After a disappointing performance against Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic, Kentucky Basketball is hoping to bounce back from its 20-point loss when it takes on Northern Arizona on Friday night.
With the Lumberjacks already sitting at 0-3, following losses to UNLV, New Mexico, and Arizona, this should be an opportunity for the Wildcats to get back in the win column and build some confidence before tougher matchups arrive. I expect Kentucky to take care of business at home with a blowout
victory that gets this team back to feeling good about what it can do this year.
As previously mentioned, Kentucky fell to Kansas, 89-69, in Chicago on Tuesday. Now, the Wildcats will look to put that performance behind them and get back on track against Northern Arizona.
This should be another opportunity for Kentucky to work on its offense, particularly finding ways to get forward Milan Momcilovic more involved. Momcilovic finished with just five points against Kansas, shooting 2-of-7 from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Despite the disappointing result, big man Malachi Moreno had an impressive second half after getting into foul trouble early in the first half. He finished with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds and five assists. Zoom Diallo was another bright spot, recording 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and two rebounds.
However, one concern for Kentucky was Diallo’s lack of assists. The starting point guard finished without a single assist against Kansas, something the Wildcats will need to improve upon moving forward.
Meanwhile, Northern Arizona has not gotten off to a strong start, opening the season 0-3. The Lumberjacks will now travel to Lexington hoping to pull off a major upset against the Wildcats inside Rupp Arena.
Getting to know Northern Arizona
Shane Burcar enters his eighth season as the head coach of Northern Arizona men’s basketball in 2026-27. He was named the 26th head coach in program history on March 25, 2020, after serving as the team’s interim coach during the 2019-20 season.
Burcar initially joined Northern Arizona’s coaching staff as an assistant in April 2018. Before arriving in Flagstaff, he spent 12 years as the head coach at Mesa High School in Arizona, where he compiled a 277-110 record and won the 2016 Arizona Division I State Championship.
Since taking over at Northern Arizona, Burcar has helped the program make significant progress. In 2024-25, the Lumberjacks won 18 games, their highest total since the 2014-15 season, and earned a berth in the College Basketball Invitational. It was the program’s first postseason appearance in 10 years.
Northern Arizona also had an impressive 2025-26 campaign in several statistical categories. The Lumberjacks ranked 35th nationally in three-point shooting, connecting on 36.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc. They also ranked among the top 100 teams in the country in fewest turnovers per game.
Burcar has coached seven different players to 10 All-Big Sky honors, including two-time first-team selection Trent McLaughlin. McLaughlin was one of the program’s top offensive players during his time in Flagstaff, while former Lumberjack Carson Towt established himself as one of the nation’s top rebounders. Towt led the country in rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season with 12.4 and finished his career as Northern Arizona’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,078 boards.
Burcar has also emphasized academics and community involvement during his tenure. Northern Arizona earned the National Association of Basketball Coaches Team Academic Excellence Award in six of his first seven seasons.
The Lumberjacks now face a difficult challenge against a Kentucky team looking to respond after its loss to Kansas.
Here’s what you need to watch for as the Kentucky Wildcats look to bounce back against Northern Arizona.
Kentucky must run more plays for Milan Momcilovic
During Kentucky’s season opener against Manhattan, Milan Momcilovic put together an impressive performance, finishing with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, 6-of-9 from three-point range and five rebounds in an 87-57 victory.
However, his production has dropped considerably over the last two games.
Against Kansas, Momcilovic finished with just five points on 2-of-7 shooting from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, while adding seven rebounds. Although he was able to contribute on the glass, Kentucky needs to find ways to get him more opportunities offensively.
With Northern Arizona coming to Rupp Arena, this should be a good opportunity for Mark Pope and his coaching staff to run more sets designed to get Momcilovic open.
Momcilovic is one of Kentucky’s most important offensive weapons, and the Wildcats need to take advantage of his shooting ability. He showed what he could do at Iowa State last season, and Kentucky needs to find ways to put him in positions to succeed.
The fact that Momcilovic attempted only seven field goals against Kansas, including three from beyond the arc, is concerning. Kentucky’s offense has struggled to consistently create good opportunities for him, and that needs to change.
Hopefully, the loss to Kansas served as a wake-up call for both the coaching staff and the players. Getting Momcilovic more involved should be one of the biggest priorities against Northern Arizona.
Backcourt needs fewer turnovers and more assists
Kentucky’s backcourt struggled against Kansas, particularly when it came to taking care of the basketball and creating opportunities for teammates.
The Wildcats finished with 15 turnovers, with Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins and Mason Williams combining for seven of them. Meanwhile, the three guards combined for just three of Kentucky’s 13 assists.
Diallo’s performance was especially notable. Although he scored 24 points and shot efficiently from the field, he did not record a single assist.
That is something Kentucky needs to address, especially with Diallo serving as the team’s starting point guard. At Washington, he was asked to do a little bit of everything, and the Wildcats need him to bring that same playmaking ability to Lexington.
Kentucky cannot rely solely on individual scoring performances. The guards need to create opportunities for Moreno, Momcilovic, and the rest of the roster while limiting unnecessary turnovers.
