The air in Lexington is just different during basketball season. It’s heavy with expectation, slightly nervous, and always loud. If you're asking when does uk basketball play again, you’re probably looking at a calendar that’s moving way too fast.
Right now, the Kentucky Wildcats are deep in the trenches of the 2025-26 SEC schedule. They just came off a solid 92-68 win against Mississippi State at Rupp Arena, which was much needed after those back-to-back stumbles against Alabama and Missouri to start the new year. Mark Pope’s squad is currently sitting at a 10-6 overall record (1-2 in the SEC), and the road doesn't get any easier.
The Immediate Next Game
Kentucky heads to Baton Rouge to face the LSU Tigers today, Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM EST.
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You can catch this one on the SEC Network. LSU is hungry, and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center is a notoriously tricky place to play when the Tigers are looking for an upset. Kentucky needs to prove that the Mississippi State win wasn't a fluke and that their perimeter defense—which looked a bit shaky in earlier losses—has actually tightened up.
When Does UK Basketball Play Again: The January Gauntlet
If you miss the LSU game, don't sweat it too much because the schedule is packed. The Cats are basically playing every three to four days for the rest of the month.
After Baton Rouge, things get real. They travel to Knoxville to take on Tennessee on Saturday, January 17, at 12:00 PM EST on ESPN. We all know what that atmosphere is like. The Vols are currently ranked in the Top 25, and Rick Barnes always has his guys playing a physical, grinding style of defense that tests every ounce of a freshman's composure.
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The rest of the January slate looks like this:
- Texas Longhorns at Rupp Arena: Wednesday, January 21, at 7:00 PM EST (SEC Network).
- Ole Miss Rebels at Rupp Arena: Saturday, January 24, at 12:00 PM EST (ESPN/ESPN2).
- Vanderbilt in Nashville: Tuesday, January 27, at 9:00 PM EST (ESPN).
- Arkansas in Fayetteville: Saturday, January 31, at 6:30 PM EST (ESPN).
That Arkansas game at the end of the month is going to be circled on everyone's calendar. Bud Walton Arena is basically a hornets' nest, and with the way the SEC standings are shaping up, that game could have huge implications for tournament seeding.
Who is Carrying the Load?
Honestly, this team's success seems to live and die by the guard play. Otega Oweh has been a spark plug, and freshman Jasper Johnson is showing those flashes of brilliance that made him such a hyped recruit out of Lexington. In the frontcourt, Malachi Moreno has been doing the dirty work. He’s a massive 7-foot presence, and his ability to protect the rim is basically the only thing keeping the defense afloat during those stretches where the shots aren't falling.
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One major piece of news that fans need to be aware of: Jaland Lowe is officially out for the season. That’s a massive blow to the rotation. Losing a junior guard with his experience means guys like Denzel Aberdeen and Collin Chandler have to step into much bigger roles than maybe they were expecting back in November.
Understanding the SEC Standings (2026)
It’s a weird year in the conference. Vanderbilt is actually leading the pack right now, which feels like a glitch in the matrix, but they are playing incredibly disciplined ball. Kentucky is currently hovering in the middle of the pack.
The KenPom ratings still have the Cats at #28 nationally, which suggests they are better than their 10-6 record shows. They’ve played a brutal schedule, including early losses to Louisville, Michigan State, and Gonzaga. Those "quality losses" help the NET rankings, sure, but at some point, you just need to stack wins in the left-hand column.
Practical Steps for BBN Fans
If you're planning on following the team through this stretch, here is what you actually need to do:
- Sync Your Calendar: The SEC likes to move tip times. While most of these are locked in, double-check the UK Athletics site or the ESPN app about 24 hours before tip.
- Streaming Options: Most of the upcoming games are on the SEC Network or ESPN. If you’ve cut the cord, make sure your YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV subscription is active. SEC Network+ games (like the earlier exhibition ones) require the ESPN app login.
- Ticket Reality Check: Tickets for the Texas and Tennessee home games are moving fast. If you’re looking to go, Ticketmaster is the official secondary market, but expect to pay a premium for the rivalry games.
The 2026 season is at a crossroads. This stretch from LSU to Arkansas will determine if Mark Pope’s first official "rebuild" year ends in a high seed in the Big Dance or a stressful Selection Sunday. Stay tuned to the local Lexington broadcasts for updates on injury reports, especially regarding the bench depth following the Lowe injury.