On Thursday, the Kentucky men’s basketball team unveiled their non-conference schedule. The team is set to participate in a total of 13 non-conference games, with nine of them taking place at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center and the remaining four to be played on the road.
Kentucky Wildcats: November 2023 fixtures
● 6th: New Mexico State
● 10th: Texas A&M Commerce
● 14th: Kansas (Neutral)
● 17TH: Seton Hall
● 20th: Saint Joseph’s
● 24th: Marshall
● 28th: Miami
Kentucky Wildcats: December 2023 fixtures
● 2nd: UNC Wilmington
● 9th: Penn (Neutral)
● 16th: North Carolina (Neutral)
● 21st: Louisville
● 29th: Illinois State
Kentucky Wildcats: February 2023 fixtures
● 10th: Gonzaga
The Wildcats often face a challenging schedule during non-conference play, but it’s respectable because it prepares the team for the tough SEC matchups.
Several of these opponents are expected to be ranked, providing a valuable opportunity for the Cats to gauge their abilities before the NCAA Tournament. These games are difficult examinations for the team and enjoyable experiences for the fans, creating a mutually beneficial outcome.
Securing victories against Gonzaga, Miami, North Carolina, and Kansas will prove difficult but positively impact the team’s seeding in March Madness. Exciting times await supporters of the Kentucky Wildcats as they embark on a thrilling basketball season.
Kentucky’s notable matchups outside of SE Conference play will kick off with a game against likely preseason #1 Kansas in Chi Town on Nov.14 for the Champions Classic. Other prominent opponents on the calendar include Miami on Nov.28 at Rupp Arena, North Carolina on Dec.16 in Atlanta for the CBS Sports Classic, Louisville on Dec.21 at the Yum Center, and Gonzaga on Feb.10 back at the Rupp Arena.
Kansas is regarded as the top team in college basketball for the 2023-24 season, as tipped by numerous power rankings from leading national sources and sportsbook odds. This doesn’t necessarily mean Kentucky sports betting promo codes won’t come into use, as the Cats’ are also tipped as a strong contender in the upcoming season. Miami, North Carolina, and Gonzaga also receive considerable preseason Top 25 rankings.
The UK roster
The Wildcats are predicted to be a six-seed in the preseason forecasts. Although the team has limited experience in college basketball, they are considered one of the strongest in terms of potential nationwide.
Kentucky’s head coach, Calipari, will start his fifteenth year at the helm and has recruited another top-ranked class. This group comprises eight first-year students, including projected NBA lottery picks Justin Edwards and D.J. Wagner, McDonald’s All-Americans Aaron Bradshaw and Reed Sheppard, and five-star guard Rob Dillingham. Additionally, late inclusions Joey Hart, Jordan Burks, Joey Hart, and Zvonimir Ivišić, a 7-ft-2-inch behemoth hailing from Croatia who’s played a pro level in Europe, have also joined the team. Ivišić is regarded as a potential NBA Draft selection next year.
Kentucky Wildcats 2023/24 Schedule: The biggest challenge
In the upcoming season, Kentucky basketball will face fresh challenges, and 10 of the 13 teams from their non-conference schedule participated in the Big Dance in 2023. The matchup against Kansas appears to be the most formidable obstacle among these games.
Once again, the Wildcats and Jayhawks are set to clash in the Champions Classic. Whenever these prestigious programs face each other, fans can expect an exciting game showcasing top-notch talent rarely seen in college basketball. In their previous matchups in the Champions Classic, Kentucky and Kansas emerged victorious twice, creating a 2-2 tie. Kansas has claimed victory in the last two meetings, while Kentucky dominated the initial two encounters with commanding leads. The upcoming season’s outcome will play a crucial role, at least until the 2025 Champions Classic.
The Jayhawks are poised to be among the top five teams in the preseason and may even secure the number one ranking at the beginning of the season. Bill Self has recruited another group of talented freshmen and successfully landed highly-regarded transfer Hunter Dickinson, who had previously shown interest in joining the Wildcats. This acquisition may be a bitter pill to swallow for Kansas State.