Date set for next Louisville vs. Kentucky meeting

There will be no bowl game conflict when Kentucky and Louisville meet on the hardwood this matter. The Cats and Cards pretty much avoided bowl season completely.

On Thursday evening, Jon Rothstein reported that UK and UofL will lock horns in Downtown Louisville the week before Christmas.

Sources: Next season's annual game between Kentucky and Louisville will be Thursday, December 21st at the KFC Yum Center.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 2, 2023

The rivalry meeting that has often occurred post-Christmas around New Year’s Eve is now being played earlier in the year. For the first time since 2018-19, the KFC Yum! Center will host the yearly contest with no attendance limitations due to COVID-19.

Kentucky leads the all-time series 38-17. Under John Calipari, UK is 12-3 in the series with each loss occurring on the road in 2012-13, 2016-17, and 2020-21. Last season at Rupp Arena, Kentucky blasted Louisville 86-63 behind 24 points and 14 rebounds from Oscar Tshiebwe along with 24 points and seven rebounds from Jacob Toppin.

After a disastrous 4-28 season under first-year head coach Kenny Payne, the Cards desperately need to bounce back in 2023-24. The home game with Kentucky will be a big opportunity for this rebuilding ACC program.

Kentucky’s non-conference slate is almost complete

We are now starting to learn more about Kentucky’s non-conference scheduled in 2023-24. The contest in Louisville will be the third big game in December for the Wildcats following big November tilts against Kansas and Miami.

• Nov. 14: vs. Kansas | Champions Classic | United Center, Chicago, IL
• Nov. 20: vs. St. Joe’s | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
• Nov. 28: vs. Miami | ACC/SEC Challenge | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
• Dec. 2: vs. UNC Wilmington | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
• Dec. 16: vs. TBD | CBS Sports Classic | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Dec. 21 at Louisville | KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
• TBA: vs. Gonzaga | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY

A young Kentucky team will be challenged by strong Kansas and Miami squads before the first road game of the season right before Christmas.