https://wildcatfaithful.net/ Celebrate the phenomenon that is Kentucky Wildcat Basketball. en Sat, 27 Jun 2026 20:07:28 GMT vBulletin 60 https://wildcatfaithful.net/images/misc/rss.png https://wildcatfaithful.net/ https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416702-the-scheduling-stars-are-aligning-for-mark-pope-s-winningest-season-yet-at-kentucky Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:19:45 GMT Mark Pope, (https://wildcatbluenation.com/kentucky-fans-will-be-thrilled-with-mark-pope-s-lofty-comparison-for-alex-wilkins-01kvv4man77a) despite one... Mark Pope, despite one respectable tournament finish and a historic collection of ranked wins with Kentucky, has yet to finish a season with single-digit losses. That's a specific metric, but it's one that the Big Blue Nation keeps a close eye on nonetheless. There's something painful about seeing the loss column tick into a two-number state that I'm certain Cats fans will understand.

Yet, with a strong roster and his feet firmly under him, Pope may have just caught the ultimate break with Kentucky's full SEC schedule that seems to have cleared the runway for his best finish yet. Check out the slate from Tristan Pharis on X:

The scheduling stars are aligning for Mark Pope's winningest season yet at Kentucky]]> Kentucky Basketball Matt Dillon https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416702-the-scheduling-stars-are-aligning-for-mark-pope-s-winningest-season-yet-at-kentucky https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416651-what-the-ncaa-s-age-based-eligibility-model-aka-5-in-5-means-for-kentucky Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:25:44 GMT This afternoon, the NCAA Division I Cabinet unanimously voted to approve... unanimously voted to approve its new age-based eligibility model, which will give players a fixed, five-year window to complete up to five seasons of eligibility. The clock will start once a player enrolls full-time in college or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs earlier.

The decision won’t be final until the meeting concludes on Wednesday, but it’s all but official. What does it mean for your University of Kentucky Wildcats? Let’s walk through it.

What the NCAA's age-based eligibility model, aka 5-in-5, means for Kentucky - On3]]> Kentucky Basketball Matt Dillon https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416651-what-the-ncaa-s-age-based-eligibility-model-aka-5-in-5-means-for-kentucky https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416649-age-based-rules-pass-in-ncaa Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:53:49 GMT Committee passes unanimously the age based rule. 5 years to play college ball from the time they arrive on campus or 19th birthday, which ever comes... Committee passes unanimously the age based rule. 5 years to play college ball from the time they arrive on campus or 19th birthday, which ever comes first. Kentucky Basketball Pobilly https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416649-age-based-rules-pass-in-ncaa https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416607-dusty-may-leaving-michigan-for-nba-per-reports Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:30:58 GMT https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49143856/sources-michigan-dusty-finalizing-deal-coach-mavericks Wonder if Michigan is still one of the... https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...oach-mavericks

Wonder if Michigan is still one of the favorites to land Nikola Kustarica.]]> Kentucky Basketball Pobilly https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416607-dusty-may-leaving-michigan-for-nba-per-reports https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416605-are-you-attending-any-games-this-season-in-person Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:12:30 GMT I have been out of the state for close to 10 years, but the last few years have tried to go back home for a game in Rupp or meet family at a neutral... I have been out of the state for close to 10 years, but the last few years have tried to go back home for a game in Rupp or meet family at a neutral site game. Any games you all are looking at going to next season? I have been talking to my dad about maybe flying out for the UK-iu game, in Indy. Kentucky Basketball WeWant9 https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416605-are-you-attending-any-games-this-season-in-person https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416416-we-need-your-thoughts Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:25:54 GMT Hello, we need your thoughts on how we fund WCN/WCF. In the past, we have offered memberships; it is important to note that these memberships provide...
I want to reiterate that no one will ever be forced to pay for access to the forums or a special message board. This is only to keep the lights on. Thanks all!]]> Kentucky Basketball Sean https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416416-we-need-your-thoughts https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416377-1st-practice Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:08:06 GMT Alex Wilkins dishes saying the team had high energy good chemistry and the surprise player we need to watch is Diaye nicknamed (Uzi). He says that... Alex Wilkins dishes saying the team had high energy good chemistry and the surprise player we need to watch is Diaye nicknamed (Uzi). He says that the team being together in the Lodge is building bonds and making them grow as a team. Kentucky Basketball Tomcats1990 https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416377-1st-practice https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416338-new-ad Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:09:41 GMT Per ESPN/Pete Tramel UK is targeting Mich St AD B Batt for the AD position, ...
https://www.espn.com/college-sports/...tt-sources-say]]> Kentucky Basketball Los Gatos https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416338-new-ad https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416291-full-team-living-in-the-lodge-this-summer Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:17:10 GMT
I think this is a smart move, especially with no foreign trip (more than likely). This should help with the bonding and chemistry of the team, and I am big believer that a lot of that is formed off the court/outside the locker room. Some of my favorite memories were those late nights bs'ing with the boys, and that stuff carried over when it came time to battle for one another.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...wildcat-lodge/]]> Kentucky Basketball WeWant9 https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416291-full-team-living-in-the-lodge-this-summer https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416175-jersey-numbers-are-assigned Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:59:08 GMT 0 Hawthrone, Zyon 1 Morton, Jerone 2 Hawthorne,, Braydon 3 Williams, Kam 4 Williams, Mason 5 Diallo, Zoom 9 Noah, Trent 10 Wilkins, Alex 11... 1 Morton, Jerone
2 Hawthorne,, Braydon
3 Williams, Kam
4 Williams, Mason
5 Diallo, Zoom
9 Noah, Trent
10 Wilkins, Alex
11 Kepnang, Franck
19 N' Diaye, Ousmane
21 Mcbride , Justin
22 Momcilovic, Milan
24 Moreno, Malachi
33 Potter, Reece

