This Week in Kentucky Basketball: Going Across the Pond

The 2022-2023 Kentucky Basketball team is getting good use of their passports. A late summer trip to the Bahamas allowed the Wildcats to play four games and get in 10 extra practices beforehand. Now, Coach Calipari and company pack their bags to head to London. The Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase will feature an undercard of Maine versus Marist before Kentucky tips off with Michigan. This matchup will be the ‘Cats next test against a high-major opponent. So far, UK has suffered losses to Michigan State and Gonzaga.

Before traveling across the pond, the Wildcats play host to Bellarmine on Tuesday while Michigan hosts Virginia on the same night. Fans of Kentucky may remember the last matchup with Michigan being the 2014 Elite Eight that featured late heroics by Aaron Harrison to propel the ‘Cats to the Final Four. The all-time series currently sits at a 5-2 Kentucky advantage.

As we do each Monday during the season, it is time to take the temperature of the Kentucky Basketball program. We will dive into the top storyline surrounding the program, highlight the week’s upcoming opponents, and then take a look around the Southeastern Conference as a whole. Here is everything you need to know about this week in Kentucky Basketball.

Top Kentucky Basketball Storyline: Another Marquee Matchup

Big Blue Nation is not accustomed to losing. This Kentucky Basketball team is supremely talented and is still ranked in the nation’s Top 20. However, after losses to Michigan State and Gonzaga, patience is running thin. Per Corey Price on Twitter, since the start of the 2015-2016 season, the Wildcats are just 16-25 in road or neutral site games against a Top 25 opponent. That simply is not up to the “gold standard” expectations that have been set in Lexington.

The good news is that there is no shortage of marquee matchups on the ‘Cats non-conference schedule. Winning close games has been an achilles heel in recent years. That is just a fact. However, Kentucky should continue to get opportunities whether it comes in London against the Wolverines, in New York against UCLA, or against Kansas in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Additionally, the Southeastern Conference will be as competitive as ever giving the Wildcats plenty of more tough matchups.

It is fair to say that following the Saint Peter’s loss, everyone associated with Kentucky Basketball is a little tense. The fanbase certainly is, it would be natural for Coach Calipari to feel the pressure, and you can see it on the floor from the players late in games. However, you have to overcome those mental obstacles at some point. It probably will just take one game. Great execution, a big shot, or simply closing out a tight contest could turn around those late-game woes for the Wildcats.

This Week in Kentucky Basketball: Bellarmine Knights & Michigan Wolverines

Kentucky will host the Bellarmine Knights on Tuesday night at Rupp Arena. A year ago, Bellarmine won the Atlantic Sun but wasn’t able to participate in the NCAA Tournament due to their probationary period while transitioning from Division II. This team isn’t as talented as that one, but the Knights are extremely well-coached and beat Louisville in their season opener. Bellarmine is also well-traveled and battle-tested. They have yet to play a home game against a Division I opponent and will have made trips to Clemson, Duke, Loyola Marymount, and UCLA by the time Tuesday night rolls around. The Knights have a unique style of play and certainly cannot be overlooked.

The Wolverines are currently 5-1 with a matchup on Tuesday night at Virginia looming. Aside from a no-show against Arizona State, Coach Juwan Howard has had an excellent offense this season. All-American center Hunter Dickinson is the name everyone knows, but he has some good help around him. Jaelin Llewellyn, a transfer from Providence, is manning the point guard role while freshman Jett Howard appears to be a star in the making. Returning rotation pieces Kobe Bufkin and Terrence Williams have been helping the Wolverines as well. We will have much more on Michigan as the week goes on, but this is a talented ball club that will present matchup challenges for Kentucky.

Around the Southeastern Conference

Missouri continues to pace the Southeastern Conference with a 7-0 record. The Tigers haven’t really been tested yet, but they are taking care of business. Coach Dennis Gates will take Mizzou to Wichita State on Tuesday in what will be their first matchup against a team ranked in the Top 150 of KenPom. If they can pull off the road win it might be time to really start buying stock in this club.

Mississippi State is 6-0, with another game on Monday night, and probably possesses the best resume in the SEC to this point. The Bulldogs have neutral-floor wins over Akron, Marquette, and Utah. Coach Chris Jans has a Top 10 defense in the country currently per KenPom. If they can keep playing defense at or near that level they will have a chance to enter their December 20th matchup with Drake sporting a perfect 11-0 record.

Kentucky Basketball fans should be circling that March 4th date to make a trip to Fayetteville for a big-time game. Arkansas had a strong showing at the Maui Invitational going 2-1. Their lone loss was a 90-87 thriller against Creighton. Coach Eric Musselman picked up a blowout victory over Louisville and an impressive third-place game win over San Diego State while on the island. The Razorbacks have a swarming defense and play at a frenetic pace as has become their patented style.

Down in the cellar are South Carolina and Vanderbilt once again. The Gamecocks are 3-3 but have played a tough schedule to date. Coach Lamont Paris got a win over Clemson, but then lost three straight to Colorado State, Davidson, and Furman. They will be on the road this week at George Washington and Georgetown. As for the Commodores, they appear to be a little better after an 0-2 start. Coach Jerry Stackhouse’s squad scored just 48 in a loss to Southern Mississippi in week one. However, they’ve improved and now won three out of four. Vandy travels to VCU and hosts Wofford this week.

National Games to Watch

Monday, November 28th

#9 Kansas vs. Texas Southern @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+/Big 12 Network)

#11 Arkansas vs. Troy @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

Tuesday, November 29th

#19 Kentucky vs. Bellarmine @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

Louisville vs. #22 Maryland @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

#16 Illinois vs. Syracuse @ 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

#1 Houston vs. Norfolk State @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

Marquette vs. #6 Baylor @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

Michigan vs. #3 Virginia @ 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

#24 San Diego State vs. UC Irvine @ 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Wednesday, November 30th

#17 Duke vs. Ohio State @ 7:15 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

#13 Tennessee vs. McNeese @ 7:15 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

Florida State vs. #5 Purdue @ 7:15 p.m. Eastern Time

#10 Indiana vs. #18 North Carolina @ 9:15 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

Notre Dame vs. #20 Michigan State @ 9:15 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

Thursday, December 1st

#8 UConn vs. Oklahoma @ 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

#2 Texas vs. #7 Creighton @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

Utah vs. #4 Arizona @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (Pac 12)

#9 Kansas vs. Seton Hall @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

Standford vs. #21 UCLA @ 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

Friday, December 2nd

#14 Gonzaga vs. #6 Baylor @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time

#15 Auburn vs. Colgate @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

#22 Maryland vs. #16 Illinois @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Big Ten Network)

#24 San Diego State vs. Occidental @ 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Saturday, December 3rd

#3 Virginia vs. Florida State @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

#17 Duke vs. Boston College @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ACC Network)

#11 Arkansas vs. San Jose State @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

Rutgers vs. #10 Indiana @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Big Ten Network)

#12 Alabama vs. South Dakota State @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

#1 Houston vs. Saint Mary’s @ 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

Sunday, December 4th

#19 Kentucky vs. Michigan @ 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ABC) in London

Virginia Tech vs. #18 North Carolina @ 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time ACC Network)

#7 Creighton vs. Nebraska @ 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

#4 Arizona vs. California @ 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Pac 12 Network)

#21 UCLA vs. Oregon @ 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

#5 Purdue vs. Minnesota @ 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Big Ten Network)

#13 Tennessee vs. Alcorn State @ 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

#20 Michigan State vs. Northwestern @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Big Ten Network)