UK Basketball Opens 2026-27 Season Against Manhattan at Rupp Arena
Kentucky, ranked No. 23, opens its 2026-27 men's basketball season against Manhattan at Rupp Arena. The game is streaming only on SEC Network+.
Kentucky men's basketball opened its 2026-27 season on Tuesday night, hosting Manhattan at Rupp Arena in Lexington at 7 p.m. ET. The No. 23-ranked Wildcats are favored heavily in the matchup, which is the first meeting between the two programs. The game is being broadcast on SEC Network+, which is available only as a streaming service.
A first meeting with a rebuilding opponent
Manhattan is in its fourth season under coach John Gallagher. The Jaspers finished 12-20 last season and are picked to place 10th in the Metro Conference this year. Their main threat is junior guard Ben Tweedy, who earned Preseason All-Metro Third Team honors.
The rankings reflect the gap between the teams. Manhattan is ranked No. 316 in KenPom and No. 352 in BartTorvik. Kentucky was listed as a 31.5-point favorite by Polymarket, according to KSR, the Kentucky sports site that carried live coverage of the game.
Lineup and season expectations
Kentucky kept the same starting lineup it used in three exhibition games, with Zoom Diallo at point guard. The start marks the third season for head coach Mark Pope, and fans are watching to see how the team begins the year after the preseason games.
Viewing options are limited. Because the game is on SEC Network+, fans without a cable package need a streaming option. KSR noted that ESPN Unlimited, which includes SEC Network+, is available directly through the YouTube TV app.
What comes next
The opener gives Kentucky its first official result of the 2026-27 season, with the exhibition games now behind the team. Coverage of the matchup, including live updates and previews from Rupp Arena, was carried by KSR and the school's official athletics site, UKAthletics. Fans can follow the rest of the schedule through those outlets as the season progresses.
Dateline: Lexington, Kentucky.
