Kentucky plans to wear denim uniforms in 2025-26 -- potentially multiple times

Mark Pope holds up his old jersey at his introductory press conference - Aaron Perkins, Kentucky Sports Radio

Mark Pope hasn’t been shy about his love for the infamous denim uniforms his 1996 national championship team wore at Kentucky to wrap up his time in college. It was an unconventional look, but the Wildcats went on one of the most dominant runs in college basketball history wearing them, so it’s hard to argue with the results, right?

He brought back his own No. 41 denim uniform to his introductory press conference, then openly discussed the Cats wearing them at some point sooner rather than later — whenever they could cut through all of the red tape to make it happen.

“Can I tell you this? I’m not really allowed to say this, so it’s just between the two of us: I’m working on it,” Pope said in December. “It’s amazing the red tape that we have to go through to make this happen, but we’re pretty passionate about trying to make that happen. We’ll see what we come up with. It’s definitely on my agenda of things to get accomplished.”

Kentucky didn’t wear the denims in Pope’s debut season, but we know they exist and will be unveiled at some point. When? Well, considering it’s the 30th anniversary of the 1995-96 title team, there is no better time than now. Say, Pope vs. Rick Pitino and the St. John’s Red Storm in the CBS Sports Classic on Dec. 20? That’s a layup.

But what if I told you the plan is to wear them multiple times this season to celebrate the big anniversary?

Pope hosted his second annual Hoops and Heels event alongside his wife, Lee Anne, inside Historic Memorial Coliseum this weekend. There, a few hundred women joined the Wildcats to watch practice and meet the team with autographs and pictures, along with listening in on a Q&A with the Popes.

When the topic of the denims came up with fans, Pope revealed that we shouldn’t view the special edition uniforms as a one-time deal, KSR has learned. If he has it his way, the Cats will sport the retro look on several occasions.

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Who knows, maybe they just rock them the rest of the way like the ’96 team did en route to banner No. 6?

The denim movement is very much real, even beyond the uniforms. We just saw Devin Booker gift his former school a team set of denim Book 1 sneakers, modeled by Harlan County’s finest Trent Noah back in September.

“Throwing it back to ’96,” the Wildcats wrote on social media.

Throwing it back to '96 😼

Thanks, @DevinBook, for the 🔥 kicks. pic.twitter.com/xyvMBCh3ap
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) September 26, 2025

To really bring it all together, though, Converse is bringing back its iconic Cons Blue “Denim” shoe, the exact sneaker worn by the ’96 championship team as it won 34 games and defeated Syracuse in the title game. Sole Retriever reports the denim shoes will be available at select retailers both online and in-store in the spring/summer of 2026 to celebrate the 30th anniversary.

BREAKING: The Converse Cons Blue “Denim,” made to coincide with Kentucky’s iconic denim uniforms in 1996, are releasing in Spring/Summer 2026 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary 👖 pic.twitter.com/jNzea93Nwd
— Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) July 31, 2025

You remember Collin Chandler posting a workout video of himself wearing denim Kentucky shorts? That was in May, part of the soft launch of the debut/return of these legendary uniforms at some point or another this season.