Andrew Pace
As of March 29, 2025, the University of Kentucky men's basketball season is finished. The Wildcats' 2024-25 campaign ended with a 78-65 loss to Tennessee, marking the team's exit from the NCAA Tournament. With the 2025/26 season approaching, Basketball England has released provisional dates and structures for the upcoming campaign.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current year | 2025 |
| Current month | March |
| Status of the 2024-25 UK men's basketball season | Finished |
| The University of Kentucky men's basketball schedule for 2024-25 | Finalized |
| The University of Kentucky men's basketball coach for 2024-25 | Mark Pope |
| The University of Kentucky men's basketball schedule for 2025-26 | Not yet finalized |
| Basketball in England | 2025/26 season structures and provisional dates released |
| Basketball in the UK | Manchester Basketball's MCR Pro-Am and Super League Basketball |
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What You'll Learn
The 2024-25 season schedule
The 2024-25 UK men's basketball schedule has been finalized, with the SEC revealing official game dates. The season will tip off with a matchup against Wright State on November 4, followed by a highly anticipated game against Duke in the Champions Classic in Atlanta on November 12.
Kentucky's SEC play will begin on January 4, hosting Florida as their opener. One of the season's most notable games will be the matchup against Arkansas on February 1 in Lexington, marking the return of former coach John Calipari. The Wildcats will also face Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and several other SEC opponents throughout the season.
- At Georgia (Jan. 7)
- Vs. Texas A&M (Jan. 14)
- At Ole Miss (Feb. 4)
- Vs. Tennessee (Feb. 11)
- Vs. Vanderbilt (Feb. 19)
- At Oklahoma (Feb. 26)
- Vs. LSU (March 4), which will be the final home game of the season.
The 2024-25 UK basketball roster features 12 new scholarship players, and the team is expected to be a back-end Top 25 contender.
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Mark Pope's first season
Pope's first season as a head coach was with Utah Valley University (UVU) in 2015. Over four years, his teams improved each season, going from 12 wins in 2015-16 to 25 in 2018-19. He then moved to Brigham Young University (BYU) as head coach in 2019, leading the Cougars to 24–8 in his first season—the most wins for a first-year coach in BYU's history.
Pope's first season at Kentucky will begin on November 4, 2024, against Wright State in Rupp Arena. The team's first major matchup will be against Duke in the Champions Classic in Atlanta on November 12. The Wildcats' roster features 12 new scholarship players, nine of whom are experienced transfers.
Analysts have noted that while the team appears formidable on paper, whether they will be able to gel in time to achieve success remains a question. Pope's offensive approach relies on the collective timing and familiarity of his players, so the team will need to figure each other out to reach their full potential.
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The team's final home game
The University of Kentucky men's basketball team's final home game of the 2024-25 season was against LSU on March 4. This game marked the end of the team's regular season, as they subsequently entered the NCAA Tournament.
The game against LSU was also significant as it was the final home appearance for several Kentucky players. Koby Brea, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams all played their last college basketball game, having exhausted their NCAA eligibility. Additionally, Ansley Almonor, a reserve forward, was expected to play his last game for the team, due to similar eligibility rules.
Jaxson Robinson, a former starter who had been sidelined with a wrist injury, also bid farewell to college basketball. However, there were discussions about a possible rule change that could grant players an additional fifth season, which might have allowed him and others to return.
The team's first-year head coach, Mark Pope, led the Wildcats to a successful season, advancing past the first week of the tournament for the first time since 2019. Despite injuries, they tied the record for most wins over AP Top 15 teams with eight.
The final home game of the season is always an emotional affair, with players and fans alike reflecting on the season's journey and bidding farewell to departing teammates. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of sports and the importance of cherishing each moment.
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Who's leaving and who's returning
The 2024-25 season of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team has come to an end. The Wildcats exited the NCAA Tournament after a 78-65 loss to Tennessee in the Sweet 16 round of March Madness.
Who's Leaving?
Several players are expected to depart from the Wildcats' program. Koby Brea, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams have all played their final college basketball games. Jaxson Robinson, a starter before suffering a season-ending wrist injury, and Ansley Almonor, a reserve forward, have also exhausted their NCAA eligibility. Additionally, fifth-year players Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves have used up their last season of eligibility, with Reeves emerging as a possible NBA draft pick.
Other players likely to leave include Rob Dillingham, a freshman who has established himself as a key member of the team and is projected as a lottery pick in the NBA draft. Reed Sheppard, despite his love for Kentucky basketball, is also expected to go through the NBA draft process due to his rising stock.
Who's Returning?
While there is no official confirmation, some players are expected to return for the next season. Chandler, a starter in recent wins, has hinted at his return by reflecting on the legacy left by the team's seniors. Additionally, despite the challenges of the transition, UK's staff has expressed confidence in his long-term potential as a starter-level player.
With Mark Pope as the new head coach, the Wildcats aim to build on their achievements and improve their performance for the upcoming season.
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The 2025/26 season
The 2025/26 basketball season in the UK is shaping up to be an exciting one, with new structures, key dates, and standout matchups to look forward to.
For starters, the National Basketball League (NBL) has undergone some changes, with the creation of a new standalone second-tier British basketball league. This has resulted in a slight decrease in the number of senior teams participating, with 154 teams set to take part this season. On the other hand, the Junior NBL has seen a significant increase in participation, rising from 867 to 923 teams. The season will also see the top tier of the NBL pyramid consist of two groups, similar to the previous season's Division Two. Notable teams in the mix include former Division One winners Manchester Magic and new entrants like Birmingham City University and Oxford Hoops.
Key dates for the season include the mid-season break, which will begin on December 20-21, 2025, with teams resuming play on January 3-4, 2026. The National Cup Finals will take place on January 24-25, 2026, followed by the regular season concluding in March. The season will then culminate with the Senior Playoff Finals on April 25-26, 2026, and the Jnr. NBL Final Fours on May 2-3, 2026.
In terms of specific team schedules, the University of Kentucky's men's basketball team has finalized its 2025-26 schedule, including three new non-conference games. They will face 11 regular-season games against ESPN Top 25-ranked opponents, including Florida, St. John's, and Louisville. Their season opener is set for November 4, hosting Nicholls State, followed by games against Valparaiso on November 7 and Eastern Illinois on November 14. These games will be part of the "BBN United Tipoff Classic". Additionally, Kentucky will play exhibition games against Purdue and Georgetown University at Rupp Arena on October 24 and October 30, respectively.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the 2024-25 UK basketball season ended on a Friday night in March 2025 with a 78-65 loss to Tennessee.
The 2024-25 UK basketball season schedule was as follows:
- Jan 7 at Georgia
- Jan 14 vs Texas A&M
- Feb 4 at Ole Miss
- Feb 11 vs Tennessee
- Feb 12 vs Vanderbilt
- Feb 26 at Oklahoma
- March 4 vs LSU
Mark Pope was the head coach for the 2024-25 UK basketball season.
