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Kentucky Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Wildcats

By Brian Rauf

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 06: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Tennessee Volunteers during the game at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 06: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Tennessee Volunteers during the game at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils gives instructions to his team against the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at the United Center on November 14, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Duke defeated Michigan State 88-81. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils gives instructions to his team against the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at the United Center on November 14, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Duke defeated Michigan State 88-81. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Non-conference schedule

Nov. 6: vs. Duke (in Indianapolis)
Nov. 9: Southern Illinois
Nov. 14: North Dakota
Nov. 18: VMI
Nov. 21: Winthrop
Nov. 23: Tennessee State
Nov. 28: Monmouth
Dec. 1: UNC-Greensboro
Dec. 8: vs. Seton Hall (in New York, NY)
Dec. 15: Utah
Dec. 22: vs. North Carolina (in Chicago)
Dec. 29: at Louisville
Jan. 26: Kansas

The Wildcats don’t play in an early-season tournament but still have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the entire country.

Neutral site games are a major part of that schedule as Calipari tries to prepare his team for NCAA Tournament-like atmospheres.

They’ll get perhaps their toughest test of the year in the season opener against Duke. The Blue Devils and Wildcats reeled in the No. 1 and No. 2 recruiting classes, respectively, and it will be an instant measuring stick not only for both teams but for NBA Draft stock of those top prospects. This has also developed into quite the rivalry because of those recruiting battles and the overall talent on both rosters.

The next seven games are all ones the Wildcats should win easily (though UNCG might provide a tougher-than-expected contest) before their non-conference really ramps up in December. Of course, we know what to expect whenever Kentucky and Louisville get together, while a showdown with North Carolina could be a Final Four preview. Seton Hall and Utah aren’t slouches, either, as both programs have NCAA Tournament expectations.

Kentucky won’t officially close their non-conference schedule until the SEC/Big 12 Challenge in January when they host Kansas, which has become a yearly matchup because of the status of each in their respective conferences. It will also mark UK’s third game against a team ranked in the preseason top 10.

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