Manhattan Faces Kentucky in College Hoops Opener

The Manhattan Jaspers and Kentucky Wildcats will meet Tuesday in the opening game of their 2026-27 college basketball seasons. The game will take place at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, starting at 7 p.m. ET.

Manhattan, which competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, finished last season with a 12-20 overall record and an 8-12 mark in conference play. The team will be led by guard Ben Pearce, who joined after being named the Division III National Player of the Year at the Emory Bearcats.

Kentucky, one of the most storied programs in college basketball, will be entering its third season under coach Mark Pope. The team lost four starters but added several top transfers, including forward Milan Momcilovic from Iowa State and center Malachi Moreno, who returned to college after testing the draft waters.

This will be the first time the two schools meet. Kentucky is expected to be a strong contender, with its new additions and high expectations. Manhattan, however, faces a challenging matchup against a team with a storied history and significant talent.