ESPN, CBS Sports tab Kentucky as Final Four contender, hype UK vs. UofL matchup

Saturday marked 100 days out from the 2025-26 college basketball season, and in turn, some outlets released very early previews of what’s to come this year in college hoops. As a preseason top-10 squad, your University of Kentucky Wildcats were mentioned early and often.

Let’s start with ESPN, where Myron Medcalf, friend of KSR, had a lot to say about Kentucky’s chances in Mark Pope’s second season. He included the Cats in his list of 10 title contenders, contingent on Jayden Quaintance, who is currently rehabbing from ACL surgery, returning to action in a timely manner. Quaintance is also one of his 10 transfers to watch this season.

“Mark Pope’s team caught the injury bug late last season and will start this season with a major injury question. Jayden Quaintance, a former five-star recruit and transfer from Arizona State, had surgery in March to repair a torn ACL. He should be ready at some point this season — it’s just a question of when. All-America candidate Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Jaland Lowe (Pitt) and Quaintance should form the nucleus of a team with serious Final Four aspirations once everyone is healthy.”

ESPN

The other teams that Medcalf and Jeff Borzello believe can win it all? Purdue, Florida, Houston, UConn, St. John’s, BYU, Louisville, Michigan, and Duke. John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks are among the group of 10 that could “make a jump” this season. Medcalf knew exactly what he was doing when he included a Kentucky vs. Arkansas Final Four showdown among the 10 wild predictions for the season.

“John Calipari will face Kentucky in the Final Four: Darius Acuff is a top newcomer for an Arkansas squad that made a run to the Sweet 16 in March, giving the Razorbacks depth and experience that last season’s group lacked. And while Kentucky might need some time to get off the runway, it could have one of the nation’s most talented rosters as March approaches if Jayden Quaintance is healthy.”

ESPN

Borzello included Louisville making the Final Four as one of his wild predictions. Both agree that Kentucky vs. Louisville on Nov. 11 in the Yum Center is one of the ten best non-conference games of the season, along with Kentucky vs. North Carolina in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 22.

“This rivalry game is always entertaining, but with Louisville’s offseason surge under Pat Kelsey, this matchup will regain the energy it has lacked in recent years.”

Over at CBS Sports, Isaac Trotter agrees, making Kentucky and Louisville being “big and bad again” one of his top five storylines going into the season.

Kentucky and Louisville were feel-good stories last year. After this spring, they’re back to being mean, nasty Big Dawgs who are coming for it all.

Both hated rivals massively unloaded the coffers in the transfer portal. Kentucky has built a roster that’s sniffing $20 million. Louisville has also invested heavily into basketball to build a powerhouse backcourt stuffed with five-star Mikel Brown Jr., sharpshooters like Xavier transfer Ryan Conwell and Virginia transfer Isaac McKneely and prized Kennesaw State transfer Adrian Wooley.

Both teams have National Championship aspirations, and they might have to go through one another to get to the mountaintop. Whew, how much fun would that be?

Isaac Trotter, CBS Sports

Fun, stressful, nerve-wracking; there are a lot of words for it. Just 98 days until the season tips off and 106 days until that game in the Yum Center.