The Hardest SEC Opener in Modern Kentucky History?

Here is the short answer to the question above: HELL YES. Tomorrow’s game against 6th-ranked Florida will be just the fourth time Kentucky has opened SEC play against a ranked opponent since the league first expanded in 1992. That is 32 years of games with 28 coming against unranked foes. 21 of the 32 games have also come in comfy Rupp Arena. So typically the SEC schedule makers have made it for an easy start to league play for the Cats.

But not this year. And frankly, it’s not surprising. The league is so good that there were only a few teams you could comfortably schedule the Cats against to ensure an easier game. Plus, the Gators were just 21st in the preseason poll, so they have far exceeded expectations.

Just look through the years at some of these cupcakes the Cats have played, with the harder games highlighted:

1992: at South Carolina (Win, 80-63)
1993: at Georgia (Win, 74-59)

1994: #22 Vanderbilt (Win, 107-82)

The 22nd-ranked Commodores rolled into Rupp Arena confident they could challenge the SEC’s top team. They walked away with a humbling 25-point loss. The bigger story from this game was the season-ending injury to Rodney Dent. But the 4th-ranked Wildcats walked away with a convincing win.

1995: Auburn (Win, 98-64)
1996: at South Carolina (Win, 89-60)
1997: Tennessee (Win, 74-40)
1998: Vanderbilt (Win, 71-62)
1999: Florida (Win, 93-58)
2000: Vanderbilt (Win, 72-52)
2001: Georgia (Win, 67-63)

2002: at Mississippi State (Loss, 74-69)

Yes, the Bulldogs were unranked coming into this game. But they were also 13-1 and would end up a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. This game was also memorable for Kentucky blowing a 21-2 lead to open the game and a 16-point lead at halftime. It was Kentucky’s first loss in an SEC opener in 16 years.

2003: at Tennessee (Win 73-71)

2004: #20 Vanderbilt (Win 75-63)

It was the Commodores again for a ranked matchup to open conference play. And once again, Kentucky pulled away late for a double-digit victory.

2005: South Carolina (Win, 79-75)
2006: Vanderbilt (Loss, 57-52)
2007: at Ole Miss (Win, 68-58)

2008: #13 Vanderbilt (Win 79-73, 2ot)

This was a UK team that came into the game 6-7 so beating a ranked Commodores team in a gritty double-overtime game was huge for Billy Gillispie’s first team. Also, are we sending a theme with playing Vandy’s best teams to open conference play?

2009: Vanderbilt (Win 70-60)
2010: Georgia (Win, 76-68)
2011: at Georgia (Loss, 77-70)
2012: South Carolina (Win, 79-64)
2013: at Vanderbilt (Win 70-68)
2014: Mississippi State (Win, 85-63)
2015: Ole Miss (Win, 89-86, ot)
2016: Ole Miss (Win, 83-61)
2017: at Ole Miss (Win, 99-76)
2018: Georgia (Win, 66-61)
2019: at Alabama (Loss, 77-75)
2020: Missouri (Win, 71-59)
2021: at Mississippi State (Win, 78-73, 2 ot)
2022: Missouri (Win, 83-56)
2023: at Missouri (Loss, 89-75)

2024: at Florida (Win, 87-85)

This Gators team did end up an NCAA Tournament squad but they were not a particularly amazing opponent. The fact the Wildcats had to go on the road to open SEC play made it more difficult than a normal opponent though. And they pulled through with a very gutsy win.

How about one of the wackier stats in recent Kentucky history? The only three games UK has played against a ranked opponent to open SEC play have all been against Vanderbilt, of all teams. Nonetheless, that will change tomorrow when the Gators come into town. The absolute best opponent UK has played to open conference play in modern history.

I think this is a very big game for Mark Pope and what this program can be. In the program’s heights, you didn’t lose this game. Good teams come into Rupp Arena and walk away with losses. That is what it has to be. And then you need to open conference play on the right foot, especially at home.