Happy Halloween, everyone! For Kentucky basketball fans, the real excitement isn’t just about costumes and candy this year; it’s about a new season filled with promise and potential with a new head coach. Let’s be honest Kentucky has seen our fair share of tricks in the NCAA tournament over the last few years, but that was then. It is a new era in Lexington. In this article, we’ll dive into the three biggest potential tricks and treats for the Cats

Kentucky will start the season with a schedule packed with 18 Quad 1 games. This means ample opportunities for improvement against top-tier teams but also opens the door to potential losses. Can this Kentucky squad come together and overcome such a challenging schedule?

Kentucky will be starting fresh with a brand-new roster. The good news is that many of these players already have college experience and understand the demands at the college level. The key question is whether they’ll have enough time to build on-court chemistry. Don’t count the Cats out if the season starts rough, as they may need time to gel.

One-on-one defense raises some questions for this team. Lamont Butler and Otega Oweh are reliable at staying in front of their man, but can the rest of the roster bring the same defensive intensity and lateral quickness?

In two exhibition games, Kentucky shot a combined 43% from three-point range, making 34 of 79 attempts. With every player on the team given the green light to shoot from deep, we can look forward to an exciting, unpredictable offense. Good luck keying on Jaxon Robinson with Koby Brea on the other side of the floor.

While Kentucky fans have occasionally seen four-year players over the past decade, they haven’t seen a team with this much college experience since Billy Gillispie. Lamont Butler brings championship-game experience and leadership. Aside from three freshmen, everyone else has at least one year of college experience.

The program feels revitalized under Pope. He is bringing fresh energy and an element of the unknown to a fanbase who had grown tired of the Calisms. Everything with Cal was familiar (post-game pressers done by assistants, Basketball Bennie’s, etc). Pope’s arrival starts a new chapter, sparking excitement all through the fanbase.

There you have it—the tricks and treats so far for your Kentucky Wildcats basketball. Stay with Wildcat Blue Nation all year long as we cover your Cats.

Happy Halloween!