Mid-October is officially here, which means the most exciting day of the year for Kentucky fans is coming up: the first game of the basketball season. This year

Here’s one thing we do know: This will be a very experienced Kentucky men’s basketball team. Certainly one of the more experienced Kentucky basketball teams in recent memory, if not program history. The catch is all that basketball experience was earned at other places, in other environments, playing for other coaches.

The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team will enter its inaugural season under new head coach Kenny Brooks as one of the top 25 teams in the nation. The Wildcats were ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press preseason media poll announced Tuesday.

After the preseason AP Poll was released on Monday afternoon, the media in the SEC released their predicted order of finish as well as the All-SEC preseason teams. Basketball season is almost here, and it sounds like Mark Pope will have plenty to prove in his first season in Lexington.

Mark Pope’s first Kentucky basketball team will add to the all-time list of Wildcats born outside the United States.