Saturday marked 100 days out from the 2025-26 college basketball season, and in turn, some outlets released very early previews of what\u2019s to come this year in college hoops. As a preseason top-10 squad, your University of Kentucky Wildcats were mentioned early and often.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with ESPN<\/a>, where Myron Medcalf, friend of KSR, had a lot to say about Kentucky\u2019s chances in Mark Pope\u2019s second season. He included the Cats in his list of 10 title contenders, contingent on Jayden Quaintance<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n \u201cMark Pope\u2019s 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 \u2014 it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n ESPN<\/a><\/p>\n The other teams that Medcalf and Jeff Borzello believe can win it all? Purdue, Florida, Houston, UConn, St. John\u2019s, BYU, Louisville, Michigan, and Duke. John Calipari\u2019s Arkansas Razorbacks are among the group of 10 that could \u201cmake a jump\u201d 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.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn 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\u2019s group lacked. And while Kentucky might need some time to get off the runway, it could have one of the nation\u2019s most talented rosters as March approaches if Jayden Quaintance is healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n ESPN<\/a><\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cThis rivalry game is always entertaining, but with Louisville\u2019s offseason surge under Pat Kelsey, this matchup will regain the energy it has lacked in recent years.\u201d<\/p>\n