Kentucky wins going away by 28 to start the 2026 season off on the right foot.

By : Cory Bosemer

The official start of the 2026 Kentucky men’s basketball season was underway on Tuesday night, November 3rd against the Jaspers of Manhattan.

Coming into the season with a completely revamped and new roster, the Wildcats were eager to get back to where they always once were, on top of the college basketball world.

The biggest addition in the preseason for the Wildcats was quite arguably one of the greatest shooters in all of college basketball, Milan Momcilovic.

This game wasn’t much of a challenge for the Wildcats, aside from, let’s say, maybe the first 10–12 minutes of the game; aside from that, it was all Wildcats.

One thing you could tell from this game: the Wildcats definitely found new ways to keep the pressure up on defense, find ways to keep the ball moving, and, of course, the dunks and deep trays.

The Wildcats would wind up making 12 three-pointers, and during the mark pope era, if the Wildcats make at least 10 or more three-pointers in a game, they are 27–5 at home.

Milan Momcilovic would finish the game with a total of 24 points, going 6–9 from the three-point line; Zoom Diallo would score 12 points, adding 2 assists, 2 boards, 2 rebounds.

Not much to take away from this game other than this team can shoot, score, fly, and pass. The true test of the season will be when they face off against the Jayhawks of Kansas.

The Wildcats would win by a spread of 28 points with a final score of 85-57, this marks the 16th out of the last 18 season openers as a victory.

This game was mostly good for being able, as a fan base and as media members, to see what you have as a team.