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NCAA Basketball: 5 toughest non-conference schedules for 2018-19

By Brian Rauf

LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 18: Kansas Jayhawks fans hoist a giant flag during the game between the Siena Saints and the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on November 18, 2016 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 18: Kansas Jayhawks fans hoist a giant flag during the game between the Siena Saints and the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on November 18, 2016 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats speaks to PJ Washington #25 in the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats speaks to PJ Washington #25 in the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2. Kentucky

Home: Monmouth, UNCG, Utah, Kansas
Neutral: Duke, Seton Hall, UNC
Away: Louisville

Kentucky still has yet to officially fill out their non-conference schedule, but the meat of it is already in place – and, in typical John Calipari fashion, it’s extremely tough.

Related Story. Analyzing Kentucky's 2018-19 rotation. light

The Wildcats are scheduled to play three teams expected to be ranked in the preseason top 10 and only one of them – Kansas – will come at Rupp Arena (and we have to wait until January 26th to see that matchup). We already briefly discussed Kentucky’s opener against Duke in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis, but they’ll also take on North Carolina in Chicago on December 22nd as part of the CBS Sports Classic.

Throw in a road game against a team as talented as Louisville along with another neutral site game vs. Seton Hall and you have yourself a tough schedule.

That said, the other three opponents currently slated to come to Rupp Arena aren’t exactly slouches, either. UNC-Greensboro made the NCAA Tournament last year and was seconds away from upsetting Gonzaga, while Utah is expected to finish in the top half of the Pac-12.

Kentucky will likely face some more cupcakes as the rest of their non-conference becomes official, but it’s already one of the toughest in the country.

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