3 Takeaways from Kentucky Basketball's SEC Schedule

We already knew Kentucky’s SEC opponents for the upcoming season; today, we finally got the dates they’ll play them. The Cats kick off conference play on December 28 at Missouri and wrap up the regular season on March 4 at Arkansas. Let’s take a closer look at those 18 games, which could culminate with Kentucky winning its 50th SEC regular-season championship.

Kentucky Basketball’s 2022-23 SEC Schedule

In addition to its annual home-and-away opponents of Florida, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, Kentucky will play Arkansas and Georgia twice this season. The Cats will only play Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Missouri on the road and Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, and Texas A&M at home.

Dec. 28	Wed.	at Missouri	Columbia, Mo. (Mizzou Arena)
Jan. 3	Tues.	LSU	Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
Jan. 7	Sat.	at Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Coleman Coliseum)
Jan. 10	Tues.	SOUTH CAROLINA	Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
Jan. 14	Sat.	at Tennessee	Knoxville, Tenn. (Thompson-Boling Arena)
Jan. 17	Tues.	GEORGIA	Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
Jan. 21	Sat.	TEXAS A&M	Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
Jan. 24	Tues.	at Vanderbilt	Nashville, Tenn. (Memorial Gymnasium)
Jan. 31	Tues.	at Ole Miss	Oxford, Miss. (Pavilion at Ole Miss)
Feb. 4	Sat.	FLORIDA	Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
Feb. 7	Tues.	ARKANSAS	Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
Feb. 11	Sat.	at Georgia	Athens, Ga. (Stegeman Coliseum)
Feb. 15	Wed.	at Mississippi State	Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Feb. 18	Sat.	TENNESSEE	Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
Feb. 22	Wed.	at Florida	Gainesville, Fla. (Stephen O’Connell Center)
Feb. 25	Sat.	AUBURN	Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
March 1	Wed.	VANDERBILT	Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
March 4	Sat.	at Arkansas	Fayetteville, Ark. (Bud Walton Arena)

Here’s what stood out to me:

January: Big Saturday road games

Kentucky will face two of its biggest tests on back-to-back Saturdays in January. On Jan. 7, the Cats travel to Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are ranked No. 20 in ESPN’s Preseason Top 25. Five-star freshman Brandon Miller led Alabama in scoring on the Crimson Tide’s international trip and Nimari Burnett returns from an ACL injury. After a midweek home game vs. South Carolina, the Cats will head to Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers, who are No. 12 in ESPN’s rankings. Given the recent history between the Cats and the Vols, I don’t need to remind you this will be a tough game.

February: Big Saturday home games

In February, Kentucky will host four marquee opponents at Rupp: Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Auburn. Three of those games — Florida (Feb. 4), Tennessee (Feb. 18), and Auburn (Feb. 25) — fall on Saturdays, which should lead to incredible atmospheres. Kentucky only plays Auburn in Rupp this year to make up for last year’s sole matchup being at Auburn. Bruce Pearl and the Tigers lost Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler to the NBA but added freshman Yohan Traore and Morehead State transfer Johni Broome. Seeing how those two go up against Oscar Tshiebwe and Kentucky’s frontcourt will be must-see TV.

The regular-season finale at Arkansas will be nuts

Kentucky typically ends the regular season vs. Florida or Tennessee, but the scheduling gods threw us all a bone by sending the Cats to Fayetteville for a March 4 showdown with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Even though JD Notae and Jaylin Williams are off to the NBA, Eric Musselman’s squad is still in the top ten of ESPN’s preseason rankings. Arkansas is 3-0 vs. Kentucky in Bud Walton Arena when both teams are ranked. The Cats lost by two last year in Fayetteville despite 30 points and 18 rebounds from Oscar Tshiebwe. From a sheer entertainment standpoint, I can’t think of a better way to get ready for the postseason.

Your turn. What stands out to you about Kentucky’s SEC schedule? (By the way, the entire 2022-23 slate should be released soon.)