Seems a little low.
We have entered the talking season for college football, and with that, the new season also brings us into the way-too-early poll time for college basketball.
Before long, we will start seeing plenty of lists and analyzing where the Kentucky Wildcats land, but it has to start somewhere. That is where the latest USA Today poll comes into play.
Published on July 8th, USA Today released their Way-Too-Early poll for the 2025-26 season post NBA Draft and transfer portal. Where they placed the Cats is certainly a choice compared to others we have seen.
Coming in at No. 14, the Cats are the third-highest rated team out of the SEC with Florida at No. 5 and Alabama at No. 8. They also clock in three spots behind Louisville, which comes in at No. 11.
Here is what they had to say about the Cats:
“Getting leading scorer Otega Oweh back in the fold for another year will keep the Wildcats in the mix for the SEC crown under second-year coach Mark Pope. One huge factor that could determine where Kentucky lands is the health of sophomore transfer Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), one of the top prospects in the nation and a potential difference-maker on the defensive end. Quaintance injured his knee last season but is expected to be ready in the fall. Kentucky also upgraded its backcourt by adding Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida).”
There is no denying a pure athleticism upgrade with this roster compared to last season. The question will be, can this roster gel as quickly and as well as last season’s team did?
We will get an answer quickly with a string non-conference schedule.
What do you think of this ranking? Too high or too low? Let us know in the comments below!