Kentucky Basketball Media Day officially kicked off preparations for the 2025-26 season on Monday, arriving just in time to build anticipation for Big Blue Madness this weekend. The timing was ideal, offering fans a much-needed shift in focus.
The event provided a welcome distraction from the football chatter dominating the other side of campus, where disappointment lingers after another SEC loss and uncertainty surrounds head coach Mark Stoops’ future.
While it wasn’t game day, Media Day served as a clear signal that basketball season is right around the corner. It gave players, coaches, and fans a chance to embrace the excitement ahead.
Matt Jones and I kicked off the day with a two-hour live broadcast of Kentucky Sports Radio from the court at Historic Memorial Coliseum. We’re grateful to UK Athletics for their hospitality in letting us set up inside the iconic gym.
The location couldn’t have been better at least initially. Broadcasting from such a storied venue added energy and nostalgia to the show, creating the perfect backdrop for Media Day coverage.
However, things got a bit awkward once we realized that some of our on-air topics involved questioning Mark Stoops’ future and discussing potential decisions awaiting athletic director Mitch Barnhart while sitting just steps away from the athletic department’s offices.
During the broadcast, five-star point guard Derron Rippey Jr. one of Kentucky’s premier recruiting targets happened to stroll through the gym with his parents and UK staff as his campus visit got underway. We likely weren’t supposed to catch that moment, but sometimes timing just works out.
Once the show wrapped, I made my way to the media room for a quick bite, grabbing a chicken salad croissant that hit the spot before the afternoon’s main festivities.
Credit to UK Athletics once again for the seamless setup and thoughtful hospitality especially the lunch, which was a perfect pick-me-up before the day’s headline events.
While we were live on the air, five-star point guard Derron Rippey Jr. one of Kentucky’s top recruiting priorities casually walked through the gym alongside his parents and UK staff as he kicked off his campus visit. We probably weren’t meant to witness it, but sometimes the timing just clicks.
When the show wrapped up, I headed over to the media room and grabbed a chicken salad croissant, which turned out to be the perfect pre-event snack.
Big thanks to UK once again for the smooth setup and the thoughtful lunch, which made the day even more enjoyable before the main activities got underway.
Mark Pope’s Press Conference.
The main room was already buzzing when I arrived for Mark Pope’s session, and I managed to slip in just as he made his entrance scoring a quick fist bump as he passed by. The atmosphere matched Pope’s trademark style: energetic, confident, and endlessly optimistic.
Pope touched on a wide range of topics, from his belief in analytics calling numbers “great teachers, but not the rulebook” to the roster’s depth and the fierce competition already emerging in early practices.
The highlight of the day was his colorful description of this year’s squad, likening the team to “a beautiful Ferrari we can’t wait to take for a spin,” a line that perfectly captured the excitement surrounding the upcoming season.
As Pope enters his second season in Lexington, we’re all still getting accustomed to his unique style of “Pope-speak.” One thing is already obvious, though he’s genuinely enthusiastic about his roster heading into the new season.
Talking with the Players
After Pope’s press conference wrapped up, we shifted over to the practice court which has undergone a complete makeover since last season. The renovations give the space a fresh yet classic feel, emphasizing Kentucky’s rich basketball tradition and storied history.
Rather than focusing solely on the program’s NBA pipeline or past Calipari-era stars, the updated design celebrates the Wildcats’ identity and legacy. It’s a return to what many consider the true essence of Kentucky basketball.
One standout feature is a dedicated spot on the wall reserved for the program’s next championship banner, joining the eight that already commemorate the Wildcats’ historic success.
With KSR’s newlywed Steven Peake behind the camera, I made a quick lap around the practice court to chat with several Wildcats during interviews.
Jasper Johnson shared that his biggest focus has been adjusting to the physicality of college basketball and working to bulk up. Fortunately, staying close to home has its perks his mom and grandmother keep him fueled with home-cooked meals, especially his favorite: Grandma’s pancakes.
Jayden Quaintance, still rehabbing a knee injury, talked about learning the system while sidelined and his ambition to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. He also admitted he enjoys playing chess but laughed off the stories of his supposed mastery.
Malachi Moreno is settling comfortably into college life while remaining near family in Georgetown. He described practices as being filled with highlight-worthy plays despite the team still meshing, and he singled out Trent Noah for his near-perfect shooting touch.
Otega Oweh reflected on lessons from his NBA Draft experience and highlighted the increased competitiveness in this year’s practices compared to last preseason. He also confirmed he’s fully recovered from turf toe and ready to go this week.
Finally, late Croatian addition Andrija Jelavic discussed adjusting to both the American style of play and the local cuisine. He even revealed which restaurant “took Big Z down” a couple of years ago and offered his first impressions of life in Lexington.
“Horn at the Horn”
To close out the day, I grabbed a quick interview with senior walk-on Walker Horn as the gym’s scoreboard doubling as our countdown clock ticked away. True to his name, Horn delivered his comment just before the buzzer sounded.
It wasn’t exactly a game-winner, but we’re officially dubbing the moment “Horn at the Horn.”
Pressed for time, we managed to squeeze in roughly one second of conversation before the clock hit zero, making for a fittingly lighthearted end to Media Day.
Watch KSR at Media Days
If you haven’t checked it out yet, be sure to subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for complete Media Day coverage. You’ll find full player interviews, Mark Pope’s press conference, and plenty more basketball content plus the occasional football therapy session for good measure.
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