You know how it goes in Lexington. The air gets a little crisper, the leaves start to turn, and suddenly the only thing anyone wants to talk about is who we’re playing at Rupp. Honestly, keeping track of the university of kentucky men's basketball schedule has become a part-time job lately. Between the SEC expansion and Mark Pope’s aggressive non-conference scheduling, the calendar looks way different than it did even two years ago.
If you’re looking at the 2025-26 slate, it’s basically a gauntlet. We aren’t just talking about the usual cupcakes in November. Pope has this team flying all over the country—New York, Atlanta, Nashville—before they even settle into the grind of the SEC. It’s a lot to digest.
The SEC Schedule: More Than Just the Blue-Bloods
People always circle the Tennessee and Florida games, but the league is a different beast now. The SEC officially revealed the 18-game conference slate, and the home-and-home matchups this year are brutal. Kentucky has to play Florida, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt twice each. That’s six games right there against teams that historically play the Wildcats like it's the Super Bowl.
The conference opener happened back on January 3rd against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. It was a rough one—Aden Holloway went off for 26 points and the Tide just rained down threes. But that’s the reality of the new SEC. You can’t take a night off.
Here is what the remaining SEC stretch looks like for the heart of the season:
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- January 17: At Tennessee (Thompson-Boling Arena) – Noon ET on ESPN.
- January 21: Texas (Rupp Arena) – 7:00 PM ET on SEC Network.
- January 24: Ole Miss (Rupp Arena) – Noon ET on ESPN/ESPN2.
- January 27: At Vanderbilt (Memorial Gymnasium) – 9:00 PM ET on ESPN.
- January 31: At Arkansas (Bud Walton Arena) – 6:30 PM ET on ESPN.
That January 31st game in Fayetteville? That’s the one everyone has marked. Seeing Mark Pope go up against John Calipari is still surreal for a lot of fans. It’s the kind of game that defines a season’s narrative.
February and the Final Push
Once the calendar flips to February, the university of kentucky men's basketball schedule doesn't get any easier. You've got Oklahoma coming to town on February 4th (9:00 PM), and then the rematch with Tennessee at Rupp on February 7th. If you haven't secured tickets for that one yet, good luck. The atmosphere is going to be electric, especially after the Vols knocked UK out of the Sweet 16 last year.
The back half of February is a travel nightmare.
Valentine’s Day sees the Cats in Gainesville playing the defending national champion Florida Gators at 3:00 PM on ABC. Then it’s back home for Georgia on the 17th, followed by two straight road games: at Auburn on the 21st and at South Carolina on the 24th. Auburn’s Neville Arena is arguably the toughest place to play in the country right now, and an 8:30 PM tip-off on ESPN means that place will be vibrating.
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The Non-Conference Gauntlet
A lot of folks forget that the foundation of this season was laid back in November and December. Mark Pope didn't take the "easy wins" route. We saw a massive exhibition game against Purdue in October and a tough loss to Louisville at the Yum! Center on November 11th.
The Champions Classic in New York against Michigan State (Nov 18) and the ACC/SEC Challenge against North Carolina (Dec 2) showed that this roster has guts, even if they're still learning how to close out tight games. One of the biggest surprises was the win over Indiana on December 13th. Rupp was as loud as it’s been in a decade for that one.
We also saw some incredible individual performances during that stretch. Kam Williams went absolutely nuclear against Bellarmine on December 23rd, hitting eight triples. It reminded a lot of us of the Immanuel Quickley era.
Key Matchups to Watch
If you’re trying to plan your life around these games, keep an eye on these specific windows:
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- The Revenge Game: February 7th vs. Tennessee. After the Sweet 16 heartbreak, this isn't just a conference game; it's personal.
- The Return to Gainesville: February 14th at Florida. Denzel Aberdeen is returning to play his former team after winning a title with them. The reception he gets will be... interesting.
- The Finale: March 7th vs. Florida. Closing the regular season at home against the reigning champs is the perfect way to prime the engine for the SEC Tournament in Nashville.
What Most People Miss About This Team
There’s a misconception that because we lost some key transfers like Jaland Lowe to injury early on, the season is a wash. That’s just wrong. Otega Oweh has stepped up as a massive leader. He’s averaging over 16 points a game and playing some of the most physical perimeter defense we’ve seen in years.
Then there’s the freshman, Jasper Johnson. The kid from Atlanta is a pure shot-maker. He has these stretches where he scores 10 points in three minutes and completely flips the momentum of the game. When he and Malachi Moreno are clicking, the "Cats" are hard for anyone in the country to beat.
Looking Toward the Postseason
The university of kentucky men's basketball schedule is designed to build a resume that the NCAA selection committee can’t ignore. By playing 21 games against teams that made the tournament last year, Pope is betting on the "iron sharpens iron" philosophy.
Even with a few losses in the column, the NET ranking should stay high because of the strength of schedule.
The regular season wraps up on March 7th at Rupp against Florida. After that, it’s all eyes on Nashville for the SEC Tournament starting March 11th. If the Cats can finish in the top four of the conference standings, they'll get that crucial double-bye, which is basically a requirement if you want to have enough legs for a deep run in the Big Dance.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check the Resale Market: Since most games at Rupp are technically sold out, use the official UK Ticketmaster marketplace. It's the only way to ensure you aren't getting scammed.
- Sync Your Calendar: Tip times for the Georgia (Feb 17) and Texas A&M (March 3) games are still a bit flexible depending on TV flex scheduling. Check the UK Athletics site on the Monday before the game.
- Watch the Injury Report: With a thin frontcourt, any news regarding Brandon Garrison or Mouhamed Dioubate is huge. Their health will determine if Kentucky can survive the physical play of Auburn and Tennessee.
The path is set. Now we just have to see if this group has the late-season stamina to turn a tough schedule into a Final Four banner.