Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports released his list of what he considers to be the Top 55 Non-Conference games of the 2012-2013 season. Spoiler Alert: Kentucky is included in 5 of the games listed, including 2 of the top 5.
-The Kentucky/Louisville game on December 29th in the Yum Center topped Goodman’s list as the most highly anticipated game in the non-conference schedule. The two teams are already being tabbed in the top 3 in nearly every pre-season poll. The rivalry game is always a big one, regardless of the potential of each team. Coming off of a Final 4 clash, the game this season elicits even more excitement. Louisville returns the bulk of their Final 4 team (roster subject to change at all times with Rick Pitino), while Kentucky’s roster will look entirely different.
-The Kentucky/Duke game in the Champions Classic on November 19th made Goodman’s list at the #3 spot. The two teams have combined for some of the most entertaining NCAA tournament games of the 90′s, including the infamous 1992 game as well as the incredible “comeback Cats” game in 1998 under Tubby Smith. Two of the most relevant programs in college basketball, with two of the best coaches in college basketball, will be squaring off for a regular season game that has been a long time coming.
-The Baylor/Kentucky game, which will be much higher on the list a season from now when they face off in double-header at Dallas Cowboy Stadium, made the list at #14. Two programs who have been killing it on the recruiting trails, and recently faced one another in the Elite 8, combine to make an exciting non-conference match up.
-A game much maligned by some fans, featuring Kentucky/Notre Dame, made the list at #19. I was a little surprised to see the game so high, but the Big East/SEC Challenge lacks a marquee match-up and this game might be the closest thing to that status. The road game for the young Wildcats should prove to be a good early season test for Calipari to use as a measurement of where his teams stands heading into conference play.
-The Kentucky/Maryland game was the final UK game to make the list, coming in at #40. The fact that the game is being played in Brooklyn might add some flavor. Ten years ago this game may have been more exciting, but Maryland has not been able to ascend back to the top of the ACC.
To check out the entire list of Goodman’s Top 50 Non-Conference games for the 2012-2013 season, click here.
*Just to get the juices flowing on this early afternoon, where do you think the Indiana/Kentucky game might have landed on this list had it been played in Rupp Arena? And then where do you think that game might have landed had it been played in Lucas Oil Stadium?
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June 12th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
I definitely don’t like the UK/ND game. stinks. follow me: @jonespotbelly
I promise to pop out as much as possible.
June 12th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Great the trolls will be ready to answer your question. I’ll save Hoo Hoo the time and answer it the way he would…”The IU/UK game would have been played in Rupp, not Assembly Hall but you chickens backed out.”
June 12th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
This is a top 20: 20) Dec. 15 – Indiana vs. Butler in Indianapolis. WHAT is this Indy game for the IU students? Oh they depravity.
June 12th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
maryland has a basketball team? who knew. gotcha terps!
June 12th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Syracuse chickened out of their game at Arky. Tell Jeff that happened a couple of weeks ago.
June 12th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
2 took the typing right off my keyboard! After KSR continues their love affair with all things IU, this C-lister botches where the game would have been played. Unbelievable. What isn’t unbelievable is the DOMINANCE of the Indiana All-Stars over Kentucky’s All-Stars. I think Indiana should end the series and become non-traditional. Oh wait, that would never happen because Indiana isn’t afraid of Kentucky, like Cal fears Crean.
#vac8
June 12th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Yeah Cal showed Crean how scared he was in the sweet 16 by mopping the Georgia Dome with crimson
June 12th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
IU/UK=#1.
June 12th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
@hoo hoo
Just a quick question if crean is not scared of big games why did they decline to play louisville this year?? Just wondering it looks to me that they don’t want to play anyone with any talent…who is on there non conference schedule? You got butler who is down this yr, possibly Georgetown ucla ot Georgia, so it looks to me your non confernce schedule is weak
June 12th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
butler isn’t down this year, they will likely be ranked
play ucla, top 5 team
georgetown, top 25. IU will obviously end up with the tougher schedule when its all said and done. most likely end up playing AT LEAST 12-14 games against ranked teams this year.
June 12th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Butler will not be ranked and Kentucky will probably have the toughest non-conference schedule unless somebody like Long Beach State schedules six or seven teams that are pretty dang good like they did last year and we will see how the BIG 10 shapes up for next year but they should be damn good. So realistically I can see Indiana having a tough schedule.
June 12th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
ah, where to start. first of all, unc and butler will probably be nit teams this year. second, what the hell does high school bb have to do with iu-uk game, oh i know, you got 3-players off the allstar team this year, 3-star players so who cares. you cheated and ran gary harris off to michigan st. so really does iu have a high profile game this year out of conference, don’t think so.
June 12th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
I would assume that IU is the 3rd team in that top 3, which means it would obviously have to be 1st or 2nd. As an IU fan I am inclined to say 1st only because I love that game every year, but obviously the UofL game is a much bigger rivalry and the fact that it is a Final 4 rematch between two top 5 teams, that’s hard to top.
Having said that, Indiana gave UK as good of a run as anyone in the tourney (and still lost by 12) and of course there was the game in December; so it would’ve been 2nd, but #3 would’ve been a distant 3rd.