Feb. 1: vs. Arkansas: Pope will likely preach for peace, but Big Blue Nation will be out for blood when John Calipari returns to Lexington. The atmosphere at Rupp Arena may be its best ever. Kentucky isn’t losing this game.

Prediction: Win

Feb. 4: at Ole Miss: Chris Beard has built a team that is capable of reaching the NCAA Tournament in Oxford with Matthew Murrell, Jaylen Murray, and Jaemyn Brakefield all back and Virginia Tech transfer Sean Pedulla on board, but there are still holes on the defensive end of the court that Kentucky should be able to exploit. 

Prediction: Win

Feb. 8: vs. South Carolina: South Carolina has been a thorn in Kentucky’s side under Lamont Paris and will be one of the best defensive teams UK faces all year. However, with Meechie Johnson, B.J. Mack, and Ta’Lon Cooper all gone, the Gamecocks probably don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with the high-flying Cats.

Prediction: Win

Feb. 11: vs. Tennessee: After losing to Tennessee in Knoxville earlier in the season, look for Kentucky to split the season series when the Vols visit Rupp Arena.

Prediction: Win

Feb. 15: at Texas: Pope and his BYU Cougars took down Rodney Terry and Texas last season in Provo but UK will be going down to Austin where the Longhorns will likely hype things up as the biggest home game in program history. Not only that, Texas has a loaded roster led by Arkansas transfer Tramon Mark and Oregon State transfer Jordan Pope that could give Kentucky fits.

Prediction: Loss

Feb. 19: vs. Vanderbilt: Kentucky has more than enough talent to sweep a rebuilding Vanderbilt team.

Prediction: Win

Feb. 22: at Alabama: Kentucky will be motivated to get revenge on the Crimson Tide after it beat UK inside Rupp Arena in January, but the Crimson Tide simply have too much firepower for the Wildcats on both ends of the floor.

Prediction: Loss

Feb. 26: at Oklahoma: Pope and BYU lost in Norman last season, but this season, Otega Oweh, the Sooners’ second-leading scorer, is on Kentucky’s side. OU also lost its leading scorer from last season , Javian McCollum, to Georgia Tech. It could be a hot-seat year for head coach Porter Moser, and with OU hosting Kentucky, a raucous atmosphere should be expected which makes this game feel like the ultimate trap for the Wildcats.

Prediction: Loss

Prediction: Win 

Mar. 1: vs. Auburn: Auburn should be stout defensively and in the paint once again with first-team All-SEC selection Johni Broome back, but questions in its backcourt and ability to light up the scoreboard loom, which should make Kentucky’s matchup at Rupp Arena a very difficult one.

Prediction: Win

Mar. 4: vs. LSU: LSU beat Kentucky in Baton Rouge last season, but the Tigers’ roster underwent an overhaul this offseason and is still very much a work in progress for third-year head coach Matt McMahon. It’s hard to foresee LSU winning on Senior Night when Kentucky will honor the majority of its roster.

Prediction: Win

Mar. 8: vs. Missouri: Missouri did not win a single SEC game last season. It should be much better this season as it loaded up in the transfer portal, but Kentucky is still the more talented basketball team. It will head to Columbia hot and wanting to maintain its momentum with the SEC Tournament looming.

Prediction: Win 

February/March Record Prediction: 8-3