Torvik Preaseason

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,934
16,259
113
Not much UK going on here


That is certainly a sobering list to look at right now. Hopefully, when everything is settled, SURELY we will be a TOP FORTY team ... at LEAST !!
I'm sure St. John's fans feel the same way ...
 
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MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
11,024
22,291
66
Call me crazy, but preseason rankings are more worthless than wet toilet paper. Hell, that sorry bunch we had last year was preseason No. 9. Our NIT team in 2013 was preseason No. 1, same as our 2014 team that lost 13 regular season games (bit atoned for that in the tournament).

Seriously, go look back at preseason rankings the last decade. You’ll always find a team in the top 5-10 who barely makes or misses the tournament and some quality teams completely unranked.

This is not me excusing our roster for next season. On paper it’s not impressive.

This is me saying preseason polls in football and basketball are worthless and nothing more than a fan talking point. Honestly, the first basketball poll should come out in early December and the first football poll should come out after week 4 so there’s an actual body of work to judge and rank instead of paper rosters and “potential.”
 

Tri-Countycat

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
1,707
4,190
113
Call me crazy, but preseason rankings are more worthless than wet toilet paper. Hell, that sorry bunch we had last year was preseason No. 9. Our NIT team in 2013 was preseason No. 1, same as our 2014 team that lost 13 regular season games (bit atoned for that in the tournament).

Seriously, go look back at preseason rankings the last decade. You’ll always find a team in the top 5-10 who barely makes or misses the tournament and some quality teams completely unranked.

This is not me excusing our roster for next season. On paper it’s not impressive.

This is me saying preseason polls in football and basketball are worthless and nothing more than a fan talking point. Honestly, the first basketball poll should come out in early December and the first football poll should come out after week 4 so there’s an actual body of work to judge and rank instead of paper rosters and “potential.”
In the pre NIL era I would have agreed with you but I know for a fact all four final four teams were in the top 25 preseason and I haven’t looked this up but I’d almost bet that all conference champions for the power 5 were also.
 

ftp000

All-American
Mar 26, 2009
6,413
6,211
113
If we were on this list, nearly everyone posting above me would be saying "polls this early are meaningless".
 
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Cats4321

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
910
2,635
93
Based on all the preseason rankings so far, it would take an extreme anomaly for Kentucky to be good next year. There's always a chance, but the odds are greatly stacked against us.
 
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gtown965

All-Conference
Feb 12, 2026
463
1,285
93
Truth hurts, there are some on here that believe we’re will have a top five backcourt…our BC won’t even be type five in the SEC let alone CBB.
Every post you make is the same negative “We suck- Pope sucks” blah blah blah. We heard ya the first hundred times bro. No need to keep reminding us. Nothing you say is going to make a difference anyway.
 

kyhankypanky

All-American
Mar 21, 2004
4,425
7,730
113
Just stop with the denial.

People who are not connected to UK one way or the other are staking their reputation on the fact that we will stink next year. I struggle to remember a time when we were outside top 40 preseason. Top 40????

If you can't see it, Mark Pope isn't the only problem you're dealing with.
 
Jun 30, 2025
512
771
93
Ousmane doesn’t seem to be on our roster in his projection unless I missed something.

He projects Hawthorne, Mason Williams, and Wilkins to be worse than Jasper Johnson was this past season. Wilkins in particular is projected to be a terrible player.
 

BigBluefoot

All-American
Jul 4, 2025
1,775
6,753
113
What’s crazier than that chart and rankings are the people on here who believe we’re going to have a really good team next season.
I don't think they honestly believe what they keep claiming. They appear to have an agenda to run PR for the UKAA here.
 
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BigBluefoot

All-American
Jul 4, 2025
1,775
6,753
113
Call me crazy, but preseason rankings are more worthless than wet toilet paper. Hell, that sorry bunch we had last year was preseason No. 9. Our NIT team in 2013 was preseason No. 1, same as our 2014 team that lost 13 regular season games (bit atoned for that in the tournament).

Seriously, go look back at preseason rankings the last decade. You’ll always find a team in the top 5-10 who barely makes or misses the tournament and some quality teams completely unranked.

This is not me excusing our roster for next season. On paper it’s not impressive.

This is me saying preseason polls in football and basketball are worthless and nothing more than a fan talking point. Honestly, the first basketball poll should come out in early December and the first football poll should come out after week 4 so there’s an actual body of work to judge and rank instead of paper rosters and “potential.”
Yes and no. If someone is ranked #20 and another #8, in preseason rankings, it doesn't mean much. If a perennial blue blood isn't even mentioned in the top 40, there are clear and demonstrable issues with that team.
 
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WildcatWally-77

Sophomore
Dec 6, 2022
69
181
33
The Cats currently sit at No. 45 in the country and No. 12 in the SEC. Arkansas (No. 5), Florida (No. 6), Texas (No. 12), Alabama (No. 18), Tennessee (No. 22), Vanderbilt (No. 23), Georgia (No. 29), Missouri (No. 37), Auburn (No. 39), Oklahoma (No. 40) and Texas A&M (No. 41) all rank ahead of the Wildcats in the way-too-early projections. Torvik just doesn’t see it for the Cats quite yet, grading them No. 44 nationally in offense and No. 50 in defense...
 
