Kentucky knows it can't overlook Nicholls in season opener: 'I know they're coming in hungry.'

Rob Brown III (Stony Brook, 13.0 PPG), Jamal West Jr. (UTEP, 12.3 PPG), Michael Gray Jr. (Wichita State, 11.1 PPG), Ike Cornish (James Madison, 7.7 PPG) and Emarion Ellis (Graceland, 4.0 PPG) all found new homes in the transfer portal this past offseason. Byron Ireland (11.1 PPG), Brian Myles (7.5 PPG), Caleb Robinson (4.5 PPG) and Mekhi Collins (4.0 PPG) have all graduated. 1,866 of 2,443 total points scored for Nicholls, who finished 20-12 in 2024-25 — are no longer Colonels.

Jaylen Searles (6.5 PPG), Trae English (6.1 PG) and Sincere Malone (5.6 PPG) are the only rotation pieces back in year three under Tevon Saddler, who coached the program to back-to-back 20-win campaigns and third-place finishes in the Southland. The youngest active Division I coach in the country, he has exceeded expectations as a former player at Nicholls himself, but the 30-year-old has his work cut out for him this go-round.

The personnel, outside of the returning trio? 10 newcomers — nine from the portal, one from high school: Cleveland State transfer Jalin Rice (2.9 PPG in 2023-24), Iona transfer Christian Winborne (3.9 PPG), Brewton-Parker Christian transfers Grant Sanders (10.2 PPG) and Domanic Betancourt (2.3 PPG), Florida transfer Kevin Pazmino (0.0 PPG), Tennessee Southern transfer Zaiden Cross (20.2 PPG), Tarleton transfer Nick Krass (2.7 PPG), Arizona Christian transfer Jalik Dunkley (9.9 PPG), Sacramento State transfer Zee Hamoda (11.9 PPG) and freshman guard Jordan Matthews (LSWA 4A All-State First Team in HS).

How do you prepare for a team with so much turnover, especially going into game one with no season tape to work with? The Colonels played two exhibition games, but they were secret scrimmages — Saddler recently said they beat a DI team picked to win its conference by 22 points and earned a victory against an NAIA team, but didn’t reveal either program. The Southland Conference isn’t even releasing a preseason poll or preseason teams.

You just do what you can, knowing any team that walks in that building is looking to make a statement. That’s why Mark Pope stressed all season that every game was the biggest his team had ever played in year one, no matter the competition. The messaging will be no different in year two.

“Coach Pope, he says — coming from a vet — that the next game is always gonna be the hardest game,” Jasper Johnson told KSR. “I’m not overlooking Nicholls, I know they’re a great team. Just trying to come in and be as prepared as possible, so that when we get into the game, we know what we can do and execute, just try to win.”

“They’re gonna come out here hungry, just like every other team,” Brandon Garrison added. “They get to play in Rupp Arena, everybody dreams of it. So we’re just going out there and giving it our all.”

What have they learned about the Colonels, despite the limited info at their disposal? Well, you can see from Saddler’s system in his first two seasons at Nicholls, his three returning players and the individual scouts on the program’s new additions that they’re big and skilled, capable of attacking you in a number of ways.

12 of 13 players on the roster stand 6’3″ or taller with seven players 6’7″ and up. 11 Colonels are upperclassmen, as well, so don’t expect to take advantage of young mistakes.

“They’re a great team. They have positionless size, have very different lineups that will bring the ball up the floor from different positions, things like that,” Johnson said. “They’re trying to get downhill and create for teammates. I know they’re a great team, for sure, with a great coaching staff.

“We’re definitely not gonna overlook them. We’re just trying to come in as ready as possible.”

The walk-ons and graduate assistants have stepped up in a big way to help the Wildcats prepare for a unique game-one opportunity inside Rupp Arena to officially tip off the season — despite two high-major exhibitions already behind them.

“We started the scout Saturday on them. It’s a physical team and everybody on the team can really shoot. Athletes,” Garrison added. “… They’re a whole bunch of athletic shooters, one through five can bring it up the court. Our scout team started on Saturday just mocking what they do, and I feel like that gives us the best shot to be prepared for those games.”

Like all matchups, a big part of it is executing your own game plan and being the hammer instead of the nail, proactive instead of reactive. The moment an opponent smells blood is when dreams of an upset can start becoming a potential reality.

No taking this — or any — opportunity lightly for the Cats.

“You can’t underestimate anybody,” Johnson said. “I know Nicholls has a great team, great coaching staff. And I know they’re coming in hungry, trying to take us down. You just can’t overlook anybody. 

“I mean, they have a few good players on their team that can really hurt us in areas, so just trying to do whatever we can to be defensively focused and ready to go out and execute our game plan.”

Kentucky tips off its season against Nicholls inside Rupp Arena on Tuesday, November 4 at 7 p.m. ET, live on SEC Network+.