Entering this week, Kentucky the best win on his resume in the first month of the 2025–26 season came against Valparaisothe team is currently ranked 221st in the rankings NET ratings. In fact, all five of Kentucky's wins this season have come against opponents ranked in the bottom half of the NET rankings.
From 10,000 feet, all four of Kentucky's losses, including a 94-59 loss to No. 11. Gonzaga at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Friday is no reason to go into complete panic. Losses to Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina and Gonzaga aren't the end of the world, although those teams are expected to compete for the national title.
However, when you peel back the layers of the lack of production on Kentucky's expensive roster and consider the expectations of Mark Pope's second year at his alma mater, you discover an inconvenient truth: The results have yet to surpass him.
“We have great young people, but we are in a bad position right now.” – said Pope.
Gonzaga didn't just beat Kentucky in front of a crowd of Wildcat supporters. He dominated from start to finish, delivering one of the most impressive and shocking results of the season. Kentucky shot 5 of 31 from the floor (3 of 20 from the 3-point line) in the first half and didn't make its first field goal until nearly nine minutes into the game.
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The Wildcats missed their first 10 shots, the most consecutive misses in a UK opener in the last eight seasons, according to the ESPN broadcast. By the end of the first half, Pope's team had made more free throws (seven) than field goals.
The second half didn't go any better either. Kentucky finished 16 of 60 (26.7%) from the field and 7 of 34 (20.6%) from the 3-point line. The 26.7% from the field marked Kentucky's worst shooting percentage. since 2006. The silver lining, if there is one, is that Kentucky did shoot better from the 3-point line in its last game against North Carolina, when Pope's team finished 1 of 13 from beyond the arc.
Kentucky is now off to its worst start since the shortened 2020-21 season, when John Calipari's team started 1-6 heading into SEC play. Before that, the last time Kentucky lost at least four games before starting SEC play, you'd have to go back to the 2007-08 campaign, when the program started 6-7.
In a place like Kentucky, where results are measured by Final Four appearances and players are drafted in the first round. NBA Draftthese numbers will not reduce it now or in the near future.
Kentucky caught lightning in a bottle during Pope's first season at the helm. Kentucky upset Duke in the Champions Classic, pulled off an improbable win over Gonzaga in Seattle and beat Louisville at home with a roster that didn't feature a single returning scholarship player. In fact, in Pope's first SEC game, Kentucky defeated the eventual national champion. Florida 106-100 in one of the most entertaining games of the year.
Gonzaga will be a team that will be heavily involved in the NCAA Tournament, so there is no shame in Kentucky losing to them. The Bulldogs have the perfect recipe under their star big man. Graham Iketo cause serious damage over the next few months. This game was equally important to Gonzaga's resume, as Kentucky is currently the last team remaining on its schedule.
Kentucky still has plenty of room for redemption with a game against No. 22 coming up. Indiana and No. 23 St. John's this month until the calendar flips to 2026. Kentucky isn't playing at full strength either. Star transfer Jayden Quintansa projected 2026 NBA draft pick, has yet to appear in a game this season and the timeline for his return is unclear after recovering from offseason ACL surgery.
Earlier this week marked the end of the honeymoon phase for the Pope at his alma mater. After this outcome, it may be time for some serious intervention before things quickly go south.
