John Calipari says Kentucky is planning trip to the Bahamas this summer

The Kentucky men’s basketball team will be taking not one, but two international trips in 2022. The Wildcats’ trip to London was rescheduled and officially announced Monday morning, with Kentucky scheduled to take on Michigan in the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase in December.

Now, it appears a summer trip to the Bahamas is also in the works.

During John Calipari’s weekly call-in radio show, the UK head coach announced the return trip, the team’s first since its four-game, eight-day excursion to the Bahamas in 2018.

“My belief is, I think this summer we will play in the Bahamas,” Calipari said. “How many of you went to the Bahamas with us? It was a great trip. I mean, we had 2-3,000 people follow us to the Bahamas, it was crazy. It was on national television in August. So that’s another thing that is in the works, we’ve been discussing to see how we do it.”

Kentucky first traveled to the Bahamas in 2014 prior to its historic undefeated regular season and 38-0 start, the first time Calipari rolled out the platoon system. Then the Wildcats returned in 2018, going 4-0 in the eight-day summer trip.

“Remember that? That team, we platooned; it was the first time we platooned,” Calipari said. “We did it to see if it would work in the Bahamas, except we did it in a gym that was like 105 degrees. You could only play half a game because you sweat so much. That’s the first time we did it, and then we came back with Tyler Herro, Keldon (Johnson), PJ (Washington), that group.”

UK also played a regular-season matchup against Arizona State in the Bahamas back in 2016, steamrolling the Sun Devils by a final score of 115-69.

“Malik (Monk), I remember somebody threw a crazy pass to somebody up the sideline, dunk up the court,” Calipari added. “We had a bunch of people go to that game!”

No further details on the summer exhibition trip have been released at this time.

As for Kentucky’s trip to London, the Wildcats are set to take on the Wolverines in the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022 at the O2 Arena. The event will feature Marist College vs. the University of Maine at 3:30 p.m. London time/10:30 a.m. ET, followed by Kentucky vs. Michigan at 6 p.m. London time/1 p.m. ET.

Kentucky’s trip to London was originally scheduled for Dec. 2020, but was postponed due to COVID-19.

“When we announced this game a few years ago, we were excited to be able to do something different – to be first, which our fans know we loved to do – and play this game in London,” Calipari said in a press release. “Our world has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, and I’m hopeful we are finally able to do this. I know our fans have been anticipating this game and will show up in full force, but this will also be an unforgettable experience for our players both on and off the court. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is known for putting together first-class events and I am confident this will be another one.” 

Tickets go on sale March 4 at 4 a.m. ET (9 a.m. in London [GMT]) online through AXS.com and The O2 Arena. Current season ticket holders will have access to an exclusive UK presale beginning Thursday, March 3 at 4 a.m. ET (9 a.m. GMT). Season ticket holders will receive an email with details about the presale. 

General public tickets will be priced between £35 to £200 (approximately $45 to $260) and will include entry into both games. Limited floor and VIP seating may also be available. Everyone will require a ticket, regardless of age. All tickets will be delivered in the O2 app through flash mobile delivery. All tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

Bahamas and London in 2022. Who’s ready?