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Content by – GRAHAM SHEPHERD – SPORTS VIEW AMERICA …
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It’s basketball time in the bluegrass! Big Blue Madness marked the start of basketball for the 2025-26 version of the Kentucky Wildcats Men’s and Women’s Basketball team. It is an exciting time of year for ‘Cats fans across the state, who are looking for a spark due to the struggles of the football team to this point in the season. To start things off, the Women’s team was introduced to the Kentucky faithful. Last season, the Women’s team finished with a record of 23-8 (11-5 SEC), with their season ending with a second-round loss to Kansas State in the NCAA tournament. This years team is led by returning Center Clara Strack and Forward Teonni Key. Also returning from season-ending injuries from last season are Guards Jordan Obi and Dominika Paurova.

Here is your 2025-26 Kentucky Women’s Basketball team roster:

 #0 Jordan Obi, Graduate, Guard*

#4 Lexie Blue, Sophomore, Guard*

#5 Tonie Morgan, Senior, Guard

#7 Teonni Key, Senior, Forward*

#8 Asia Boone, Junior, Guard

#11 Gabby Brooks, Junior, Guard*

#12 Dominika Paurova, Redshirt Sophomore, Guard*

#13 Clara Strack, Junior, Center*

#15 Elsa Vadfors, Freshman, Center

#20 Kaelyn Carroll, Freshman, Forward

#32 Amelia Hassett, Senior, Forward*

#33 Josie Gilvin, Senior, Guard

* returning from last season

During introductions at Big Blue Madness, former star guard Makayla Epps made an appearance during the famous and energy-filled introductions. Kenny Brooks made his grand appearance sporting a hoodie that read “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports.” Brooks expressed his excitement for the upcoming season with large aspirations for his team. The games that followed introductions included a skills challenge that allowed players to showcase their passing, shooting and dribbling ability. In the game, the White Team, consisting of Tonie Morgan, Lexie Blue, and Teonni Key (2 minutes, 1 second) defeated the Blue Team made up of Jordan Obi, Josie Gilvin and Asia Boone (2 minutes, 9 seconds). Next up was a Tik-Tac-Toe game that allowed Jordan Obi and Teonni Key to shoot while two fans picked up the pieces to play Tik-Tac-Toe. The winner received a small prize, as Key defeated Obi. The Women’s portion of Madness finished with Amelia Hassett defeating Asia Boone in the three-point contest by a second round score of 25 points to 15 points. Kaelyn Carroll and Clara Strack also participated in the contest.

Next up on the Big Blue Madness Docket was the annual cheerleading and dance team routine.

Now, for the 2025-26 Kentucky Men’s Basketball team. Last season, in Mark Popes first season, the ‘Cats went 24-12 (10-8 SEC) and finished their season with a Sweet 16 loss to Tennessee. This year, Pope collected more athleticism and shaped his roster to hold strong against the tough play of the SEC. For Madness, the Men’s portion began with the famous introductions of each player. Notable “pops” from the crowd included Trent Noah (accompanied by Voice winner, Jordan Smith) and returning star Otega Oweh. However, the loudest ovation of the night belonged to Head Coach Mark Pope who was joined by former superstar guard John Wall, making his first appearance back at Big Blue Madness since his 2009-10 season.

Here is your 2025-26 Kentucky Men’s Basketball roster:

#00 Otega Oweh, Senior, Guard*

#1 Denzel Aberdeen, Senior, Guard

#2 Jasper Johnson, Freshman, Guard

#3 Kam Williams, Sophomore, Guard

#4 Andrija Jelavic, Sophomore, Forward

#5 Collin Chandler, Sophomore, Guard*

#9 Trent Noah, Sophomore, Forward*

#10 Brandon Garrison, Junior, Forward*

#11 Walker Horn, Senior, Guard*

#15 Jaland Lowe, Junior, Guard

#20 Zach Tow, Senior, Forward*

#21 Jayden Quaintance, Sophomore, Forward

#22 Braydon Hawthorne, Freshman, Forward

#23 Mouhamed Dioubate, Junior, Forward

#24 Malachi Moreno, Freshman, Center

#33 Reece Potter, Junior, Forward

* returning from last season

The first drill the ‘Cats ran was a shooting drill in which the players had to score 130 points as a team in a 2-minute stretch. Coach Pope expressed that if they did not achieve the 130 points the first attempt, they would continue to perform the drill until they successfully completed it. These ‘Cats can shoot the ball, as they completed the challenge on the first attempt. Next was a short 5-minute scrimmage in which the White Team defeated the Blue Team by a score of 14-12. In the Men’s portion of the three-point contest, Kentucky native Sophomore Trent Noah defeated Croatian Forward Andrija Jelavic. Noah scored an astounding 30 points in the second round to clinch the trophy and honor. Jasper Johnson, Kam Williams, and Jaland Lowe also competed in the contest. Finally, to end the night was the Dunk contest. Several judges were selected from the crowd to judge Braydon Hawthorne, Collin Chandler, and Mouhamed Dioubate in the contest. Chandler clinched the victory by incorporating John Wall to alley-oop the pass to slam home the win. The two celebrated with Wall’s famous “John Wall Dance.” The finale of the night was a fan attempt to win $10,000 dollars with a half-court shot. The fan missed the shot twice and Mark Pope offered up $5,000 out of his own pocket for a third attempt. The fan missed by the team convinced Coach Pope to allow one more attempt, this time attempted by Forward Kam Williams. Wiliams nailed the half-court shot and Rupp Arena erupted with delight as the ‘Cats get ready to roll this season. It will be a fun ride this year, strap in and hold on. The sky is the limit with this group.