LEXINGTON — Kentucky basketball isn't undefeated in openers at storied Rupp Arena .

But it's pretty darn close.

Entering tonight's 2025-26 lid lifter versus Nicholls , UK is 45-4 all time in openers at Rupp. That's a winning percentage of 91.8. It hasn't lost Game 1 at Rupp since 2008 ( a 111-103 defeat to Virginia Military Institute ). The only other setbacks in Rupp openers were to Western Kentucky (in 2001 ), Penn State (in 2000 ) and Northwestern State (in 1988 ). Watch Kentucky basketball's opener vs. Nicholls

Tonight marks the first time the Wildcats have faced the Colonels.

Nicholls is entering its third season under Tevon Saddler , who at 30 years old is the youngest head coach in Division I men's basketball. He's helped the Colonels to back-to-back 20-win sea

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