Kentucky vs. Gonzaga will take place in 2024 during conference play
Kentucky vs. Gonzaga is one of the highlights of the Wildcats’ 2023-24 schedule. It sounds like we’re going to have to wait until at least late January to see it happen. According to Jon Rothstein, the Bulldogs will come to Rupp Arena in 2024 “during the middle of WCC play.” Typically, the WCC and SEC tip off conference play in late December, so that likely means the last weekend of January or early February.
As you surely remember, the six-year series between Kentucky and Gonzaga started last season, with the Bulldogs taking the first game 88-72 in Spokane. Since then, the Bulldogs have lost Drew Timme, Julian Strawther, and Malachi Smith to the pros, and overhauled their roster with transfers. Mark Few added junior guard Ryan Nembhard (Creighton), senior wing Steele Venters (Eastern Washington), redshirt center Graham Ike (Wyoming), and freshman forward Marcus Adams Jr. (Kansas decommit). Fifth-year-forward Anton Watson and junior guard Nolan Hickman are the only two starters that return from last year’s team that beat Kentucky — which also has an almost entirely different roster.
On one hand, it’s good that Kentucky’s very young team will have more time to gel and prepare for a Gonzaga squad stacked with experienced players. On the other, that’s a big challenge right in the middle of the SEC grind.
Kentucky vs. Gonzaga Series
This year’s game will take place at Rupp and is one of the highlights of the Cats’ home schedule. Next year marks the start of two neutral-site games, the first in Seattle and the second in Nashville, before Gonzaga returns to Rupp and Kentucky goes to Gonzaga’s home arena, the McCarthey Athletic Center, in 2027.
- 2022 – Spokane Arena — 88-72 L
- 2023 – Rupp Arena
- 2024 – Seattle
- 2025 – Nashville
- 2026 – Rupp Arena
- 2027 – McCarthey Athletic Center
Kentucky’s Non-Conference Schedule As We Know It
Kentucky has yet to release the complete 2023-24 non-conference schedule, but we’ve got a good idea of what it looks like based on reports and other schools. The Michigan and Notre Dame series have been canceled.
- TBA: vs. Stonehill | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- TBA: vs. Texas A&M University-Commerce | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- Nov. 6: vs. New Mexico State | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- Nov. 14: vs. Kansas | Champions Classic | United Center, Chicago, IL
- Nov. 20: vs. St. Joe’s | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- Nov. 24: vs. Marshall | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- Nov. 28: vs. Miami | ACC/SEC Challenge | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- Dec. 2: vs. UNC Wilmington | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- Dec. 16: vs. North Carolina | CBS Sports Classic | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
- Dec. 21 at Louisville | KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
- Dec. 29 vs. Illinois State | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- TBA (2024): vs. Gonzaga | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
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