▁Br is co e ▁and ▁Mon k ▁were ▁named ▁to ▁the ▁All - SE C ▁Second ▁Team . ▁ ▁USA ▁Today ▁announced ▁its ▁initial ▁coach es ▁poll ▁on ▁October ▁ 1 5 ▁with ▁Kentucky ▁ranked ▁as ▁No . ▁ 4 ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁The ▁Associ ated ▁Press ▁announced ▁on ▁October ▁ 3 1 ▁that ▁Kentucky ▁was ▁ranked ▁No . ▁ 2 ▁to ▁start ▁the ▁season ▁in ▁its ▁initial ▁poll ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁ ▁Events ▁On ▁July ▁ 1 8 ▁Kentucky ▁released ▁the ▁non - con ference ▁portion ▁of ▁its ▁schedule . ▁The ▁schedule ