Kentucky men’s basketball has received an encouraging boost ahead of the 2026-27 season, with Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno earning preseason All-Southeastern Conference honors. The recognition highlights the individual talent within Mark Pope’s revamped roster as the Wildcats prepare for another demanding campaign with championship expectations in Lexington.
Momcilovic, a highly productive transfer from Iowa State, was named to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team, while Moreno secured a place on the Third Team after an impressive freshman season with Kentucky. The two players, affectionately representing the Wildcats’ “M&M” combination, will be central figures in Pope’s plans as he looks to build a team capable of competing at the highest level of college basketball.
The SEC announced its preseason selections on Monday in Birmingham, Alabama, with Kentucky’s two representatives standing out among the conference’s anticipated contributors for the upcoming season.
Although the Wildcats were picked to finish seventh in the SEC preseason media poll, the individual recognition earned by Momcilovic and Moreno offers reasons for optimism. Their different skill sets could provide Pope with a valuable combination of perimeter shooting, interior presence, rebounding and defensive production.
MOMCILOVIC BRINGS ELITE THREE-POINT SHOOTING TO LEXINGTON
Momcilovic arrives at Kentucky after three productive seasons at Iowa State, where he established himself as one of the most dangerous perimeter shooters in college basketball.
The 6-foot-9 forward enjoyed a career-best junior campaign, averaging 16.9 points per game while making 136 three-pointers and shooting an outstanding 48.7 percent from beyond the arc. His production made him one of the nation’s most efficient long-range threats and earned him Second Team All-Big 12 recognition, along with a place on the Big 12 All-Tournament Team.
His ability to score consistently from distance could become one of Kentucky’s most important offensive weapons in the 2026-27 campaign.
Momcilovic reached double figures in scoring 29 times last season, including 14 performances in which he recorded at least 20 points. Those numbers demonstrate his ability to deliver more than occasional perimeter contributions, giving Pope an experienced scorer who can influence games through sustained offensive production.
His 136 made three-pointers ranked second in Big 12 single-season history and established a new Iowa State program record. Across three seasons in Ames, he connected on 260 shots from beyond the arc, tying for the second-highest total in program history.
Momcilovic’s career numbers further underline his experience. He has made 101 starts across 102 appearances, averaging 13.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range.
For Kentucky, his arrival represents an opportunity to add an established perimeter scorer who can stretch opposing defenses and create additional space for teammates to operate.
Defenders who close out aggressively on Momcilovic could leave driving lanes open for Kentucky’s guards, while opponents who give him room risk allowing one of the SEC’s most dangerous shooters to find his rhythm.
If he can maintain anything close to his production at Iowa State, Momcilovic could quickly become one of the Wildcats’ most influential offensive players.
MORENO LOOKS TO BUILD ON AN IMPRESSIVE FRESHMAN CAMPAIGN
While Momcilovic offers proven scoring and perimeter shooting, Moreno provides Kentucky with a promising interior presence who already has valuable experience in the program.
The Georgetown, Kentucky, native returns for his sophomore season after earning All-SEC Freshman Team honors during his debut campaign. He started 30 games for the Wildcats, averaging 7.8 points and a team-leading 6.3 rebounds per contest.
Moreno also demonstrated impressive efficiency around the basket, shooting 58.2 percent from the field. His ability to convert scoring opportunities and compete for rebounds made him an important contributor during his first season in Lexington.
Defensively, the young big man recorded 53 blocked shots, leading Kentucky in that category. His rim protection could become especially important as the Wildcats prepare to face experienced frontcourts throughout the SEC schedule.
Moreno’s contributions extended beyond scoring and defense. He recorded at least three assists in 12 games and averaged 1.8 assists per contest, demonstrating an ability to contribute as a passer when opportunities presented themselves.
He also registered three double-doubles, offering glimpses of the all-around production Kentucky hopes to see more consistently in his second season.
With another offseason to develop his understanding of Pope’s system, Moreno will have an opportunity to improve his positioning, decision-making and consistency against stronger opposition.
His preseason All-SEC Third Team selection reflects the potential he demonstrated as a freshman, but it also raises expectations for what he might accomplish with another year of experience.
POPE’S WILDCATS FACE A CRUCIAL SEASON
The recognition earned by Momcilovic and Moreno comes at an important time for Pope and his coaching staff.
Kentucky is preparing for the 2026-27 campaign with the pressure that accompanies one of college basketball’s most recognizable programs. The Wildcats will need their leading contributors to perform consistently if they hope to challenge the SEC’s strongest teams and make a meaningful postseason run.
Momcilovic’s shooting could transform the team’s offensive spacing, while Moreno’s rebounding and rim protection could strengthen its interior play. Together, their contrasting strengths offer Pope two potential building blocks for a balanced lineup.
However, preseason honors alone will not determine Kentucky’s success. The Wildcats must translate individual talent into effective team basketball, establish chemistry among their players and demonstrate that they can compete consistently against elite opponents.
Being selected seventh in the preseason SEC poll provides an external benchmark, but Kentucky will have opportunities to challenge those expectations once the season begins.
The Wildcats are scheduled to open their exhibition campaign against Little Rock at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center on Friday, October 16, at 7 p.m. Their regular-season opener is scheduled for November 3 against Manhattan, also at 7 p.m.
Those early games will provide opportunities for Pope to evaluate his roster, refine rotations and begin integrating his key contributors into a cohesive unit.
For Momcilovic, the challenge will be carrying his exceptional shooting into a new conference and proving that he can remain a dependable scoring threat against SEC competition. Moreno, meanwhile, will look to build on his promising freshman campaign and establish himself as an increasingly influential presence inside the paint.
Both players have already earned recognition before the season begins. Now, they must turn that recognition into consistent performances on the court.
With Momcilovic’s elite perimeter shooting and Moreno’s growing interior presence, Kentucky’s M&M duo could become a major factor in the Wildcats’ pursuit of a successful 2026-27 season.
