Takeaways from Kentucky WBB's non-conference schedule

Following the release of Kentucky women’s basketball’s full schedule, it’s time to break it down. When the SEC schedule came out, KSR came up with some takeaways regarding the SEC schedule specifically.

Now, we do some takeaways for the non-conference part of the schedule.

Healthy mix of “cupcakes” thrown in there

First things first, the “stinky teams”, as we would call them.

These are the games that Kentucky should win easily with little to no stress at all. The ‘Cats open up their season against USC Upstate on November 4th, and the games against Wofford (Nov. 12), Purdue Fort Wayne (Nov. 18), and Queens (Dec. 9) should all be games in which Kentucky wins handily.

Winner of Cats vs Cards lands ZaKiyah Johnson?

Just roughly a month ago, a source told KSR that five-star wing ZaKiyah Johnson plans on announcing her college commitment on November 23rd — her birthday. Johnson, the No. 4 player in the 2025 class in On3’s Women’s Basketball Recruiting Rankings, is a native of Shelbyville, KY, and goes to school at Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville.

Kentucky and Louisville are two of six teams competing for a commitment with Johnson. The ‘Cats and the Cards will square off in Memorial Coliseum on November 16th, a week before Johnson’s planned commitment date. Perhaps the winner in that game will land the highly-coveted in-state star.

Unknown opponents in the Music City Classic

If you looked at KSR’s schedule graphic and saw “TBD” on November 26th and 27th, that’s because Kentucky will be playing in the Music City Classic in Nashville, TN during that time.

However, the ‘Cats will find out who they play at a later date. But hey, who’s opposed to an excuse to go to Nashville?!

Tar Heels on the road is a good opportunity

In the SEC/ACC Challenge, Kentucky will be taking on North Carolina in Chapel Hill, which will serve as a great opportunity for Kentucky to build on its resume.

This will almost certainly end up being the most difficult non-conference game on the schedule, but if Kentucky can pull off the win, then their NCAA Tournament resume starts to look a whole lot better.

Home-and-homes with Purdue and Belmont are intriguing

Purdue and Belmont are two teams that have been more or less average over the last few seasons. Kentucky has scheduled a home-and-home series with both programs, with the Purdue game being on the road while the ‘Cats will host the Bruins in Memorial Coliseum this season.

That Purdue away game could be a tricky one if Kentucky doesn’t show up ready to play, but the ‘Cats should come away with wins in each of those contests.

Playing NKU and WKU are nice

For the folks in the Bluegrass that are not in the Lexington area, this is nice.

Kentucky and Western Kentucky will do a home-and-home series with each other, with the Hilltoppers coming to Lexington this season. Northern Kentucky will also play at Memorial Coliseum in this matchup, but there isn’t a home-and-home series in place in this case.

Kentucky can’t lose more than two non-conference games

With the SEC being as tough as it is, Kentucky can’t really afford to lose more than two of its non-conference games.

Louisville and North Carolina are far and away the two toughest teams in the non-conference (assuming Kentucky doesn’t play a Top 15 team in Nashville). With the Cardinals coming to town, that’s one that Kentucky needs to get. Then, the ‘Cats could afford to lose the game against the Tar Heels as long as they don’t drop one they shouldn’t.

The Kenny Brooks era is finally here, folks.