While still building UK basketball's 2025 recruiting class, Mark Pope and his staff have kept tabs on 2026. These 10 players have offers from Kentucky

Good morning, folks! We’re in for a busy day in the world of Kentucky basketball. First, we’ll hear from men’s head coach Mark Pope this afternoon as he prepares for Saturday’s highly-anticipated showdown against John Calipari‘s Arkansas Razorbacks.

Unlike Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr was unable to take the floor against the Commodores on Saturday afternoon. A back injury prevented the fifth year senior from practicing for multiple weeks, and on Saturday, Pope made the decision to keep him out for the game.

Contrast that success with Calipari’s first Arkansas team, which needed six tries to notch its first SEC win of the year, and Kentucky fans figure to have plenty of ammunition Saturday. The Razorbacks are just 12-8 overall, and their 1-6 start to SEC play has them looking like a long shot for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Arkansas basketball is irrelevant in its first season under John Calipari. Cal's return to Rupp Arena is now just another game for Kentucky basketball

Both the Arkansas and Kentucky programs have three signees in the 2025 class, and both will bring in five-star talent later this year. The Hogs and Wildcats also both have at least one McDonald’s All-American as part of their respective 2025 recruiting groups.

Checking in from Cal to Welch Mark Pope won his first 11 home games as Kentucky basketball coach ... last month's win over in-state rival Louisville). "For him to be in this game — like this ...

Notable notes, stats that stand out, and emerging trends as college basketball closes out the month of January.

John Calipari's anticipated return to Kentucky is just 1 of the 10 things Neil Blackmon is overreacting to this week in SEC basketball.

If Arkansas beats Kentucky on Saturday, I can see a movie in the works: Call it "The Calipari Redemption," with speaking roles for Morgan Freeman as trail-blazing basketball coaches Nolan Richardson and Orlando "Tubby" Smith.

What will the fan reaction be when former Kentucky coach John Calipari returns Saturday night to Rupp Arena as Arkansas head man?