Big Blue Nation finally got an up-close look at Mark Pope’s new-look Kentucky Wildcats, and one player in particular managed to steal some of the spotlight.
With plenty of questions surrounding Kentucky heading into the 2026-27 season, Big Blue Madness offered the first major opportunity for fans to see the roster together in a competitive and entertaining setting. While several Wildcats made their presence felt, Alex Wilkins emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the night.
The Furman transfer won Kentucky’s 3-point shooting contest, putting together an impressive performance against several of his new teammates. Wilkins defeated Ousmane N’Diaye, Mason Williams, Kam Williams, Milan Momcilovic and Trent Noah to take the crown.
That performance could be an encouraging sign for a Kentucky team that will need consistent perimeter shooting this season.
Wilkins showed he could knock down shots during his time at Furman, but he wasn’t necessarily viewed as a high-level shooter when he arrived in Lexington. His showing at Big Blue Madness offered a glimpse of why Pope and his staff brought him to Kentucky.
Obviously, winning a shooting contest doesn’t automatically translate into success during the regular season. Game situations are completely different, with defenders closing out, pressure mounting and every possession carrying much more significance.
Still, Kentucky fans had plenty of reasons to be encouraged.
Perhaps just as important as Wilkins’ shooting performance was seeing so many Wildcats participate despite a challenging offseason filled with injuries.
Kam Williams, Trent Noah and Milan Momcilovic all participated in the 3-point contest, while Franck Kepnang showed off his athleticism in the dunk contest. For a roster that has dealt with several injury concerns, simply seeing so many players back on the court was a welcome sight.
Jerone Morton remained the notable exception as he continues to recover from a knee injury.
Big Blue Madness was never going to answer every question surrounding this Kentucky team, but it provided an important first glimpse at what Pope’s roster could look like when the games begin to matter.
And if Wilkins’ shooting performance was any indication, Kentucky may have another perimeter weapon ready to make a bigger impact than many expected.
With the regular season approaching, Big Blue Nation will be watching closely to see whether the surprise star of Big Blue Madness can carry that confidence into real game action.
