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The team that has broken Utah fan’s hearts for years is now on the schedule for the next couple of seasons. The Utes will travel to Lexington, KY, next season to take on the Wildcats, and UK will play the Utes the following season at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Bill Riley broke the news on Twitter this afternoon.
BREAKING..@ESPN700 has learned the Utah Basketball has agreed to a two game series with Kentucky. Utah will play at Rupp this season & meet Kentucky at T-Mobile arena in Vegas the following year. #Utes @UtahMBB
— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) May 15, 2018
The Utes last played Kentucky in the Sweet 16 in 2005, when Kentucky ended the Utes season, for what is probably the millionth time in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky has ended Utah’s season in the Sweet 16 multiple times, including in 1996, the Elite 8 in 1997, and the championship game in 1998. The Wildcats have been the Utes’ kryptonite for years, and they’ll have a chance to get them in the regular season the next couple of years.
It’s a bit disappointing they couldn’t get them to come to the Huntsman Center, but it’s always fun to make a trip to Vegas to watch some hoops. Next year is shaping up to be an interesting one, especially with the incoming youngsters.
The Utah Basketball Non-conference schedule now includes..
— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) May 15, 2018
at Kentucky, at Missouri, Tulsa, BYU, 3 games at the Wooden Classic in Anaheim. #Utes @UtahMBB
It will be fun to watch Coach K and crew get the young team ready to go against the consistently young, but super talented team from Coach Calipari.