CRAWFORD | Kansas 89, Kentucky 69: Different players, same problems for Mark Pope

The University of Kentucky basketball team suffered an 89-69 defeat against Kansas at the Champions Classic held in Chicago. According to ESPN, the game took place on November 10, 2026. The New York Times reported that Tyran Stokes chose Kansas over Kentucky, and the Jayhawks' romp over the Wildcats demonstrated why. Yahoo Sports referred to the event as part of "The Daily Mauling 11.11.26". WDRB noted that the contest featured different players but the same problems for Mark Pope, while the Lexington Herald Leader stated that getting smoked by Kansas was not what the UK coach needed. Sports Illustrated reported that Mark Pope described his team's performance by saying, "Our response was disjointed."

Prior to this matchup, UKAthletics reported that No. 24 Kentucky won its first two games of the season. The Wildcats rolled past Manhattan 85-57 behind 24 points from Milan Momcilovic, who made six of nine from behind the arc. Zoom Diallo scored 12 points, and Alex Wilkins contributed 11 points, seven steals, and five assists. Kentucky shot 32 of 60 from the floor at 53.3 percent, including 12 of 31 from three-point range at 38.7 percent. In their second game, the Wildcats fought hard to get past James Madison 89-80, placing five players in double figures. Diallo and Wilkins each scored 16 points, Justin McBride scored 13 against his former team, Mason Williams came off the bench for 12 points, and Braydon Hawthorne added 10.

Meanwhile, UKAthletics reported that Kansas also entered the game at 2-0 after beating Fordham 95-65 with 22 points from Tre White and 15 points each from Tyran Stokes and Leroy Blyden. On Friday, the Jayhawks defeated Middle Tennessee 89-44 behind 17 points from Trey Kaufman-Renn, getting 46 points off the bench in that win. Before the Champions Classic game, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope expressed high respect for Kansas head coach Bill Self, calling him an incredible leader who has evolved and reinvented himself over and over again. The Champions Classic event at the United Center also featured Duke playing against Michigan State.