For the first time since the 2008-09 season, someone other than John Calipari will be roaming the sidelines for Kentucky. A stunning exit by Calipari to Arkansas earlier this spring prompted the Wildcats to hire away Mark Pope from his post at BYU to take over a program he is familiar with.
Kentucky opens the 2024-25 season on Nov. 4 at home against Wright State and faces Bucknell later in the week before the meat of its schedule begins. The Wildcats following game is a neutral site showdown against Duke, ranked No. 9 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1, in Atlanta in what should be one of the top college basketball games of the season.
Other marquee nonconference games for the Wildcats include a clash against Gonzaga in Seattle, a home game against in-state rival Louisville, and a road game against Clemson in the ACC-SEC Challenge. Kentucky also faces Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Pope built a roster that features zero returning scholarship players. His first transfer portal commitment came from incoming freshman guard Collin Chandler, who spent the last two years on a Mormon mission. Chandler was Pope’s highest-rated signee (No. 33 overall) during his tenure at BYU. Kentucky also landed high-profile commitments from BYU guard Jaxson Robinson, Dayton sharpshooter Koby Brea, West Virginia guard Kerr Kriisa, San Diego State guard Lamont Butler, and Oklahoma guard Otega Oweh.
Here are the top five Kentucky’s nonconference games to watch this season.
1. Duke
When: Nov. 12, 2024 | Where: State Farm Arena (Atlanta) in Champions Classic
One of the best matchups in the sport will take place during the opening month in Sin City when Kentucky faces Duke in a battle of blue bloods. The Blue Devils are another team in contention to be the preseason top-ranked team due to the arrival of five-star forward Cooper Flagg — one of the most anticipated incoming freshmen in recent memory.
But it’s not just Flagg that makes the Blue Devils matchup with Kansas so appealing, as the program returns their (projected) starting backcourt in Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster. Duke added Mason Gillis (Purdue), Maliq Brown (Syracuse) and Sion James (Tulane) to the top-ranked high school recruiting class that features Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel, Patrick Ngongba ll and Darren Harris.
2. Gonzaga
When: Dec. 7, 2024 | Where: Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle)
Gonzaga went into Lexington last season and knocked off Kentucky behind a monster performance from star forward Graham Ike. Gonzaga has the luxury of returning most of its starting production from a team that reached the Sweet 16 and should offer Kentucky a valuable test ahead of SEC play.
Gonzaga returns Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Ben Gregg, and Ike. The Bulldogs also added Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi, who averaged 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds last season.
3. Louisville
When: Dec. 14, 2024 | Where: Rupp Arena (Lexington, Kentucky)
The hatred in the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry runs deep, and this game should be much more competitive this season. Louisville hired Charleston’s Pat Kelsey to replace Kenny Payne after a dreadful two seasons with the program, and the Cardinals loaded up — similarly to their in-state rival — via the transfer portal.
Some new names joining the Louisville program include Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Terrence Edwards from James Madison, Colorado guard J’Vonne Hadley, Wisconsin’s Chucky Hepburn, and Washington’s Koren Johnson.
4. Ohio State
When: Dec. 21, 2024 | Where: Madison Square Garden (New York) in CBS Sports Classic
After a strong end to the 2023-24 season, Ohio State removed the interim tag from Jake Diebler’s title instead of going on a national coaching search to find a replacement for Chris Holtmann.
The Buckeyes landed South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson, former Kentucky big man Aaron Bradshaw, and Duke forward Sean Stewart via the transfer portal to a roster that returns leader scorer Bruce Thornton.
5. Clemson
When: Dec. 3, 2024 | Where: Littlejohn Coliseum (Clemson, S.C,)
Clemson is coming off its best season as a program in nearly 45 years. The Tigers reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 1980, and despite losing star big man PJ Hall to the NBA Draft, should still be competitive in the new-look ACC.
The ACC-SEC Challenge will mark the first true road game that Kentucky plays under Pope.
Kentucky 2024-25 schedule
Date Opponent SiteMon., Nov. 4Wright StateLexington, Ky.Sat., Nov. 9BucknellLexington, Ky.Tue., Nov. 12vs. DukeChampions Classic | AtlantaTue., Nov. 19LipscombLexington, Ky.Fri., Nov. 22Jackson StateLexington, Ky.Tue., Nov. 26Western KentuckyLexington, Ky.Fri., Nov. 29Georgia StateLexington, Ky.Tue., Dec. 3at ClemsonClemson, S.C.Sat., Dec. 7vs. GonzagaSeattleWed., Dec. 11ColgateLexington, Ky.Sat., Dec. 14LouisvilleLexington, Ky.Sat., Dec. 21vs. Ohio StateCBS Sports Classic | New YorkTue., Dec. 31BrownLexington, Ky.Sat., Jan. 4FloridaLexington, Ky.Jan. 7 or 8at GeorgiaAthens, Ga.Sat., Jan. 11at Mississippi StateStarkville, Miss.Jan. 14 or 15Texas A&MLexington, Ky.Sat., Jan. 18AlabamaLexington, Ky.Sat., Jan. 25at VanderbiltNashvilleTue., Jan. 28at TennesseeKnoxville, Tenn. Sat., Feb. 1ArkansasLexington, Ky.Feb. 4 or 5at Ole MissOxfordSat., Feb. 8South CarolinaLexington, Ky.Feb. 11 or 12TennesseeLexington, Ky.Sat., Feb. 15at TexasAustin, TexasFeb. 18 or 19VanderbiltLexington, Ky.Sat., Feb. 22at AlabamaTuscaloosa, Ala.Feb. 25 or 26at OklahomaNorman, Okla.Sat., Mar. 1AuburnLexington, Ky.March 4 or 5LSULexington, Ky.Sat., Mar. 8at MissouriColumbia, Mo.
