Kentucky’s men’s basketball program will open its 2026‑27 preseason with an exhibition clash against Texas Tech at Rupp Arena on October 23, 2026. The game marks the first of three tune‑ups the Wildcats have secured, a limit that the NCAA now permits for the upcoming season.
A promising opponent
Texas Tech arrives in Lexington riding a wave of recent success. The Red Raiders reached the Elite Eight just a year ago and the second round the season before, and ESPN’s Bracketology projects them as a 5‑seed in the 2027 NCAA Tournament. Their recent form has turned heads, even though they were absent from the latest preseason polls.
Kentucky is not resting on its laurels either. The Wildcats will begin their regular season on November 3 against Manhattan, a game that will also be played at Rupp Arena. In addition to the Texas Tech exhibition, the Cats have slated matchups with Wichita State and Louisville as non‑conference opponents, while the bulk of their schedule will be dominated by SEC rivals and neutral‑site contests.
The roster that will take the floor includes several key returnees and high‑profile transfers. Starting center Malachi Moreno will be back, and the team will also feature transfers Milan Momcilovic, Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins. The coaching staff will also benefit from the return of forward JT Toppin, although he is expected to sit out the exhibition against Kentucky, and fifth‑year senior Darrion Williams, who transferred from NC State.
Coach Grant McCasland, now in his third season at Texas Tech, has guided the Red Raiders to NCAA Tournament appearances each year, underscoring the program’s stability. The exhibition will be a test of chemistry for both squads as they fine‑tune strategies before the official start of the season.