We are still waiting on the official release of the Kentucky men’s basketball schedule but that news should be coming in the near future.
In addition to a competitive SEC slate, Kentucky’s non-conference schedule includes notable matchups with Kansas, North Carolina, Miami, and Gonzaga.
According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Kentucky, and Gonzaga will step out of conference play and play during the back half of the regular season, not in November or December. That game will take place at Rupp Arena, giving fans an out-of-conference home date to be excited about.
The move makes sense for a young Kentucky team, as it provides an opportunity to be evaluated vs. a non-conference opponent later in the season. A date that makes sense is the final weekend of January which was once an annual date for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. With that challenge no longer active, you could see the Wildcats and Bulldogs slide into that slot with a primetime non-conference showdown.
Here is what we do know about the Wildcats non-conference schedule.
- Nov. 6: vs. New Mexico State | Rupp Arena
- Nov. 14: vs. Kansas | Champions Classic | United Center, Chicago, IL
- Nov. 20: vs. St. Joe’s | Rupp Arena
- Nov. 24: vs. Marshall | Rupp Arena
- Nov. 28: vs. Miami | ACC/SEC Challenge | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- Dec. 2: vs. UNC Wilmington | Rupp Arena
- Dec. 16: vs. North Carolina | CBS Sports Classic | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
- Dec. 21 at Louisville | KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
- Dec. 29 vs. Illinois State | Rupp Arena
- TBA: vs. Gonzaga | Rupp Arena
- TBA: vs. Stonehill | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- TBA: vs. Texas A&M University-Commerce | Rupp Arena
