Louisville Basketball: Top 3 non-conference opponents in 2023-24 schedule

1. Kentucky Wildcats, December 21st 2023

I’m not sure I could talk about Louisville’s non-conference schedule without talking about the Kentucky Wildcats. Louisville beat the Wildcats in 2020 but haven’t beat them in a non covid game since 2016. Kentucky will have one of the best teams in college basketball next season and John Calipari’s recruiting class may be his best in Kentucky history. Kentucky has not necessarily struggled in the last few seasons, but have not been up to true UK standards in recent years. Kentucky tore apart Louisville last season ending with a 86-63 UK win.

Kentucky has the number 1 ranked recruiting class this year unanimously, as they bring in the number one point guard, center, and small forward from the class: Dj Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw, and Justin Edwards. While Kentucky also brings in 4-star transfer Tre Mitchell from West Virginia, and retaining players like Jacob Toppin, Sahvir Wheeler, and Antonio Reeves. Louisville has the 6th ranked recruiting class for next season, and while it is a very good and talented class, Kentucky will be very good next year.

Even though Louisville should improve greatly this season with the transfers and recruits they gain, Kentucky will have great players all around and will more than likely prove they are the better team when the two rivals meet up. However, Louisville should put up a fight against the Cats in 2023. Dennis Evans and Skyy Clark against DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw will be the matchup to watch as they are both the highly touted players on both teams and they will go head-to-head at their respected positions.

The game will also be the first game between Louisville and Kentucky at the KFC Yum Center with a crowd since 2019. Kenny Payne will have the crowd behind him and coaching his first game against the Wildcats on Louisville turf will surely be a special day for him and Cardinal fans alike.

If Louisville can keep the game close or even pull off an upset against the Cats, fans would be ecstatic about the rest of the season and more optimistic about Kenny Payne’s future here. Payne needs to get a grip on these early non-conference teams to establish a different culture from last season.

If Payne can win these three games the Cardinals will be in good shape for ACC play in January. Even if the Cardinals can keep it close, it will show a lot of improvement and create more optimism surrounding the program going into the 2023-24 college basketball season.