Where is Kentucky basketball ranked in USA TODAY Preseason Coaches Poll?
Kentucky basketball: Mark Pope during UK Alumni luncheon in Louisville
Kentucky Wildcats college basketball coach Mark Pope spoke during the Greater Louisville UK Alumni Club luncheon at Churchill Downs’ First Turn Club.
LEXINGTON — The first Kentucky basketball team led by coach Mark Pope will begin the season as a ranked squad.
The Wildcats landed at No. 23 in the USA TODAY Preseason Poll, which was released Wednesday. It’s the same ranking UK earned in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll unveiled last week.
Kentucky is one of nine SEC teams in the coaches poll, which also included Alabama (No. 2), Auburn (No. 11), Tennessee (No. 12), Texas A&M (No. 15), Arkansas (No. 16), Texas (No. 19), Florida (No. 21) and Ole Miss (No. 25). Mississippi State also received votes.
It’s the lowest preseason ranking in the coaches poll for UK since 2008-09 — the final year of Billy Gillispie‘s tenure as coach, and the season before John Calipari‘s debut campaign in Lexington.
In Calipari’s final go-round with Kentucky, the team went 23-10 (13-5 SEC) during the 2023-24 regular season. But UK’s season ended in stunning fashion, falling to 14th-seeded Oakland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Every scholarship player departed, as did Calipari, who now is Arkansas’ coach.
After being hired in April, Pope brought in 12 players to fill the roster, adding nine from the transfer portal along with three signees (Collin Chandler, Trent Noah and Travis Perry).
The Wildcats will host Wright State at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 to begin their season.
UK begins SEC play Jan. 4, welcoming Florida to town for an 11 a.m. tussle at Rupp Arena.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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