Kentucky basketball will enter the preseason with plenty of optimism surrounding Mark Pope’s roster, but the Wildcats will also have to navigate several injury concerns before the 2026-27 season officially gets underway.
During his media day press conference Monday afternoon, Pope confirmed that Kentucky will not hold its traditional Blue-White scrimmage this year. The decision comes after last season’s event ended with starting point guard Jaland Lowe suffering a shoulder injury.
“I’m going to take a one-year hiatus from the exact naming of a Blue-White scrimmage, because I lost my point guard in the last one, so I’m walking away from that,” Pope joked.
The Wildcats could still hold an open practice for fans, but Pope’s decision highlights just how important player health will be heading into another demanding campaign.
Kentucky already has four players dealing with injury-related setbacks: Milan Momcilovic, Jerone Morton, Trent Noah and Kam Williams.
The most encouraging update involves Momcilovic, Kentucky’s highly regarded transfer addition and one of the potential preseason All-American candidates on the roster.
The 6-foot-9 forward suffered an injury to his shooting hand toward the end of summer practice and returned to campus this fall wearing a brace on his finger. Despite the setback, Momcilovic appears to have the clearest path toward a full return.
His availability will be especially important for Kentucky because of what he can provide from the perimeter. Momcilovic established himself as one of the nation’s premier three-point shooters last season, giving the Wildcats another proven offensive weapon heading into the new campaign.
Morton, meanwhile, is dealing with a knee injury and will have to wait for another evaluation. The Lexington native, who transferred to Kentucky and impressed teammates and coaches during summer workouts, said he expects to return to the court.
Morton is scheduled to be re-evaluated in two to three weeks.
When asked whether he expected to play for Kentucky this season, Morton did not hesitate.
“Yeah, yeah — absolutely,” he said.
That confidence should be encouraging for Kentucky fans, although the Wildcats will have to remain patient with his recovery.
Williams and Morton are both expected to miss Kentucky’s three exhibition games, creating an early challenge for Pope as he looks to establish rotations and develop chemistry.
The injury concerns are particularly notable because Pope’s first two seasons in Lexington have already been affected by significant health problems.
The point guard position has been hit especially hard. During Pope’s first season, Kentucky saw Lamont Butler, Kerr Kriisa and Jaxson Robinson all deal with injuries. Butler played through a shoulder issue during the NCAA Tournament, while Kriisa and Robinson were ultimately lost for the season.
Last season brought another difficult stretch.
Lowe never appeared to be fully healthy and ultimately played in only nine games after suffering his shoulder injury during the Blue-White scrimmage. His absence became one of several challenges Kentucky faced while finishing the season with a 22-14 record.
Williams also emerged as an important contributor before being sidelined early in SEC play. Meanwhile, Jayden Quaintance, who eventually became an NBA Draft pick, was limited to only four games before making his final appearance for the Wildcats in January.
For Pope, avoiding unnecessary preseason risks is understandable. Kentucky has invested heavily in building a deeper and more talented roster, and keeping those players healthy could be crucial to the team’s progress.
The Wildcats will officially begin their preseason schedule with Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena on Friday. Kentucky will then face Little Rock in an exhibition matchup on Oct. 16 before opening the regular season against Manhattan on Nov. 3.
With expectations surrounding the program once again high, Pope will have plenty to evaluate before opening night. The immediate priority, however, may be making sure his players return to full health.
Kentucky has assembled a roster capable of generating excitement, but the Wildcats will need their key pieces available if they want to maximize their potential.
For now, Pope and his staff will take a cautious approach. The decision to step away from the Blue-White scrimmage may be a small change to the preseason tradition, but it reflects a larger priority: getting Kentucky healthy and ready for the games that matter most.
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