Wednesday Headlines: New Year’s Resolutions for Kentucky Basketball

What the Kentucky Wildcats should be pushing for as the calendar turns to 2026.

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

Good morning, BBN!

It’s the last day of 2025, and with that comes a new opportunity to crush it in 2026.

That is especially true for this year’s Kentucky Basketball team.

It was a rocky start to the season, but with conference play up next, the ability to grow and build is right in front of them.

Here are some New Year’s Resolutions for the Cats:

Play Consistently Great Defense

We’ve seen this team do it before, but the issue is their consistency. Jayden Quaintance plays a massive role in this, so his health,

for this and many other reasons, is crucial. If you can play elite defense, you can have off nights offensively and still win a championship. Defense needs to be this team’s identity.

Improved Shooting From Beyond the Arc

The issue has lingered all season, particularly in big moments, and has occasionally reached levels rarely seen under Mark Pope. Their last game against Bellarmine was a significant improvement, as they went 16-30. The challenge now is making that production the standard rather than the exception.

Run Better Offensive Sets, AKA, Play a PG

This one is certainly on Mark Pope, but with Jaland Lowe out, it’s been nearly impossible to find a flow offensively. Either start Lowe or put Jasper Johnson in the game to run the PG spot so that the team isn’t so lost and doesn’t get in a hole quickly. Denzel Aberdeen is a great SG. Let him play his role.

More Confidence as a Team

It seems like the Cats have regained this with the return of Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance, but it has to continue into conference play, or they will get eaten alive. A confident team is a winning team.

What are some other things that should be on their resolutions list? Let us know in the comments!