Date set for John Calipari’s return to Lexington to face Kentucky

The SEC basketball schedule was released on Tuesday, giving fans a first look at when and where each conference game will take place in the 2024-25 college basketball season.

Without a doubt the most exciting matchup is Arkansas at Kentucky – the return of longtime Wildcats coach John Calipari to Lexington.

The game, which will take place on February 1, not only brings Cal back to the program he coached for 15 years and brought a national championship in 2012, it also marks the return of former Kentucky players DJ Wagner, Adou Thiero, and Zvonimir Ivisic who followed Calipari to Fayetteville in the transfer portal.

Calipari also snatched three recruits who were previously committed to Kentucky: Boogie Fland, Karter Knox, and Billy Richmond, giving BBN plenty of familiar faces to cheer against.

Calipari bolted for Arkansas this offseason after previous Hogs coach Eric Musselman took the open position at USC , replacing Andy Enfield. The ‘Cats brought in BYU coach Mark Pope to replace him.

Pope is an alumni who was team captain when Kentucky won the title under Rick Pitino in 1996, and he no doubt wants to secure a win here to prove to the fanbase he’s the right man for this job despite limited NCAA Tournament success prior to his hiring.