LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mark your calendars for Feb. 1, 2025, Wildcats fans. 

That’ll mark the first game back at Rupp Arena for longtime Kentucky coach John Calipari, who spent 15 seasons at the helm, before signing a five-year deal with the Arkansas Razorbacks in April.

It’s one of many highlights of the Wildcats’ 2024-25 schedule, as the team released its Southeastern Conference dates Aug. 20 to round out its full slate for next season under new coach Mark Pope.

The Wildcats open SEC play Jan. 4 against Florida at home. This follows their 13-game nonconference schedule, highlighted by the basketball battle for the Bluegrass Dec. 14 at Rupp Arena against new coach Pat Kelsey and the University of Louisville. Kentucky will face all 15 SEC foes at least once and has an 18-game conference slate with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas.

Along with Calipari’s homecoming, other highlights include home-and-home matchups with the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are coming off their first Final Four appearance in program history (Jan. 18 home, Feb. 22 away), in addition to home-and-home series against Tennessee (Jan. 28 away, Feb. 11 or 12 home) and Vanderbilt (Jan. 25 away, Feb. 18 or 19 home).

The Wildcats end the regular season March 8 at Missouri before the SEC Tournament, set for March 12-16 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. 

Game times and television designations will be announced at a later date, UK Athletics said. 

Kentucky’s roster for the 2024-25 season features a mix of six fifth-year players, one senior, one junior, one sophomore and three freshmen.