The final score margin was what most people expected Friday night, but Kentucky’s first exhibition game of the season gave Mark Pope and Big Blue Nation plenty to talk about beyond the 69-49 win over Little Rock.

The Wildcats opened the 2026-27 exhibition schedule with a 20-point victory over former Kentucky point guard and current Little Rock head coach Travis Ford, giving them their first real look at how this revamped roster would perform against another team.

It was not the prettiest offensive performance, but Kentucky’s defense provided plenty of encouraging signs, especially considering how much I wanted to see what this team would look like on that end of the floor.

Kentucky’s Defense Stands Out

Kentucky held Little Rock to 31% shooting from the field and just 2-of-20 from 3-point range, while forcing 15 turnovers and finishing with 8 blocks and 9 steals. The Wildcats also led 39-34 on the glass, giving Pope a pretty good defensive foundation to build on as the exhibition schedule continues.

The length of this Kentucky roster was noticeable throughout the night, particularly in the first half when the Wildcats forced 7 turnovers, blocked 5 shots and grabbed 4 steals while holding the Trojans to just 22.6% shooting.

That was one of the biggest things I wanted to see coming into this game. I am not expecting Kentucky to suddenly become an elite defensive team this season, but I wanted to see the effort, communication and some evidence that there are actual defensive rules and schemes being taught.

There were certainly some good moments in that regard.

Momcilovic Leads the Way

Offensively, Kentucky had plenty of struggles, particularly early in the game, but Milan Momcilovic looked exactly like the type of shooter the Wildcats brought him in to be.

Momcilovic led all scorers with 16 points while knocking down 4-of-7 attempts from 3-point range and grabbing 7 rebounds. He knocked down several big shots in the second half as Kentucky finally created some separation.

Alex Wilkins added 11 points, while freshman Mason Williams provided a nice spark off the bench with 10 points. Malachi Moreno finished with 7 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks, giving Kentucky another strong performance on the glass and around the basket.

Zoom Diallo also finished with 7 points, while Ousmane N’Diaye and Braydon Hawthorne each scored 5.

The biggest issue was ball security.

Kentucky turned the ball over 19 times while recording just 12 assists, and the Wildcats shot just 35.7% from the field in the first half before finding more rhythm after halftime. Kentucky also missed several opportunities around the basket that kept Little Rock within striking distance for stretches.

The good news is that Kentucky eventually found its shooting stroke. The Wildcats went 8-of-15 from 3-point range in the second half after making just 3-of-11 from deep before halftime.

A 30-19 Halftime Lead Turns Into a 20-Point Win

Kentucky led just 30-19 at halftime after using a 13-0 run to create some separation in the first half.

The offense remained inconsistent early in the second half, but the defense continued to make life difficult for Little Rock, and Kentucky eventually began knocking down enough shots to pull away.

Momcilovic was at the center of that push, while Wilkins and Williams provided additional scoring to help Kentucky turn a relatively ugly exhibition into a comfortable 20-point victory.

Little Rock was led by Jah’Likai King, who finished with 13 points as the Trojans struggled to find any consistency offensively.

The First Look Is Only the Beginning

This is exactly why I do not put too much stock into exhibition basketball.

Kentucky won by 20, but there were plenty of things that need to be cleaned up before the games start counting. The Wildcats have to take better care of the basketball, improve their offensive execution and continue figuring out how all of these new pieces fit together.

At the same time, there were enough positives to be encouraged by.

Momcilovic showed why he is one of the best shooters in the country, Moreno was active all over the floor, and Kentucky’s length created problems defensively.

Most importantly, Pope got his first opportunity to coach this team against somebody other than itself.

Kentucky will have another exhibition next Friday when Texas Tech comes to Rupp Arena, giving the Wildcats a much tougher test and another opportunity to figure out what this team can become.

For now, a 69-49 win and plenty of film to work with is a pretty good way to start the preseason.

For more Kentucky news and coverage, follow me on X @DrewByousBBN.