One spot left open. But if I remember correctly from last year, UK showed the numbers after the roster was complete. Who knows. I could see one more come on but who the heck knows.

If you were to play in todays college basketball what number would you want to be for UK? Me I think I would want something like 66 or 88 something like that. I like the look of those numbers doubled up. I was 54 in basketball and 78 in football way back when.

It is a team of doubles: 2 Williams, 2 Hawthornes and 2 MM boys.]]> Kentucky Basketball Pobilly https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416175-jersey-numbers-are-assigned https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416110-sec-vs-acc-challenge Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:33:37 GMT The Cats at Virginia. Should be a good game and a tough match up for the team. the Cavaliers may be favored in this one, I think they returned all... the Cavaliers may be favored in this one, I think they returned all of their eligible players from last year.

]]> Kentucky Basketball South jones https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416110-sec-vs-acc-challenge https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416085-moreno-on-pope-“we’re-going-to-change-a-lot” Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:20:49 GMT An article on KSR this morning quotes Moreno as saying that when he called Pope to say that he, Moreno, was returning to play for the Cats next year,... we’re going to change a lot” — italics mine.

Would love to know what those changes are. Perhaps some hard lessons were learned last year.]]> Kentucky Basketball Helix https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416085-moreno-on-pope-“we’re-going-to-change-a-lot” https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416067-evan-miya-post Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:27:20 GMT If you don’t know, this guy is a statistics guru. it’s not his opinion, it’s based on stats. Posted on X that the squad should be ranked...
Posted on X that the squad should be ranked somewhere between 8-13 in the preseason based on statistics.

Also said it would be rated 10-16 offensively and 8-13 defensively.

The defensive rating is a little surprising to me.

I think this should be very encouraging. Especially the defensive part, since most of us were concerned about our defense with this roster.]]> Kentucky Basketball bucsrule8872 https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416067-evan-miya-post https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416060-jamal-crawford Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:15:47 GMT There seems to be a lot of noise that Crawford will be the next assistant coach. Where their’s smoke more often then not there is fire. There seems to be a lot of noise that Crawford will be the next assistant coach. Where their’s smoke more often then not there is fire. Kentucky Basketball Tomcats1990 https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416060-jamal-crawford https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416010-who-starts Wed, 03 Jun 2026 02:05:58 GMT Now that the roster is set, the big debate is going to be who starts? I feel like there are four locks to start: G Diallo G Wilkins F...
I feel like there are four locks to start:

G Diallo
G Wilkins
F Momcilovic
C Moreno

So who is the fifth starter?

I have heard/seen a lot of talking heads putting N’Diaye in the fifth starting spot. I wouldn’t be surprised by that happening, but I just don’t trust international guys.

I think Goodman is expecting Kam and Mom to start together. He has talked about how having Kam and Mom together on the wings with Diallo and Wilkins driving and kicking to them would be a deadly combination. Problem with that is rebounding. Neither Kam nor Mom can rebound.

Word is McBride was brought in to start at PF. He is another good spot up shooter. He would likely be better on the boards as well.

Hawthorne might have the most upside of any of the players on the roster not named Moreno. Could he end up the fifth starter? Highly unlikely, given the talent in front of him. Still intriguing.

I am leaning toward Kam as the fifth starter because he has SEC experience and can defend multiple positions.

But McBride is my second choice. He is stronger, but he doesn’t have that big game/SEC experience that Kam has.

And like I keep saying, I just don’t trust international guys, so I have a hard time seeing N’Diaye being much of an improvement over Jelavic. He’s another European finesse type player who wants to jack up 3-pointers like a guard without the shooting ability of a guard (he’s a 30% from 3 shooter).

I think with the game on the line, it’s going to be Williams or McBride with the four “locks.” I think both will get a lot of minutes, regardless of which one starts or if N’Diaye starts.

Thoughts?]]> Kentucky Basketball bucsrule8872 https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/main-forum/sports/kentucky-basketball/416010-who-starts