Kentucky Basketball vs. UCF Knights preview, viewing info, what to watch for, and more

No. 23 Kentucky Basketball returns to Rupp Arena on Wednesday night for its third and final exhibition game of the season, welcoming the UCF Knights to Lexington.

The Wildcats enter the matchup coming off an impressive 76-65 victory over No. 19 Texas Tech on Friday night. Kentucky showed significant offensive potential, with five players reaching double figures, while several young players continued to make their case for important roles in Mark Pope’s rotation.

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The victory was an encouraging sight for a fan base entering Pope’s third season with plenty of questions. After expectations were high last season, Kentucky ultimately fell to Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Injuries played a major role in the Wildcats’ struggles, but the disappointing finish left fans eager to see what this year’s team could accomplish.

Although Friday’s victory was only an exhibition, it offered reasons for optimism. At the same time, Kentucky fans know better than to get too carried away with preseason results. The Wildcats previously demolished No. 1 Purdue in an exhibition game before that season failed to meet expectations, serving as a reminder that the real test begins when the regular season arrives.

Against Texas Tech, Malachi Moreno, Milan Momcilovic, Mason Williams, Alex Wilkins and Ousmane N’Diaye all scored in double figures. Williams, a true freshman, continued to show that he could contribute immediately, while Wilkins demonstrated his ability to score and facilitate the offense, finishing with seven assists.

Kentucky now has an opportunity to finish exhibition play with a perfect 3-0 record before opening the regular season against Manhattan on Tuesday, November 3, at 7 PM ET inside Rupp Arena.

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The Wildcats have faced UCF just once in program history. That meeting came on January 3, 2006, when Kentucky earned a narrow 59-57 victory at Rupp Arena. Ramel Bradley led the Wildcats with 16 points, while Rajon Rondo added 13.

The Knights have…

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Publish date : 2026-10-26 10:55:00

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