And with that season-opener being against top-ranked Michigan State in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York, it’ll be trial by fire for the young Wildcats.
Facing National Player of the Year candidate Cassius Winston and 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward Xavier Tillman, among other talented Spartans, you can’t ask for a bigger test to start the year.
So with the exhibition slate now complete, what is the Kentucky coaching staff doing to prepare the Wildcats for the No. 1 team in all of college basketball?
Preaching toughness.
“I think it’s something that [Coach] Cal has touched on probably from the first time he met with you all,” Kentucky assistant coach Joel Justus said following the team’s blowout victory over Kentucky State on Friday evening.