Kentucky basketball schedule 2024-25: Duke, Gonzaga among Wildcats' top nonconference games

Here are the top nonconference matchups from the Wildcats 2024-25 schedule

By Cameron Salerno Sep 3, 2024 at 2:57 pm ET• 4 min read

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.