A New Chapter for the Wildcats
Kentucky’s men’s basketball program has released its home non‑conference slate for the 2026‑27 season, a schedule that will open with a showdown against Manhattan on November 3. The announcement comes as head coach Mark Pope begins his third year at the helm, overseeing the third edition of the Wildcats’ non‑conference home slate.
The Wildcats will then host James Madison on November 6, followed by Northern Arizona on November 13, Grambling State on November 16, Bryant on December 8, Sacred Heart on December 22 and Gardner‑Webb on December 28. These seven games constitute the core of a 12‑game non‑conference schedule, providing a blend of fresh challenges and traditional matchups.
What makes this lineup especially intriguing is the inclusion of six programs that have never before met Kentucky in Rupp Arena, offering fans a rare opportunity to see new rivalries take shape while preserving historic contests.
Among those opponents, James Madison is guided by Preston Spradlin, a coach who spent five years on Kentucky’s staff from 2009 to 2014 before rising to head coach at Morehead State and now leading the Dukes. Spradlin’s journey back to the Bluegrass State adds a personal storyline to the matchup, particularly after his team’s 81‑45 loss to Kentucky in their only prior meeting.
The upcoming season will also mark the second meeting between Kentucky and Gardner‑Webb, a program that previously visited Rupp Arena at the start of the 2020‑21 campaign. With Pope entering his third year, the Wildcats hope to build on early successes and use these home games as a springboard for the remainder of the schedule.