Ranking Kentucky's remaining non-conference games in order of importance

John Calipari and the Wildcats still have plenty of premier opponents to play outside of the SEC this season.

Author:
Andy Patton
Publish date:
Nov 22, 2023 1:00 PM EST

In this story:

It feels like the college basketball season just got started, but the Kentucky Wildcats only have eight non-conference games remaining - seven before SEC play begins and one (against Gonzaga) during conference play in February.

The Wildcats have taken care of business up to this point, taking a hard-fought loss to fellow blue-blood Kansas and winning every other game - although it wasn't pretty in an overtime win over Saint Joseph's on Monday.

Every game is an important one in a college basketball season, but below is a ranking of which remaining non-conference games are most important for coach John Calipari and the Wildcats to win before the calendar flips to March:

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs - February 10 at 4:00 PM

The Zags took a loss to Purdue to open up the Maui Invitational but once again look like a top-15 caliber program under longtime coach Mark Few. This game takes the cake for importance simply because of timing - playing a fast-paced, high-octane offense like Gonzaga in February is an excellent tune-up for coach Calipari's team as they inch closer to March Madness.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels - December 16 at 5:30 PM

The 'Heels are the other true blue blood on Kentucky's schedule after Kansas, and they represent a great opportunity for the Wildcats to pick up a signature win in a neutral environment in Atlanta. Calipari will really want at least one of his big men back in order to slow down fifth-year senior Armando Bacot for UNC, and getting a win here would go a long way in building Kentucky's Selection Sunday resume.

3. Miami Hurricanes - November 28 at 7:30 PM

Miami remains a basketball powerhouse under coach Jim Larranaga, and they will be undefeated coming off quality Power-5 wins over Georgia and Kansas State this week. A win over a top-10 (or at least close to top-10 if they drop) program never hurts, and this would be a great way to end November for coach Cal's squad.

4. Louisville Cardinals - December 21 at 6:00 PM

No one is mistaking Louisville for the powerhouse they used to be, but Kenny Payne's team at least looked competent in a narrow loss to a ranked Texas team and a similar close loss to Indiana in the Empire Classic.

Still, the rivalry runs deep, and this is a true road game, making it an absolute must-win game for the Wildcats.

5. Illinois State Redbirds - December 29 at 7:00 PM

The Redbirds are 3-1 on the season, with their only loss coming on the road to Saint Louis. They did beat Long Beach State, the same team that upset Michigan earlier in the year, and at this point, they look like more than just a tune-up game against Antonio Reeves' former squad. As the final game before SEC play begins, this is a big one for the 'Cats to make sure they don't overlook.

6. UNC-Wilmington Seahawks - December 2 at 4:00 PM

The Seahawks have a pair of quality mid-major wins over Murray State and UNC Asheville already, and while their recent 30-point loss to Appalachian State looks quite bad, they are still a quality middle of the pack program and one Kentucky will need to respect to avoid another Saint Joseph's situation in Lexington.

7. Marshall Thundering Herd - November 24 at 7:00 PM

Marshall hasn't looked great so far this season, taking losses to Radford and Utah State, but they have been a good Sun Belt program the last few years, and they rebound the basketball well, which could be a challenge for Calipari's team as this game won't feature any of Kentucky's bigs just yet.

8. Penn Quakers - December 9 at 12:00 PM

Penn already has a big upset over a ranked team, upsetting Villanova 76-72 last week, so Kentucky can't just expect to coast by on talent alone. This young team will need to make sure they execute and stay disciplined for 40 minutes lest they allow the Quakers to pick up two ranked victories in their non-conference slate.