If you’ve spent any time in Lexington lately, you know the vibe has shifted. It’s not just about the wins or the losses anymore; it’s about that frantic, fast-paced energy Mark Pope brought back to Rupp Arena. But honestly, keeping up with the university of ky men's basketball schedule this year feels like trying to track a fast break in a windstorm. Between the random Tuesday night tips and those SEC Network+ games that everyone complains about, it’s a lot to juggle.
We’re sitting here in mid-January 2026, and the "new car smell" of the Pope era has officially been replaced by the grit of conference play. People keep asking if this team is "for real" after that Sweet 16 run last season. The schedule for the rest of the 2025-26 season is basically a gauntlet designed to answer that question, and if you aren't careful, you'll miss the biggest games of the year.
The January Gauntlet and the LSU Trap
Right now, the Cats are in the thick of it. Today is Wednesday, January 14, 2026. If you're looking for the game tonight, you'll find the team down in Baton Rouge. They’re taking on the LSU Tigers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
LSU has been a weird team this year—winless in the SEC so far but somehow 12-4 overall. It’s a classic trap game. Kentucky is coming off a bit of a rollercoaster start to the month, having dropped that tough one to Alabama back on January 3rd. But they bounced back against Missouri and Mississippi State.
The university of ky men's basketball schedule doesn't let up after tonight, though. Here is what the immediate horizon looks like:
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- Jan 17 (Sat): At Tennessee. Noon ET on ESPN. This is the big one. Thompson-Boling Arena is never kind to Kentucky.
- Jan 21 (Wed): vs. Texas. 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network. The Longhorns are still finding their footing in this league, but they’ve got athletes.
- Jan 24 (Sat): vs. Ole Miss. Noon ET on ESPN/ESPN2.
- Jan 27 (Tue): At Vanderbilt. 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Expect a weird, late night in Nashville.
Why This Schedule Is Different Under Mark Pope
Most fans were used to the old "Calipari Special"—a few massive blue-blood matchups followed by a month of directional schools. Pope flipped the script for the 2025-26 season. He loaded the non-conference slate with games that actually meant something. Remember that Indiana game in December? Rupp was as loud as it’s been in a decade.
The reunion with Indiana was a masterstroke for the university of ky men's basketball schedule. We hadn't seen a regular-season meeting since 2011. Bringing that back, along with games against Gonzaga in Nashville and St. John’s in Atlanta, proved that Pope isn't afraid of a "true" road or neutral-site test before January hits.
Kentucky currently sits at 10-6 overall and 2-2 in the SEC. That record might look "just okay" to a casual observer, but look at the SOS (Strength of Schedule). They’ve played seven of last year’s Sweet 16 teams already. They aren't padding the stats; they're getting calloused for March.
February: The Month of Reckoning
If January is about survival, February is about seeding. There are two dates every fan has circled in red.
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First, the rematch with Tennessee on February 7th at Rupp Arena. It’s an 8:30 p.m. tip on ESPN. That’s going to be electric. Then, the trip to Auburn on February 21st. Neville Arena is a nightmare for visiting teams, and Bruce Pearl will undoubtedly have that place rocking.
One thing people get wrong about the university of ky men's basketball schedule is assuming the "easy" games are at the end. Look at March 3rd. A road trip to College Station to play Texas A&M is nobody’s idea of a "tune-up."
How to Actually Watch the Games
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: SEC Network+.
Basically, if you aren't tech-savvy, you've probably missed half the season. A huge chunk of the early games, like Big Blue Madness and the exhibitions against Purdue and Georgetown, were tucked away on the digital-only platform.
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For the remainder of the season, most games move to "big" TV. We’re talking ESPN, ESPN2, and even an ABC slot for the Florida game on Valentine's Day. If you’re planning your weekends, keep in mind that the tip times fluctuate wildly. We’ve got noon starts on Saturdays and 9 p.m. grinders on Tuesdays. It’s chaotic, but that’s SEC basketball in 2026.
Actionable Steps for the Rest of the Season
If you want to stay on top of the university of ky men's basketball schedule, don't just rely on your memory. Things change. Games get flexed.
- Sync your calendar. Go to the official UK Athletics site and download the calendar subscription. It’s the only way to handle the 7 p.m. vs. 8:30 p.m. confusion.
- Verify the "Plus" games. Check the schedule at least 48 hours in advance to see if it’s on SEC Network or SEC Network+. If it's the latter, make sure your ESPN app login actually works before tip-off.
- Plan for the Florida Finale. The regular season ends at home against Florida on March 7th. It’s a 4 p.m. tip on ESPN2. Given the Gators are the reigning national champs, tickets for that one are already astronomical on the secondary market. If you’re going, buy now.
The journey from here to the SEC Tournament in Nashville is going to be a sprint. Whether you're a "Pope-Liever" or still skeptical, this schedule doesn't leave any room for faking it.
Grab a schedule poster, stick it on the fridge, and get ready for a long February. The Cats are just getting started.