Against Northern Arizona, the Wildcats should look to slow things down, make better decisions, and avoid rushing possessions. Diallo, Wilkins and Williams will all need to be more comfortable creating for others.
If Kentucky can improve its ball security and get more production from its backcourt as playmakers, the offense should have a much better chance of finding its rhythm.
Kentucky needs to turn defensive stops into points
One of the frustrating aspects of Kentucky’s loss to Kansas was the team’s inability to turn defensive opportunities into easy points on the other end of the floor.
The Wildcats forced 10 turnovers against the Jayhawks but struggled to capitalize on those opportunities. Kentucky failed to generate points on the fast break despite creating chances to get out in transition.
That cannot continue if the Wildcats want to compete against better teams throughout the season.
Creating turnovers is important, but those defensive plays need to lead to something offensively. Whether it is pushing the basketball in transition, getting easy baskets around the rim, or finding open shooters, Kentucky needs to become more efficient at turning defensive stops into scoring opportunities.
Northern Arizona provides another opportunity for the Wildcats to work on that part of their game. Kentucky should look to apply pressure defensively, force mistakes, and immediately take advantage of them on the other end.
The Wildcats have enough athleticism and talent to be effective in transition. Now, they need to show they can consistently execute.
Northern Arizona players to watch
Chris Komin, Guard: The 6-foot-3 sophomore had an impressive freshman season in 2025-26, appearing in 31 games and making 17 starts. He averaged 7.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 26.5 minutes per game while shooting 46.1% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range. Komin also led Northern Arizona in assists and steals, making him an important player for the Lumberjacks.
Ryan Abelman, Guard: The 6-foot-4, 210-pound redshirt senior returns after leading Northern Arizona in scoring during the 2025-26 season. Abelman averaged 10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 40% from the field and 36.1% from three-point range. He also recorded five 20-point performances and led the team in three-pointers made and free-throw percentage. Kentucky will need to account for his ability to score from the perimeter.
Lucas Toukam, Forward: The 6-foot-8, 205-pound freshman joins Northern Arizona from Bella Vista College Prep. During his senior season, he averaged 10.3 points and seven rebounds per game. He also averaged nearly three offensive rebounds per contest, giving the Lumberjacks another player who can create opportunities on the glass.
Dylan Anderson, Center: The 7-foot, 225-pound redshirt senior brings experience after spending time at Murray State, Boise State and Arizona. Most recently, he appeared in 31 games for Murray State during the 2025-26 season, averaging 1.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in seven minutes per game. His size could give Northern Arizona another option in the frontcourt.
Max Majerle, Guard: The 6-foot-4, 200-pound redshirt senior arrives after spending time at North Dakota State, Pima Community College and Central Michigan. During the 2024-25 season at Pima, he averaged 14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 49.4% from the field and 37.9% from three-point range. Majerle also helped Pima finish with a 35-1 record and a third-place finish at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.
Tamiel Green, Forward: The 6-foot-10, 275-pound sophomore gives Northern Arizona a physical presence inside. He played at Indian River State College during the 2025-26 season, averaging 13.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 56.3% from the field. Green recorded 13 double-doubles and ranked eighth nationally in NJCAA Division I in rebounding. Kentucky’s frontcourt will need to be prepared for his physicality around the basket.
Cade Bennett, Guard: The 6-foot, 170-pound redshirt senior joins Northern Arizona after spending four seasons at Saint Mary’s. Bennett appeared in eight games during the 2025-26 season before suffering a season-ending injury in January. He has experience playing in a competitive program and could provide another option in the Lumberjacks’ backcourt.
Final thoughts
Kentucky desperately needs to bounce back after its disappointing loss to Kansas in the Champions Classic. Fortunately, Northern Arizona presents an opportunity for the Wildcats to get back on track against a team that has struggled to begin the season.
The biggest priorities for Kentucky should be getting Momcilovic more involved offensively, improving the backcourt’s decision-making and turning defensive stops into points. Diallo will also need to continue scoring while doing a better job of creating opportunities for his teammates.
This should be a game where Kentucky can work through some of the issues that showed up against Kansas while building confidence heading into the rest of the season.
Kentucky Basketball vs. Northern Arizona
Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
Date: Friday, Nov. 13, 2026
Location: Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center in Lexington, Kentucky
TV Channel: SEC Network+ (streaming-only broadcast)
Online Stream: Watch ESPN and the ESPN app
Replay: Watch ESPN
Radio: UK Sports Network with Tom Leach and Jack “Goose” Givens
Rosters: Kentucky | Northern Arizona
KenPom: Kentucky | Northern Arizona
Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook does not have a spread for this one yet, so check back later. KenPom gives the Cats a 99% chance of winning. BartTorvik has it at 98%, and Evan Miya is at 99.4%.
Predictions: KenPom predicts a 90-65 win for Kentucky. Evan Miya has it at 89-61 for the Cats. BartTorvik has them winning 90-61. I’m expecting the Wildcats to respond with a strong performance at Rupp Arena and take care of business against the Lumberjacks. I’m going with a 90-55 victory, Kentucky!
What will you be watching for in this matchup? How do you see the game playing out? Send us your thoughts in the comments section!
