Ranking Kentucky's non-conference away games as travel destinations

The officially official non-conference schedule for Kentucky basketball dropped and it is full of quality home games. Season ticket holders who have griped over a less-than-marquee home slate in the past are now giddy with the likes of Gonzaga stepping onto the Rupp Arena hardwood. But for those who like to travel to away or neutral site games, let’s break those down.

This ranking isn’t necessarily basketball-related. Zack Geoghegan did a good job of that already. But simply from a travel standpoint, which games will be most worth the trip?

Clearly, last year the Michigan game was the top dog in this category, as watching Kentucky basketball in London, England was quite brilliant. It didn’t hurt that it coincided with the World Cup and cheering on the USA in a British pub full of ‘Cat fans was an incredible experience.

While the only international trip this year is already in the books, there are still some quality trips to consider.

4. Penn in Philadelphia

Even though Tyrese Maxey compares Philadelphia’s rabid sports fans to Big Blue Nation in terms of passion, that is about where the similarities end. Philly as a city ranks fairly low on places I’d like to return and its shining beacons of tourist sites include a broken bell and a statue of a fictional boxer. And for my money, they can keep their greasy cheesesteaks.

Kentucky plays a team they will likely beat by 100, so if competitive games are your jam, seek another game to attend. Moreover, because Penn is an Ivy League school, I am already cringing at the inevitable and wretched “smart kids versus dumb kids” take that rose to popularity when Kentucky played Cornell in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Cue up the famous Demarcus Cousins quote, “It ain’t a spelling bee.”

If you do attend and love basketball in general, UCLA versus Villanova comes with the ticket package. The doubleheader will take place on December 9th, and Matt Jones hinted on the radio last week that KSR may make a road trip out of the event.

Ultimately, this game feels like a favor for the New Jersey players on the team, similar to when Kentucky played Portland as a service to Terrance Jones during the 2010-11 season. For me, though, this trip ranks last on the list this season for travel destination desirability.

3. Louisville in Louisville

There is no greater schadenfreude than basking in Louisville’s misery. Last year’s squad went 4-28, a season so bad that not even the program’s biggest haters could have predicted. This season, all signs point toward more of the same for Kentucky’s little brother down the road as the Cardinals have already seen the bizarre early departure of an incoming freshman billed as their would-be best player.

So, will it be fun to watch DJ Wagner and company stomp on an injured bird in its own nest to fully put it out of its misery? Absolutely. That alone will be worth the trip. But most Kentuckians have been to the city of Louisville enough times to the point it doesn’t bring anything new and exciting. Largely, Wildcat fans venturing up I-64 for the game will likely head straight back to Lexington afterward while listening to Matt Jones recap the beatdown on the postgame show.

Louisville the city is a fine place to visit, and I’d rather go there than Philadelphia, but the joy of watching the Cards falter in person doesn’t win out over the next two cities on the list.

2. Kansas in Chicago

Blue blood matchups between two of college basketball’s most historic programs are undeniably awesome. With that said, this game gets a slight knock due to some recency bias of the home-and-home series Kentucky enjoyed with the Jayhawks the last few seasons.

For example, traveling to Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence should be a bucket list item for all college basketball fans. The atmosphere within that arena during big-time games simply can’t be beaten. To be a speck of opposing team dust in a cloud of Gregorian chants is an all-consuming experience you cannot forget. What is even better is watching Kentucky beat Kansas on their home court as they did in 2022 before Bill Self got them rolling in March on their way to a title.

This game, however, is not in Lawrence. It is in Chicago, a marvelous city for the most part, though I personally think the deep-dish pizza is a little overhyped and the game will take place in the dead of winter.

It will be a double-header with Duke and Michigan State, so your expensive ticket will at least score you two games. However, having seen my fair share of these in person, I can confirm that sitting in an arena for five hours is a long time.

Still, the Champions Classic is a great event despite Kentucky’s recent struggles in it. The doubleheader brings a different kind of crowd, typically that of transplant fans from around the country eager to watch their team in person for what might be the only time all year.

So, if you haven’t gone, check it out, but trust me: skip the deep dish.

1. North Carolina in Atlanta

The CBS Sports Classic is making its Atlanta debut and my tickets are already purchased. Atlanta is the perfect combination of southern charm and urban amenities. It’s like a more metropolitan Nashville without the chaos of Broadway. The food is underrated and the quantity of stuff to do is tremendous.

Even better, it is a relatively short drive for most Kentuckians and fans from North Carolina, so expect the arena to be quite full. Not all Champions Classics of the past can say that. While the second game of the event, UCLA vs. Ohio State isn’t going to wow anyone, it will serve as a fine warmup band for the headliner. You won’t even feel like you need to get there to see its first half.

Taking place on a Saturday nine days before Christmas, I can see it turning into Cat-lanta with hoards of Kentucky fans making one more trip before settling in for the holidays. Plus, there are only two home games in December (the 2nd and the 29th), so a trek down to the Big Peach on December 16 would be a good way to scratch that live basketball itch.

Will North Carolina be good? Who knows. But they are brand-name enough that it doesn’t really matter and Kentucky could really use a CBS Classic win, having only won once in the last four years.

That’s it. I’m off to go make Atlanta dinner reservations.