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Jun 30, 2025
512
771
93
Unless I misread, Ousmane is not on our projected roster.

Wilkins, Mo Williams, and Hawthorne are each projected to be worse than Jasper Johnson was this past season. Wilkins is an objectively terrible player and getting 60% plus available minutes in the forecast.

We will outdo our projection if Ousmane and/or Wilkins are average players.
 
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WildcatWally-77

Sophomore
Dec 6, 2022
69
181
33
Lets say they play 34 games this coming season (they played 36 last season including 2 SEC & 2 NCAA Tournament). Lets eliminate the 2 NCAA Tournament games this upcoming season because they will likely fail to make the tournament. So, if they play 34 games, I predict a final record of 14 wins & 20 losses...No Hope in Pope...
 

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,244
1,608
72
The latest torvik rankings arent close to having the rosters all updated.

That said we’re going to be pretty well outside the top 25 when they do update. We did not have a good offseason. i know it’s not done just yet but I feel pretty safe saying that Pope failed his first test going into what should be a make or break season.

I would not be opposed to moving on mid season and started the coaching search ealry, especially with Billy Donovan available, if things start off rough a second straight year.
 

FinalF

Senior
Apr 28, 2020
302
476
57
Unless I misread, Ousmane is not on our projected roster.

Wilkins, Mo Williams, and Hawthorne are both projected to be worse than Jasper Johnson was this past season. Wilkins is an objectively terrible player and getting 60% plus available minutes in the forecast.

We will outdo our projection if Ousmane and/or Wilkins are average players.
Wilkins might be the best player next year. Any freshman that can put up the numbers he did can play. I’d be shocked if he is anywhere near as terrible as JJ was. IMO he’ll be better than Aberdeen. My issue is that I don’t see it from the rest of them. Momcilovic probably puts this team in the top 25 but does anyone actually believe he will come to UK? It’s just more of the same. A few good pieces with no star.
 

Kantucke_rivals

All-Conference
Mar 9, 2015
800
1,415
93
At least the NCAA expanded the tournament, a little insurance - just in case
 
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Jun 30, 2025
512
771
93
Wilkins might be the best player next year. Any freshman that can put up the numbers he did can play. I’d be shocked if he is anywhere near as terrible as JJ was. IMO he’ll be better than Aberdeen. My issue is that I don’t see it from the rest of them. Momcilovic probably puts this team in the top 25 but does anyone actually believe he will come to UK? It’s just more of the same. A few good pieces with no star.
We will most likely be better in the frontcourt compared to last season.

Moreno should be better than last season. It’s not a high bar for any potential starting/backup big to be superior to Jelavic/BG. Moreno is positioned to be extremely productive. Some polish on ball security and/or making layups would put him the conversation for top center in the conference.
 

Drogon

All-Conference
Mar 14, 2017
1,832
2,598
113
He has our defense 50th. That's a pipe dream. This team's defense will sit in the 70s-80s. There might be 2, 3 + defenders tops.
 

RedwoodHigh

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
784
1,106
93
Comparing 2026 to 2027
2026 ……….. 2027 ….. + or -
1. Aberdeen - Zoom = upgrade
2. OO.……….. - …… Wilkins = same
3. Chandler. - Kam = definite Upgrade
…………….. Hawthorne = big upgrade
4. Jelly…………..
Mo D ………… - N’idaye = huge upgrade
……………………. McBride. = same
5. Moreno…… - ……….. Moreno = obvious upgrade

2026 -27 Team will be 3 to 4 games better.
 
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BlueSince92

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
10,710
3,306
230
I mean they haven’t updated our roster but last season we sucked with a second team all SEC guard. What are we really gonna do with N'Diaye and McBride? I remain pessimistically hopeful.
 

AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
1,978
3,422
78
The Cats currently sit at No. 45 in the country and No. 12 in the SEC. Arkansas (No. 5), Florida (No. 6), Texas (No. 12), Alabama (No. 18), Tennessee (No. 22), Vanderbilt (No. 23), Georgia (No. 29), Missouri (No. 37), Auburn (No. 39), Oklahoma (No. 40) and Texas A&M (No. 41) all rank ahead of the Wildcats in the way-too-early projections. Torvik just doesn’t see it for the Cats quite yet, grading them No. 44 nationally in offense and No. 50 in defense...
there is no way we are number 50 in defense. The team doesn t have one player that plays good defense. Shooting is also going to be an issue and I am not sold based on what we have right now that we will be able to defend in the paint or pick and roll either.
so I think 44 and 50 are generous.

There is still time to improve the roster but as far as I see it we need 3 more starters (2, 3, 5 ) and one extra shooting guard from bench.