit.
Kam Williams being included makes plenty of sense given his shooting ability, defensive potential, and experience within Kentucky’s program.
But Wilkins could have something to say about that projection once the season begins.
With his scoring ability and playmaking skills, the Furman transfer has an opportunity to quickly become one of Kentucky’s most important offensive weapons.
A potential five-man group featuring Diallo, Wilkins, Williams, Momcilovic, and Moreno would give Pope a combination of ball handling, shooting, size, versatility, and scoring.
Ultimately, Kentucky fans won’t have to wait much longer to start getting answers.
Big Blue Madness arrives Friday, followed by exhibition action in October before the Wildcats officially open the 2026-27 season on November 3.
Soon, the projections will give way to the actual results on the court.
