ESPN has made its prediction for the season opener between Kentucky and Wright State, strongly favoring the Wildcats with a 94.7% chance of winning. This game, set for Monday, November 4th at Rupp Arena, marks the beginning of the Mark Pope era for Kentucky. After dominant performances against Kentucky Wesleyan and Minnesota State in exhibition games, the Wildcats are expected to cruise past Wright State, with Vegas setting the spread at -21.5 in Kentucky’s favor.
In this matchup, Kentucky’s goals are clear: focus on a strong offensive game and maintain a tight defense. They’ll aim to shoot over 30 three-pointers, maybe even approaching 40, prioritizing open looks from deep. Smart passing will also be key to creating those open shots if the initial attempts aren’t there.
The Wildcats showed solid ball control in their exhibition games, a trend they’ll want to continue against Wright State. Reducing turnovers now will be crucial for future conference games and NCAA Tournament play.
This game also provides an opportunity for Jaxson Robinson to establish himself as the team’s go-to player. Every team needs a reliable leader, and Robinson looks poised to step into that role for Kentucky.
