This year’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge will take Kentucky to Morgantown, West Virginia for the first time since 1970. If I had to pick one road trip to take this season, this would be it. Not only are the 11th ranked Mountaineers really good, they’re already hyped about hosting the Cats, with Bob Huggins inviting John Calipari to his annual fish fry the night before and couches being put aside in anticipation of postgame celebrations. If you want to see what Kentucky can do against a quality opponent in a rowdy road atmosphere, this is it.
Best road trip with the worst timing: UCLA in New Orleans, December 23
I made a pact with myself several years ago to never fly or go to Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve, but I’m breaking it this year because I also made a pact after the 2012 National Championship to never pass on the opportunity to see Kentucky play in New Orleans again (biggest regret of my life).