Mar 08, 2026
3 min read
Top Video: Kentucky vs.Florida
One of the greatest traditions in college basketball will take place again on Saturday when Kentucky will play its final regular-season game (vs. Florida, 4 p.m., ESPN) and honor its senior class. It's always an exciting time for coaches and fans alike.
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope arrived at Senior Day in Kentucky.Pope is a big believer in UK and the basketball experience the players will have in Lexington.
"I don't know if anybody comes out of the year and thinks, man, I hope I get to one day," Pope said."It is a unique, incredible basketball experience, there is no place like it.
Kentucky will honor a senior four-man class on Saturday - Denzel Aberdeen, Walker Horne, Otega Oh and Zach Tu.
Oveh is in his second season at Kentucky and the New Jersey native has left his mark on the program.Oveh has scored more than 1,000 points and is Kentucky's leading scorer in consecutive seasons.Pope knows Oveh's impact on the Kentucky program will be felt for years to come.
"Otega is interesting because you just keep asking him more," Pope said."His career here, with what he's contributed to the two teams he's been a part of is just extraordinary."
Aberdeen joined Kentucky this season after winning a national championship in Florida last year.Pope talked about Aberdeen's contribution to Kentucky this season.
"His fingerprints are all over this year," Pope said."As far as the real challenges of playing out of position and taking on a role that he didn't expect. He's just grown so much over the course of the season."
Horn will complete his fourth year in a UK uniform and Pope has nothing but praise for him.
"Walker was amazing," Pope said."He was born to be a coach. If he's going in that direction, he's going to be a great coach."
Tow is unique because he has to earn a place on the team.However, Pope knows there are big things ahead for the Madisonville native.
"He went through the law school application process and last week he got the news that he was accepted to law school in the UK," Pope said."The boys were in tears."
Kentucky will honor the Class of 2026 on Saturday and it will be a special day for the players, coaches and fans, as it always has been.
Meet your opponent: Florida
Kentucky will face Florida for the second time this season in the final game of the regular season on Saturday.
• The Wildcats lead the all-time series 111-43, including a 56-12 win over Lexington.
• Dan Issel holds the UK hitting streak record, scoring 37 points twice against the Gators during the 1970 season.
• The two sides played in an epic rivalry last season in Lexington, with the Wildcats winning 106-100 to open the meeting between the two teams.Kobe Brea led the Cats with 23 points on 7 3s.
• In the first meeting this season between the teams, Florida won 92-83 in Gainesville.Denzel Aberdeen led UK in scoring with 19 points against his former school, while Malachi Moreno had a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
• The Gators are riding a 10-game winning streak and have already clinched the SEC regular season title.During the 10-game streak, Florida is averaging 23.2 points.Their closest game was against the Wildcats, a nine-point win.
• Florida leads the nation with a +14.8 rebounding margin in both total rebounding (45.67) and rebounding (16.0).
• Thomas Haugh leads the Gators with 17.1 points per game, while Ruben Cinjelu leads the nation in rebounding with 11.8 rebounds per game
Last time out
Kentucky fell to Texas A&M on the road on Tuesday, 96-85.
• Kentucky finished with 22 assists, a team-high this season against an SEC opponent.
• All nine Wildcats have scored in a game
• Kentucky won the rebounding battle 41-38 and is 15-5 this season to win the glass.
- Otega Oweh had 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. He joins Patrick Patterson as the only two Wildcats to have a record of at least 24-9-5-3 from 1996-97.
• Mo Dioubate went 8/9 from the field and scored a tournament-high 19 points
• Oweh's nine rebounds were a season high
• Denzel Aberdeen had 8 career assists
• Trent Noah scored nine points in the second half, preying on SEC opponents.
SEC Tournament Image
With one game left in the regular season, the Kentucky Wildcats are still in a doubleheader in the SEC Tournament. Kentucky could still go from No. 4 to No. 10. A win would move Kentucky from No. 4 to No. 7. A loss would move the Cats from No. 8 to No. 7.
