University of Kentucky Wildcat basketball action tips off Friday at Rupp Arena. The season gets under way against VMI in Lexington, but the 'Cats will likely face their toughest opponent of the year just four days later when they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face unanimous preseason No. 1 North Carolina. That Tuesday game will be televised on ESPN at 8 p.m.UK then faces Delaware State and Longwood at Rupp Arena as part of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational, before traveling to Sin City to face Kansas State (ESPNU) and the winner of the West Virginia-Iowa contest to finish up the tournament.
The Wildcats then return to Lexington for and eight-game homestand, the longest of the 2008-09 season. During the stay, the No. 17 Miami Hurricanes (ESPN) and arch-rival Indiana come to town. The new year then starts off with a trip to No. 3 Louisville (CBS) to face an in-state rival and former Coach Rick Pitino.
The rest of the season is the most critical as the Wildcats enter the Southeastern Conference portion of the schedule beginning Jan. 10 against Vanderbilt. UK will face No. 14 Tennessee and No. 19 Florida twice in the Eastern Division. In fact, the season ends March 7 (CBS) in Gainesville, Fla.
Click on the image to the right to download a printable 2008-09 schedule with local times and local television and radio availability.
