Jon Rothstein ranks Kentucky 12th

[Cool Hand Luke 9]

ROTHSTEIN 45: 2025 OFFSEASON EDITION

Jon Rothstein lists out his top 45 men's college basketball teams entering the 2025-26 season.

www.fanduel.com

12. Kentucky​

Projected Starting 5:

G Jaland Lowe

G Denzel Aberdeen

G Otega Oweh

F Mouhamed Dioubate

C Jayden Quaintance

Projected Bench: Trent Noah, Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno, Kam Williams, Brandon Garrison, Andrija Jelavic, Collin Chandler, Reece Potter, Brayden Hawthorne

Key Newcomers: Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno, Kam Williams (Tulane), Jaland Lowe (Pitt), Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama), Andrija Jelavic, Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Reece Potter (Miami OH), Brayden Hawthorne

Key Losses: Lamont Butler, Koby Brea, Andrew Carr, Amari Williams, Jaxson Robinson

 

[JPFisher]

Just for clicks. Happens every year because our fan base is basically a hornet's nest.

 

[mcwildcats04]

This guy, unfortunately, does not know his stuff.

 

[kyjeff1]

Fine by me, it's his credibility at stake. Only a fool would look at this roster and find 11 teams that are better.

Pope did better than that with less (when at full strength) last year.

The thing about the BBN is, we will make sure he will hear about it, he gave us a nice receipt to reference.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Just for clicks. Happens every year because our fan base is basically a hornet's nest.

Yep.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Preseason polls have and will always be meaningless. All that matters is where the ncaa committee has a team ranked n March.

This is all for attention as others have stated. And it will work. Unfortunately.

 

[WildcatNC]

Top 8 is fair imo with all the new pieces. Outside the top 10 is crazy.

 

[ComebackCats98]

I really don’t take this as a diss at all. 12th is a fair ranking to start the year. I even consider it a compliment with Kentucky relying on several new pieces. It’s not crazy to me to have them a little lower and see how the talent gels.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

Please stop feeding the trolls. They do this because uk fans fall for it every time.

 

[dckala2_]

I’m just not buying the flawda hype.

 

[Burly Peters]

Please stop feeding the trolls. They do this because uk fans fall for it every time.

It's like the people who watch those clowns at Sleepers Media. Don't put money in their pockets.

 

[Anon1714181029]

It’s not unreasonable to rank us 12th. I disagree and feel we’re much higher but it’s not unreasonable.

 

[Eastkybball]

The one thing I love the most about being Kentucky is the hate. Years and years of pure hate us cause they anus. GBB

 

[mcwildcats04]

I’m just not buying the flawda hype.

Agreed. They won't have the same level of guard play they had last year. In March, guards matter.

 

[chattanogawildcat]

Yawn

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I’m just not buying the flawda hype.

Me either! Also not buying the UConn hype. I just don’t see it with UConn. Wish we played them this year.

EDIT: He has UCLA ranked 7?!?! LMAO!

 

[rivercatinfl]

His incorrect assessment doesn't bother me. I kinda like being the chaser rather chasee at this stage of the game.
It's meaningless but will be fun to watch us rise up the rankings throughout the year.

 

[Kentucky15]

Kentucky is always going to be hated by the northeastern blowhard media. It’ll never change. Regardless of what’s real with the roster, if this team was wearing an ACC / BIgEast logo, it would be top 3.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Fine by me, it's his credibility at stake. Only a fool would look at this roster and find 11 teams that are better.

Pope did better than that with less (when at full strength) last year.

The thing about the BBN is, we will make sure he will hear about it, he gave us a nice receipt to reference.

The best thing to do is go out and prove him wrong. It’s not like he ranked us 35th. Just outside the top 10 you could make an argument for at least.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Agreed. They won't have the same level of guard play they had last year. In March, guards matter.

They will be good. Fland will be really good this year and Lee is a great transfer. The coach is legit and they have great returning pieces. They relied on transfers to win last year and while they will have a drop in guard play it won’t be that steep.

 

[ukfan042]

Rothstein is doing his yearly shtick! His rankings are always comical. Anywhere from 5-10 and I’m not gonna complain. Outside the Top 10 is just farming for clicks

 

[will1976]

It's click bait no doubt. And I feel with what Williams brings to the table, he will be starting sooner rather than later.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

ROTHSTEIN 45: 2025 OFFSEASON EDITION

Jon Rothstein lists out his top 45 men's college basketball teams entering the 2025-26 season.

www.fanduel.com

12. Kentucky​

Projected Starting 5:

G Jaland Lowe

G Denzel Aberdeen

G Otega Oweh

F Mouhamed Dioubate

C Jayden Quaintance

Projected Bench: Trent Noah, Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno, Kam Williams, Brandon Garrison, Andrija Jelavic, Collin Chandler, Reece Potter, Brayden Hawthorne

Key Newcomers: Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno, Kam Williams (Tulane), Jaland Lowe (Pitt), Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama), Andrija Jelavic, Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Reece Potter (Miami OH), Brayden Hawthorne

Key Losses: Lamont Butler, Koby Brea, Andrew Carr, Amari Williams, Jaxson Robinson

Assuming that JQ is 100%….. that starting five looks really strong for a college team. Maybe it’s the blue shades… who has a better looking starting five? Maybe its the way I look at it for instance I’ll take an upper classmen Dioubate over a freshman Boozer. Has final four experience and has been on one of the top teams in the country for a couple years. And that’s how I look at the whole roster. High level five stars coming off the bench… really somebody show me a starting five that looks better than ours.. 12 is really low imo…. Last year yea most definitely… this year I feel we are top 3-5 team from the start.

