I really miss sports. So, naturally, I'm looking forward to Major League Baseball's opening day July 23rd. It's only going to be a 60-game season, but I'll take it.

I'll also take a new basketball season, too.

And since UK already has most of its non-conference schedule planned, let's get into it, beginning with fellow blue blood, Kansas.

The Jayhawks left Rupp Arena in January of 2019 with a 71-63 loss as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

Now, the Wildcats will get KU at the annual Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago November 10th. In that event, Kentucky is 2-1 against Kansas and 5-4 overall.

 

Kentucky will then head back home for two games in the Bluegrass Showcase--against Detroit Mercy on the 13th and the University of Hartford on the 17th.

After that, UK will have Georgia on its mind as the 'Cats host the Georgia State Panthers on November 20th and then take a trip to Atlanta for a rematch against Georgia Tech. Kentucky knocked off the Yellowjackets 67-53 last December at Rupp Arena.

In between, on November 23rd, it's another game in the Bluegrass Showcase with Kentucky hosting the Richmond Spiders.

December is usually the month when the schedule gets pretty tough. This year, Big Blue Nation was looking forward to seeing the Wildcats head to London for a December 6th tilt with the Michigan Wolverines, but the COVID-19 pandemic postponed that game for a year.

But the date has been filled with a team that's given UK trouble in the past. And, in fact, last December, when Kentucky beat the University of Alabama-Birmingham in Lexington, it evened its record against the Blazers at 3-3. Yep, before that game, UAB actually had a winning record against the 'Cats. That includes a 2004 NCAA Tournament game when, as a 9-seed, they toppled overall #1 seed UK in the second round.

On December 12th, Kentucky takes on Notre Dame for the first time since a narrow escape over the Fighting Irish in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Elite 8. That game will be in Rupp Arena.

A week later, on December 19th, the CBS Sports Classic will see UK take on UCLA, the only program with more NCAA Championships (11) than Kentucky (8).

And then on December 29th, it's a regional matchup as the Marshall Thundering Herd, out of Huntington, West Virginia, visits Rupp Arena.

Louisville is not currently on the schedule, but we know it will be. And then there's the SEC/Big 12 Challenge in January, but we have yet to learn who Kentucky's opponent will be for that event. We do know that UK will be the host school.

I can't wait for college hoops to start, but, as we all know, in light of everything, we can't be 100% certain the season will even start on time. But here's hoping.

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