Little Rock basketball to play Kentucky in exhibition on Friday

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KLRT) - The Little Rock Trojans are ready to get the 2026-27 basketball season underway, and they'll get an early opportunity to see how they stack up against one of college basketball's top programs.

Little Rock will travel to Lexington this week for an exhibition matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena, the alma mater of Trojans head coach Travis Ford. The Trojans will officially open the regular season on the road against VCU.

For Ford, the trip to Kentucky brings back plenty of memories. There's also some familiar faces to him on the Wildcats' coaching staff, including head coach Mark Pope and John Pelphrey, two of his former teammates. Pelphrey was Ford's college roommate for two years.

"I'm excited to go back, you know, incredible memories at Kentucky," Ford said. "But most importantly, I'm excited to take my team to Rupp Arena for them to experience it and to see where we're at as a team. We need to get better because of this game, but also enjoy the atmosphere."

While the opportunity to play in one of college basketball's most recognizable venues is exciting, the Trojans will face a significant challenge against Kentucky's size and talent.

Ford described the Wildcats as potentially the biggest team in the country, pointing to a starting lineup featuring players ranging from 6'6' to 7'1'.

"They're probably the biggest team in America," Ford said. "Every starter is going to be six-six or taller. Their point guard is six-six, two guard is six-seven, three man is six-nine, four man is seven foot, starting center is seven-one."

Little Rock enters the season with a revamped roster featuring 14 new players, one returning player and a new head coach. With the regular season approaching, Friday's exhibition will give Ford an early look at where his team stands and what areas need improvement.

"We'll be a lot better team in January than we will be right now," Ford said. "A lot that everybody's still figuring out. They've been a joy to work with. I'm excited for the season to get here."

The Trojans and Wildcats are scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. Friday in Lexington.