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Kentucky basketball: 2018-19 schedule starting to take shape

By Drew Koch

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 26: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels and head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats walk off the court before their game during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 26, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 26: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels and head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats walk off the court before their game during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 26, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Kentucky basketball schedule is starting to take shape. With a much improved Southeastern Conference and key matchups against the blue-bloods of college basketball, UK will have a tough schedule next season.

Kentucky basketball’s 2018-19 schedule is starting to take shape. The Southeastern Conference was much improved last season, and their success is likely to continue into next season. The Wildcats’ non-conference schedule is becoming more clear. Some of college basketball’s blue-bloods will go head-to-head with the Cats next season.

The Southeastern Conference finished with four teams in the final AP Poll of the season. In addition to the Kentucky Wildcats, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee all finished the 2017-18 season in the Top 25.

The Gators, Tigers and Vols will likely be very competitive again next season. LSU and Vanderbilt, according to Rivals.com, have Top 10 recruiting classes coming into next year as well. Will Wade has locked up 5-star forward Emmitt Williams and center Nazreon Reid for the Tigers.

Bryce Drew was able to land two 5-star recruits himself. Nashville-native Darius Garland will join 6’9″, 220-pound Simisola Shittu on the Commodores roster next season. Vandy also landed 4-star swingman Aaron Nesmith.

https://twitter.com/KentuckyMBB/status/987393684130934793

By now, all of Big Blue Nation knows that the Kentucky basketball team will open the 2018-19 season against the Duke Blue Devils. Duke and UK and No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in Rivals.com 2018-19 recruiting rankings. Both the Cats and the Blue Devils are losing a lot of talent to this year’s NBA Draft, but as always John Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski are reloading for a Final Four run next season.

In addition to Duke, Kentucky will also play Seton Hall in the Citi Hoops Classic. The Cats played Monmouth in Madison Square Garden last season. Speaking of Monmouth, King Rice’s Hawks will visit Rupp Arena this season on November 28th.

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Next season’s CBS Sports Classic will feature UK versus UNC. The Cats, slated to go head-to-head with Ohio State in next year’s game, instead will square off against the Tar Heels. And while the date is yet to be set, BBN knows the Kentucky basketball will head to Louisville to take on Chris Mack and the Cardinals.

UK will not have an easy road next season, and with all the draft decisions impacting the roster, it’s premature to predict how the Cats will compete next season. However, BBN knows that Coach Cal always preaches that playing Kentucky is like the opposing team’s Super Bowl. We’re sure to see a lot of fireworks with next year’s schedule regardless of who is on the team.

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