 

[Cool Hand Luke 9]

Please stop feeding the trolls. They do this because uk fans fall for it every time.

Nobody’s feeding the trolls. It’s basketball discussion because you know, this is a basketball forum.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

Nobody’s feeding the trolls. It’s basketball discussion because you know, this is a basketball forum.

Lol i don't mean a poster. I meant the social media personality posing as a media member.

Good lord.

 

[BAsil2Tyler]

Preseason poll. Meh. Meaningless I think most of us agree. I do know that Rothstein is no fan of the winningest program in the history of college athletics. Most NE media types aren't either...

 

[Vek96]

Just a guessing game until we find out how JQ’s health is going to be.

 

[Cool Hand Luke 9]

Lol i don't mean a poster. I meant the social media personality posing as a media member.

Good lord.

 

[kyjeff1]

I really don’t take this as a diss at all. 12th is a fair ranking to start the year. I even consider it a compliment with Kentucky relying on several new pieces. It’s not crazy to me to have them a little lower and see how the talent gels.

Yeah, but everyone has new pieces. I didn't look at his rankings, but there aren't 11 teams that are returning a full roster that will have the size and talent that this UK roster has.

Heck, Houston lost 3 extremely important pieces from last year.

Florida lost it's entire backcourt…. 4 guys and just losing Walter Clayon alone, is a massive loss. But the also lost Richard, Aberdeen and Martin. They replaced those 4 guys with a mid major pg and Boogie Fland. I don't get it.

Same thing with duke, look at all the guys they lost.

I'm bringing these 3 teams up because I can about guarantee he has them ranked well ahead of us.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Just a guessing game until we find out how JQ’s health is going to be.

Biggest factor for us this year imo

 

[GoAndRunIsGoneAndDone]

I hope we are about there to start the season, honestly. Sure, I'd like to see us go undefeated but we gotta stay hungry, either way. I'll take a (doesn't matter") before we even play a game, over pre season guesses that have us top 3. We've got a VERY GOOD team heading into this season and I don't need a talking head to tell me that. What none of us know yet, is HOW good will we be now and in March. I'll repeat...We have a very good team! Lots of things between very good, great.. and number 9, though.

But I can't give you 11 teams better than HIS starting five, which presumes a healthy JQ. So, does it also assume the teams works together..gels?. Maybe we're top 3 but maybe we're #1 with that lineup. But...we ain't 12th. Our team comes down to that, IMHO....How well we gel early and throughout the season. We have a very good team, though.

Who else can put that starting 5 on the floor and...with our depth to back them up? Frankly...nobody can, if we gel together and play close to our potential. There's a couple more teams that I could say pretty much the same about. Purdue is one but we face some really tough teams, early. We'll see what Pope does with what he has. I don't EXPECT a title but I wouldn't be surprised either.

 

[Broker]

The best thing to do is go out and prove him wrong. It’s not like he ranked us 35th. Just outside the top 10 you could make an argument for at least.

There are probably less than 11 team's rosters better than us but there is a chance that a couple below 12 may also deserve to be in top 12. A strong roster does not mean much unless they can mesh & play as a team. No one has a clue how the top 12 teams will look like until conference play starts. There are 7 SEC teams ranked in top 25. Playing any of those teams in their house will be a challenge. The thing I hope for, is win all home games and most road games. We will get everyone's best shot when we travel because we are Kentucky. We have 9 SEC road games and 5 are ranked in top 19.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

There are probably less than 11 team's rosters better than us but there is a chance that a couple below 12 may also deserve to be in top 12. A strong roster does not mean much unless they can mesh & play as a team. No one has a clue how the top 12 teams will look like until conference play starts. There are 7 SEC teams ranked in top 25. Playing any of those teams in their house will be a challenge. The thing I hope for, is win all home games and most road games. We will get everyone's best shot when we travel because we are Kentucky. We have 9 SEC road games and 5 are ranked in top 19.

Exactly, we will have to earn our wins just like last year.

 

[kyjeff1]

I get that pre season ratings don't matter to some, but they matter to me.
I don't care about Rothstein's rankings, those REALLY Don't matter, but I want UK to dominate and stay in the top 10 all season long.
Then, when it really matters, hopefully the team is fully healthy end playing their best basketball. You have to be landing the plane at the right time and I think having great depth will really help with that.