Kentucky, Gonzaga announce home-and-home series starting this season

The big-time announcement is indeed big, my friends. John Calipari and Mark Few just announced the start of a Kentucky-Gonzaga home-and-home series. The Cats will travel to Spokane to play the Bulldogs this season, on Sunday, November 20, the day after the Kentucky vs. Georgia football game. Gonzaga will come to Rupp Arena during the 2023-24 season. The announcement came during Kentucky Basketball’s open practice and flood relief telethon at Rupp Arena, with Few appearing on the jumbotron.

“Here’s the problem,” Calipari joked with Few. “You’re the No. 1 team in the country and we’ve got to go to you. Let me ask you this. Maybe this is crazy. Will you come back here the following year, or are you just saying it’s a one-game shot in Spokane?”

“We will absolutely come back,” Few said. “We’ve never played in Rupp Arena and it would be awesome.”

This will be the second-ever meeting between Kentucky and Gonzaga. In 2002, the No. 15 Cats beat the No. 20 Bulldogs 80-72 to claim third place in the Maui Invitational. Keith Bogans led the Cats with 18 points, while Blake Stepp had 24 for the Bulldogs. According to Corey Price, excluding UCLA, next year’s game at Rupp will be Kentucky’s first home game against a ranked opponent from the west coast since December 4, 1961, when the Cats played No. 4 USC at Memorial Coliseum.

Two preseason top three squads. John Calipari vs. Mark Few. Oscar Tshiebwe vs. Drew Timme. Awesome.

Kentucky’s 2022-23 Non-Conference Schedule

Here is Kentucky’s 2022-23 non-conference schedule as we know it:

• TBA: Duquesne | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
• Nov. 15 (Tue.): Michigan State (Champions Classic) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Nov. 18 (Fri.): North Florida | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
• Nov. 20 (Sun.): Gonzaga | McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA
• Nov. 29 (Tue.): Bellarmine | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
• Dec. 4 (Sun.): Michigan (Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase) | The O2 Arena, London, England
• Dec. 17 (Sat.): UCLA (CBS Sports Classic) | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Dec. 31 (Sat.): Louisville | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
• Jan. 28 (Sat.): Kansas (Big 12/SEC Challenge) | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY