More schedule news!
The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team is set to host another Multi-Team Event (MTE) during the 2025-26 season, according to college hoops insider Rocco Miller.
Valparaiso and Eastern Illinois are expected to be part of the MTE field, with EIU also traveling to play Valpo in a separate matchup. While official dates are still to be determined, the event adds another early-season opportunity for Kentucky to prepare for a challenging schedule.
This MTE joins an already loaded non-conference slate for the Wildcats in year two under head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky will host Loyola-Maryland on November 21 and Tennessee Tech on November 26 at Rupp Arena. Their annual showdown in the Champions Classic is set for November 18, when they’ll face Michigan State at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
A highly anticipated road game against rival Louisville is on the calendar for November 11, while December features marquee games against North Carolina in the SEC/ACC Challenge on December 2, Gonzaga in Nashville on December 5, Southern on December 7, NC Central on December 9, Indiana at Rupp on December 13, and Bellarmine on December 23.
With a schedule stacked with high-profile opponents and important regional matchups, Kentucky’s 2025-26 non-conference campaign is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and intriguing in recent memory. Coach Pope and the Wildcats will use these tests to build chemistry and experience ahead of SEC play and what they hope will be a deep 2026 NCAA Tournament run.