LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- I thought it would be a nice clip-and-save exercise to pull out some must-see games for local teams between now and New Year's Day. Turns out, you're probably going to want to make a spreadsheet.
The first week of December alone is a five-day blockbuster, with six major matchups, most national in scope.
So pace yourselves. This list is not exhaustive, but I tried to include a little from everybody.
But it is indicative of why this is one of the most anticipated basketball seasons in recent memory. My advice: Get your Christmas shopping done early. You're not going to have a lot of free time.
Enjoy:
Nov. 3: Bellarmine at Georgia, 7:30 p.m. (SECN+)
The first game of the Doug Davenport era at Bellarmine is a pretty tough SEC challenge on the road.
Nov. 4: UConn vs. Louisville women, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)
The Armed Forces Classic game has moved to Washington D.C. The government is shut down. These teams are not.
Nov. 9: Indiana vs. Marquette in Chicago, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
The teams split the difference and meet at the United Center for an important non-conference test for both.
Nov. 11: Kentucky at Louisville, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Why is Kentucky playing at Louisville on a weeknight in November at 8 p.m. I still am not clear. But we will be here for it.
Nov. 16: Louisville at Clemson (women), 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Cardinals visit Clemson for a ridiculously early ACC opener
Nov. 18: Kentucky vs. Michigan State, 6:30 (ESPN)
Part of the State Farm Champions Classic in Madison Square Garden. Tom Izzo's Spartans are preseason No. 22.
Nov. 21: Louisville at Cincinnati, 6:30 (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Pat Kelsey returns to his hometown for the renewal of an old rivalry in the Heritage Bank Center downtown
Nov. 22: Kentucky at Louisville (women), 2 p.m. (The CW)
The Wildcats, ranked No. 24 in the preseason, visit the KFC Yum! Center
Nov. 25: Kansas State at Indiana, 8 p.m. (FS1)
Kansas State visits Assembly Hall in the first true test of the Hoosiers under new coach Darian DeVries
Nov. 26: Kentucky vs. Maryland (women), 5:30 p.m. (Flosports)
Kentucky's opener in the Discover Puerto Rico Tournament draws the preaseason No. 10-ranked Terrapins.
Dec. 2: North Carolina at Kentucky, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
The Tar Heels visit Rupp in the ACC/SEC Challenge
Dec. 3: Louisville at Arkansas, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
It's old friends night as Louisville visits John Calipari and Kenny Payne in Bud Walton Arena in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Dec. 3: Indiana at Minnesota, 7 p.m. (BTN)
The Hoosiers open Big Ten play with an early trip to the Barn.
Dec. 4: South Carolina at Louisville (women), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Dawn Staley brings her highly ranked team to the KFC Yum! Center for the first time.
Dec. 5: Kentucky vs. Gonzaga (in Nashville), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Mark Pope takes his team to Bridgestone Arena for a high-powered matchup. The Zags are preseason No. 21.
Dec. 6: Louisville at Indiana in Indianapolis, 2 p.m. (CBS)
This rivalry renewal in Bankers Life Fieldhouse will be an appetizer before that night's Big Ten title game in Indianapolis that night (and the ACC title game in Charlotte, for that matter)
Dec. 9: Penn State at Indiana, 8:30 (FS1)
The Hoosiers' Big Ten home opener
Dec. 10: Ball State at Louisville women, 9 p.m. (ACCN)
Ball State returns four players from last season's MAC regular-season and tournament winners.
Dec. 13: Louisville at Memphis, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Renewal of one of Louisville's biggest rivalries at the FedEx forum in Memphis. The teams last met in 2017 in Brooklyn. Louisville hasn't been to Memphis since 2014.
Dec. 13: Indiana at Kentucky, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
The rivalry returns to campus sites beginning this season, in the only non-conference true road game of the season for IU
Dec. 14: Louisville at North Carolina (women), 4 p.m. (ACCN)
The Cardinals resume ACC play against a UNC team ranked No. 11 in the preseason featuring one of their former players – Nyla Harris.
Dec. 16: Louisville at Tennessee, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
The Cardinals pay a visit to Thompson-Boling Arena, a return for last year's home game in which the Vols physically bullied them.
Dec. 20: Louisville vs. Tennessee (women), 10:30 a.m. (FOX)
Jeff Walz takes his team to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the Women's Champions Classic. The Volunteers are preseason No. 8.
Dec. 20: Kentucky vs. St. John's, Atlanta, 12:30 p.m. (CBS)
You know, just your usual Rick Pitino vs. Kentucky matchup in the State Farm Classic.
Dec. 23: Bellarmine at Kentucky, 1:30 (SECN+)
A palate cleanser before Christmas. Not exactly a barn-burner expected, but a big experience for new Knights' coach Doug Davenport and his team heading to Rupp.
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