Kentucky Cracks Top 10 of 2025-26 Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll

ksr-today-kentucky-basketball-stays-pro-day-media-day-mark-pope — Kentucky Basketballs lined up behind the goal - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

In less than two weeks, Kentucky will tip off the 2025-26 season against Nicholls at Rupp Arena. We’re getting a head start with a pair of high-profile exhibitions before the regular season begins. That means it’s time for Preseason Polls and Honors.

Kentucky debuted at No. 9 in the Preseason AP Poll. The Coaches are on the exact same wavelength. The Cats are ranked No. 9 in the Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, one spot ahead of Louisville. At last week’s SEC Media Days, Pope admitted that he loved where the Wildcats have been slotted.

“I was elated that we came in at No. 9. We see nine everywhere we go,” Pope said at the podium. “We think nine is in our future destiny and we’re chasing it hard. I was really thrilled with that.”

Three teams received first-place votes, and the Wildcats will play two of them. Kentucky plays at Florida in February, then hosts the Defending National Champs at Rupp Arena to close out the season. Houston comes in at No. 2 behind Purdue, which will travel to Lexington for an exhibition this Friday at 6 PM ET.

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Kentucky and Florida are the only SEC teams in the Top 10 of the Coaches Poll, but four others are ranked between 15-21. The Wildcats will also face No. 6 St. John’s, No. 10 Louisville, No. 20 Gonzaga, No. 21 Michigan State, and No. 25 North Carolina. For those counting at home, that’s 11 Kentucky opponents (including Purdue) in the Preseason Top 25. Bring it on.

Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll

Rank	Team	Record	PTS	1st	Hi/Lo
1	Purdue	0-0	755	18	1/1
2	Houston	0-0	749	12	2/2
3	Florida	0-0	704	1	3/3
4	UConn	0-0	647	0	4/4
5	Duke	0-0	623	0	5/5
6	St. John’s	0-0	609	0	6/6
7	Michigan	0-0	569	0	7/7
8	BYU	0-0	532	0	8/8
9	Kentucky	0-0	529	0	9/9
10	Louisville	0-0	456	0	10/10
11	Texas Tech	0-0	455	0	11/11
12	UCLA	0-0	421	0	12/12
13	Arizona	0-0	398	0	13/13
14	Illinois	0-0	349	0	14/14
15	Arkansas	0-0	329	0	15/15
16	Alabama	0-0	322	0	16/16
17	Tennessee	0-0	292	0	17/17
18	Iowa State	0-0	289	0	18/18
19	Kansas	0-0	235	0	19/19
20	Gonzaga	0-0	185	0	20/20
21	Michigan State	0-0	144	0	21/21
22	Auburn	0-0	114	0	22/22
23	Creighton	0-0	103	0	23/23
24	Wisconsin	0-0	62	0	24/24
25	North Carolina	0-0	37	0	25/25

Others Receiving Votes: North Carolina State 33; Oregon 26; San Diego State 15; Ohio State 15; Baylor 13; Virginia 11; Vanderbilt 10; USC 7; Texas 6; Villanova 5; Missouri 5; Ole Miss 4; Washington 3; Saint Mary’s 3; Iowa 3; Cincinnati 3; VCU 2; Oklahoma State 1; Kansas State 1; Boise State 1;