Fansided

8 early-season college basketball games that will be must-watch affairs

By Mike Phillips

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates in the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the quarterfinals of the 2022 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on March 11, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates in the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the quarterfinals of the 2022 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on March 11, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 19: Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins dribbles the ball during the second half against the St. Mary’s Gaels in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 19: Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins dribbles the ball during the second half against the St. Mary’s Gaels in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

7. CBS Sports Classic – UCLA vs. Kentucky

  • Date: Dec. 17, 2022
  • Location: New York, NY
  • Venue: Madison Square Garden
  • Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
  • TV: CBS

The CBS Sports Classic heads to the bright lights of New York City with a stellar pair of games. While North Carolina and Ohio State is an exciting opener, the real attention will come in the second half of the doubleheader as UCLA squares off with Kentucky in a matchup of two of the bluest blue bloods in the sport.

The Bruins are just two years removed from a Final Four appearance and still have Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez around to guide a team with aspirations of getting back to the Final Four. This matchup with the Wildcats is another excellent game that John Calipari has scheduled in order to have his team battle tested for the NCAA Tournament.

8. Big 12/SEC Challenge – Kansas at Kentucky

  • Date: Jan. 28, 2023
  • Location: Lexington, KY
  • Venue: Rupp Arena
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN

The Big 12/SEC Challenge is loaded with stellar matchups but the biggest is the Kansas-Kentucky rematch at Rupp Arena. The low point of the season for the Jayhawks last year was watching the Wildcats storm into Allen Fieldhouse and leave with a 20-point win, embarrassing Kansas on its home floor and offering plenty of motivation for revenge.

Bill Self will be back well in advance of this game for Kansas and should have the Jayhawks playing at peak form in the season’s final major non-conference event. The Wildcats will also be up to the challenge of a visit from Kansas, offering an excellent display of basketball to whet our appetites for the NCAA Tournament, which will begin roughly six weeks after this game.

dark. Next. FanSided Preseason Top 25 for College Basketball

For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.