Kentucky Schedule Coming Together For 2011-12

College Sports 8 replies 1,511 views
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
May 19, 2011 9:22am
The full schedule isn't going to come out until August, but the way it's looking, it's probably going to be ranked in the top 5, possibly overall number 1 in-terms of SOS when all said and done. Confirmed games:

vs North Carolina - Rupp Arena
vs Penn State - Mohegan Sun Arena (HOF Tip-Off)
vs South Florida/Old Dominion - Mohegan Sun Arena (HOF Tip-Off)
vs St. John's - Rupp Arena
at Kansas - Madison Square Garden
vs Louisville - Rupp Arena
at Indiana - Assembly Hall

There are also rumors of a Kentucky-Connecticut game at Madison Square Garden, which given the "rivalry" between Calhoun and Calipari, and the fact they have played 3 of the last 4 years, I could see it happening, especially if Cal could get another trip to MSG and another shot at Calhoun (he will want to showcase this team for sure).

Given that Vanderbilt, Alabama and Florida will all be pre-season top 15 teams and both Mississippi State and Arkansas will be on the verge of the top 25 (if not in it) I'm thinking UK may wind up with the #1 overall schedule in the nation.
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Jul 14, 2011 6:48pm
Official 2011-12 Kentucky schedule has been released. This is the non-conference portion early. Clearly, big games against Kansas, North Carolina and Louisville, but a decent match-up with Old Dominion in there as well. The St. John's game is also intriguing as it's one that will feature the 2 best recruiting classes for 2011. Indiana should be a mismatch, but it's in Bloomington, and both Penn State and South Florida will be down from a year ago. Also, Pat Knight will bring Lamar to Rupp Arena, where they can take out their frustration on Bob's son for the comments he's made about UK. Chattanooga and Radford should also be improved teams.

vs Marist - Nov. 11
vs Kansas (Madison Square Garden, New York, NY) - Nov. 15
vs Penn State (Uncasville, CT) - Nov. 19
vs Old Dominion (Uncasville, CT) - Nov. 20
vs South Florida (Uncasville, CT) - Nov. 20
vs Radford - Nov. 23
vs Portland - Nov. 26
vs St. John's - Dec. 1
vs North Carolina - Dec. 3
at Indiana - Dec. 10
vs Chattanooga - Dec. 17
vs Samford - Dec. 20
vs Loyola (Md.) - Dec. 22
vs Lamar - Dec. 28
vs Louisville - Dec. 31
vs Arkansas-Little Rock - Jan. 3 (Louisville, KY)
Writerbuckeye's avatar
Writerbuckeye
Posts: 4,745
Jul 15, 2011 10:58am
Four good out of conference opponents, but none on the opposing team's floor. I'd think a coach would want to test his team by playing a true away game in the pre-season...at least someplace.
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Jul 15, 2011 11:40am
Well the UNC and Louisville games are alternated each year, they just happen to be at home this year.

St. John's is part of the SEC/Big East challenge, which UK hasn't played at home yet, so the rotation happened to fall at Rupp this year.

Kansas at MSG is a typical neutral court game.

So I think you are right, it's a favorable schedule, but unless they would have sought out a game on someone else's floor, it probably wasn't feasible.
swamisez's avatar
swamisez
Posts: 1,990
Jul 15, 2011 2:46pm
AZ, just go to the duke threads and cut copy the responses about Duke not playing true road games.
OSH's avatar
OSH
Posts: 4,145
Jul 20, 2011 6:22pm
I am just glad that Enes is gone so that homer UK fans don't have to continue ranting about "Free Enes."
GOONx19's avatar
GOONx19
Posts: 7,147
Jul 22, 2011 4:14am
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OSH's avatar
OSH
Posts: 4,145
Jul 22, 2011 10:25am
Point proven...:D.
Leonardo's avatar
Leonardo
Posts: 4,986
Jul 24, 2011 11:24pm
I'm excited to see the Kentucky-Kansas game but hate that it's so early. It might tell us something about the teams, but they won't even be close to the same teams in March.