Kentucky basketball position preview, Part 3: What to expect from the bigs

This is the final installment of a three-part series previewing expectations for each Kentucky basketball position group heading into the 2026-27 season, with the Wildcats set to play Little Rock in their exhibition opener at 7 p.m. tonight in Rupp Arena.

To start the week, we took a closer look at UK’s guard corps, and the second part of the series centered on the team’s wing players. Now, it’s time to go deeper into the frontcourt.

While Mark Pope’s squad is projected to be one of the most offensively efficient units in the country this season, defense and rebounding could be problem areas. That means this group will have to step it up, especially in the rough-and-tumble SEC.

Here’s what to expect of the Wildcats’ bigs:

Malachi Moreno

Class: Sophomore

Last season: 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 22.6 minutes per game at Kentucky

What to expect: As a freshman, Moreno outperformed expectations.

Going into his sophomore year, those expectations will be much higher for a player who had a chance to be a first-round NBA draft pick over the summer and will enter his second college basketball campaign as a third-team All-SEC selection.

That one-and-done draft buzz, as well as the early all-conference recognition, are predicated on Moreno making a major jump in Year 2, when he’ll need to realize much more of that potential that he flashed as a freshman.

There are some clear areas for realistic growth here.