LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky announced its 2005-06 men’s basketball non-conference schedule Tuesday, which includes seven regular-season games at Rupp Arena and high-profile traditional foes North Carolina, Indiana, Louisville and Kansas.
The Wildcats open the season Nov. 13-14 by hosting two rounds of the Guardians Classic, a 16-team tournament that also includes Texas, Iowa and West Virginia. UK takes on South Dakota State in the first round, while Wofford and Lipscomb also play in Lexington. The winners and losers of the first round games match up the following day, with the second round winner advancing to Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium for the final two rounds Nov. 21-22.
In addition to hosting defending national champion North Carolina on Dec. 3 and in-state rival Louisville Dec. 17, Kentucky also has home dates against Liberty (Nov. 25), Tubby Smith’s alma mater High Point (Nov. 29) and 2005 NCAA Tournament participant Central Florida (Jan. 3).
Although this year’s Southeastern Conference Tournament is in Nashville rather than Atlanta, UK makes an appearance in Georgia’s capitol city Dec. 6 when the Cats travel to Philips Arena, home of the NBA’s Hawks, to take on Georgia State. Kentucky then heads north for its annual rivalry showdown with Indiana at Indianapolis’ RCA Dome Dec. 10. The Cats play Iona in their annual game at Louisville’s Freedom Hall Dec. 23 and 2005 NCAA Tournament participant Ohio at Cincinnati’s US Bank Arena Dec. 30.
Kentucky closes out its non-league schedule Jan. 7 with a visit to Kansas.
“It’s another challenging non-conference schedule,” Head Coach Tubby Smith said. “We’re playing the second-winningest program of all-time in North Carolina, the third-winningest in Kansas, plus Indiana and Louisville. Then there’s the possibility of playing two games against Texas, Iowa or West Virginia if we advance far enough in the Guardians Classic.”
Prior to regular-season action, Kentucky hosts a pair of exhibition games; Nov. 2 against Northern (S.D.) State and Nov. 9 versus Georgetown (Ky.).
Times and television assignments, along with UK’s SEC schedule, will be announced later.