Kentucky Basketball will enter postseason play Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against the Santa Clara Broncos at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, with tip-off set for 12:15 PM ET on CBS.
The Wildcats officially punched their ticket to March Madness on Selection Sunday, earning a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and drawing No. 10 seed Santa Clara in the opening round. Kentucky enters the postseason with a 21-13 record after falling to Florida in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
Despite the loss, Mark Pope’s team did enough throughout the regular season to comfortably secure a spot in the 68-team field and now shifts its focus to surviving and advancing.
Kentucky showed flashes of high-level play throughout the season but also battled inconsistency on both ends of the floor. At times, the Wildcats displayed an elite offense capable of putting up points in bunches, while in other games, their defense stepped up against strong competition. However, rarely have both elements clicked simultaneously, something Kentucky will need if it hopes to make a deep tournament run.
Meanwhile, Santa Clara enters the matchup with a 26-8 record after falling to Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference Championship Game. The Broncos have been one of the more balanced teams in the country this season and rank 35th overall in KenPom, including 23rd in adjusted offensive efficiency and 19th in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Santa Clara also has several standout players who earned recognition this season. Christian Hammond, Allen Graves, and Elijah Mahi were all named to the All-WCC First Team, while Graves earned WCC Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year honors. Head coach Herb Sendek, now in his 10th season, was named WCC Coach of the Year.
Kentucky will also hope to be close to full strength entering the tournament. Kam Williams recently returned after surgery for a broken foot earlier in the season, while freshman big man Malachi Moreno has been dealing with a minor leg injury. Getting healthy at the right time could play a major role in Kentucky’s postseason chances.
Santa Clara has now made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in program history and famously reached the Final Four in 1952. The program’s last appearance came in 1996, when a team led by Steve Nash defeated Maryland in the first round before falling to Kansas.
Now, nearly three decades later, the Broncos return to the NCAA Tournament stage looking to pull off an upset against one of college basketball’s most historic programs.
What to Watch For
Santa Clara’s 3-Point Shooting
One of the biggest strengths of the Broncos is their willingness to shoot the basketball from beyond the arc. Santa Clara attempts 29.2 3-pointers per game and makes 10.1 per game, shooting 34.6% from deep.
While that percentage is not elite, the volume is extremely high. Santa Clara spreads the floor and looks to generate scoring runs through perimeter shooting. This could present a challenge for Kentucky, which has struggled at times this season defending the 3-point line.
If the Broncos find a rhythm early from deep, it could put immediate pressure on the Wildcats.
Containing Santa Clara’s Top Three Scorers
Santa Clara’s offense largely runs through three primary players who account for a large portion of the team’s scoring.
Christian Hammond leads the team with 15.8 points per game, while Elijah Mahi averages 13.9 points, and freshman forward Allen Graves adds 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Slowing down this trio will be crucial for Kentucky’s defensive game plan.
Offensive Rebounding
Although Santa Clara does not dominate the glass overall, the Broncos are strong on the offensive boards. They rank No. 27 nationally in offensive rebounds, averaging 13.1 per game.
Second-chance opportunities could become a deciding factor in the game. Kentucky will need to control the glass and prevent Santa Clara from generating extra possessions. This is an area where Kentucky was just badly crushed by Florida.
Players to Watch
Christian Hammond
A 6-foot-4, 180-pound redshirt sophomore guard, Hammond is Santa Clara’s leading scorer at 15.8 points per game. He shoots 49% from the field and 40% from 3, making 1.6 triples per game. Hammond is a dynamic scoring guard capable of creating his own shot and stretching defenses.
Elijah Mahi
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound senior forward averages 13.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 44.8% from the field. Mahi also contributes defensively, averaging 1.4 steals per game. His versatility allows him to impact the game in multiple ways.
Allen Graves
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound freshman forward has been one of the breakout players in the WCC this season. Graves averages 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds, while shooting 51.7% from the field and 41.6% from 3-point range. His ability to stretch the floor makes him a difficult matchup.
Aleksandar Gavalyugov
A 6-foot guard transfer from Villanova, Gavalyugov averages 8.8 points and 2.6 assists per game. He shoots 35.8% from deep and attempts more than five 3-pointers per game, making him another perimeter threat.
Bukky Oboye
The 7-foot-1 redshirt sophomore center provides size and efficiency inside. Oboye averages 8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 66.5% from the field.
Brenton Knapper
A 6-foot senior guard, Knapper averages 7.7 points and 2.3 assists per game. While he shoots only 27.7% from deep, he remains a capable playmaker.
Jake Ensminger
The 6-foot-9 redshirt junior forward averages 6.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 53.6% from the field and 38.8% from deep.
Thierry Darlan
A 6-foot-8 freshman guard, Darlan contributes 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 34.2% from 3-point range.
Kentucky Basketball vs. Santa Clara Broncos
Game Time: Friday, March 20, 2026, at 12:15 PM ET
Location: Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri
TV Channel: CBS will have television coverage of this matchup.
Online Stream: NCAA March Madness Live and the NCAA March Madness Live app
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens on the UK Sports Radio Network. You can listen on mobile devices with the Varsity Network app.
Replay: Check local listings on CBS Sports Network and March Madness Live
Rosters: UK | Santa Clara
Stats to Know: UK | Santa Clara
KenPom: UK | Santa Clara
Team Sheets: UK | Santa Clara
Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook has Kentucky favored by 3.5 points with an over/under of 161.5 points. EvanMiya gives UK a 61.8% chance of winning. KenPom (55%), ESPN (72.2%), BartTorvik (49%), and DRatings (66.8%) also favor the Cats to win.
Predictions: ESPN (79-75), EvanMiya (81-78), KenPom (81-79), and DRatings (83-78) all have the Cats winning, while BartTorvik (83-82) has Santa Clara winning.
It is do-or-die time in the NCAA Tournament, and both teams know that a loss means their season comes to an end. Kentucky and Santa Clara will battle for a spot in the Round of 32, with the Wildcats looking to avoid an early exit and the Broncos hoping to pull off an upset.
With many projections favoring Kentucky to advance, I’ll go the same direction. This should be a competitive game, but the Wildcats find a way to close it out late. Give me an 84-77 victory, Kentucky!
How do you see this game playing out? Drop your thoughts below in the comments section!
And Go Cats!
