The Mark Pope era for Kentucky men’s basketball kicks off with the Wildcats ranked No. 23 in the 2024-25 Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll. This marks the 57th time in 64 AP preseason polls that Kentucky has been among the top-ranked teams, further solidifying their place as one of college basketball’s elite. UK holds the record for the most weekly AP poll appearances, with 970 in the poll’s 76-year history.
Kansas starts the season as the nation’s top-ranked team, followed by Alabama, UConn, Houston, and Iowa State. Kentucky’s schedule includes matchups against 10 ranked opponents, featuring early nonconference tests with No. 6 Gonzaga and No. 7 Duke.
The Southeastern Conference is well-represented, with nine programs in the AP Top 25, including Alabama at No. 2, Tennessee at No. 12, and Arkansas at No. 16. Kentucky’s 2024-25 slate includes 12 games against ranked foes, ensuring a challenging path ahead.
Despite being one of the most experienced rosters in the country, Kentucky’s players will wear the Blue and White for the first time. Collectively, the squad boasts 7,900 points, 1,033 made three-pointers at a 37% clip, and over 800 career games played. Key returners include seasoned scorers like Ansley Almonor and Lamont Butler, while freshmen Travis Perry, the state’s all-time leading scorer, and Trent Noah add local flair.
Kentucky’s season begins with the Blue-White game on Oct. 18, followed by exhibitions against Kentucky Wesleyan and Minnesota State Mankato. The regular season tips off at Rupp Arena on Nov. 4 against Wright State.
Single-game tickets for the first nine home games go on sale tonight at 5 p.m. ET through Ticketmaster. With high demand and limited availability, fans are advised to act quickly. Additional tickets, including premium options like new loge box seats and courtside seats, will be released as available.
