Ranking Kentucky’s non-conference away games as travel destinations

Some people have family reunions at the park. More uppity folk might find themselves in a hotel conference center. I don’t have a proper family reunion with second cousins, great aunts, and people claiming to be related, although I’ve never met them. Instead, my closest friends, most of whom live in different places in the country, organize our annual “family” reunion around Kentucky basketball games.

But what fun is Lexington when you either live or used to live there? It is an adventure to travel to a new city, explore an exotic place, or even eat at the hole-in-the-wall restaurant you found on your last trip that you keep talking about. Add in a high-profile Kentucky basketball game, and it is a recipe for epic memories.

This year, Kentucky has four non-conference away (from Rupp Arena) games, and it is prime travel planning season. Here is the definitive ranking of all four destinations based on a combination of city, opponent, and overall atmosphere.

4. Louisville in Louisville

Speaking of family reunions, Kentucky’s little brother is hosting this year. You know how it goes. No one really wants to go over to his place, but it is technically his turn in the rotation, and he insists he won’t burn the steaks this time.

The Cardinals are trying to be relevant with Pat Kelsey at the helm, but this resurgence attempt is only going to make Louisville fans more obnoxious. And now that Louisville has gained some modest preseason buzz, more fans are coming out of the cave where they’ve been hiding the last few years.

There is something magical about painting the Yum! Center blue, but ever since the Cal-Pitino era ended, this rivalry hasn’t quite had the same umph as it once did. Yet, somehow, Louisville is still Louisville, and beating them will never get old. Seeing it done on their home court in person, even better.

The game itself will be intense, and Louisville is a fine city, I guess. But if you’re out of state, I would recommend saving your travel budget for one of the other three games on the list.

3. Michigan State in New York

New York is back on the travel map for Kentucky this year, this time for the Champions Classic against Michigan State. The ‘Cats laid an egg in the Big Apple last season, getting walloped by a pedestrian Ohio State team, a loss that Mark Pope called one of the worst of the season. Pope thinks Madison Square Garden is the (second) best arena in the world, so he will be out for revenge in this one.

Jack Dempsey’s will be rocking, no doubt, and in a city that notoriously doesn’t sleep, a mid-week game does not automatically equate to a lack of activities to do. The Statue of Liberty is a famous hunk of copper to look at, and Ground Zero is every bit as moving as you might think. Maybe you’ll even pull an Andrew Carr and get engaged on your trip to the big city.

But all that being said, you gotta want to get to New York on a Tuesday, and the Spartans aren’t the draw as some other teams on this list.

2. Gonzaga in Nashville

Last year’s game against Gonzaga in Seattle was one for the ages. An incredible comeback led by a defensive adjustment and Jaxson Robinson at the point gave Kentucky fans who made the trek to the Pacific Northwest a show they won’t soon forget.

This year’s battle against the Zags takes place a little closer to the Bluegrass in Big Blue Nation’s home away from home, Nashville, Tennessee. Kentucky fans are used to taking over Music City in the spring during the SEC Tournament, but they’ll have a chance to swarm Broadway in December this year. Even better, the game is on a Friday, giving BBN the rest of the weekend to soak in all that is Nashville and celebrate a ‘Cats victory.

Plus, the game takes place on my birthday, so give me a cheers when you see me at Tootsie’s.

1. St. John’s in Atlanta

This ranking last year featured a controversial No. 1 ranking, with Clemson landing the top spot for non-conference away game destinations. In hindsight, it was one of the worst takes a person with access to a keyboard and the Internet could have made. This year, though, the winner is clear, and I’m not sure how anyone could argue otherwise.

Two top-10 teams. Player versus former coach. Kentucky against Pitino. Cat-freaking-lanta. This one is going to be unbelievable.

BBN took over Atlanta last year when the team pulled out one of their several incredible wins of the year, dramatically beating Duke and giving Mark Pope his first signature win as Kentucky’s head coach. This year, with St. John’s taking UCLA’s place in the CBS Sports Classic, the stakes have gotten higher with Rick Pitino back roaming the opposing sideline.

Not quite as notorious, but we’ll also see former Wildcat Bryce Hopkins suit up for St. John’s in his second matchup against Kentucky, wearing the opposing team’s jersey. The ‘Cats beat Providence in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament, and they have beaten Pitino a million times (okay, 12, technically) but never in with a dynamic like this.

It will be a weekend of hearty Southern food and heartfelt basketball in Atlanta right before Christmas.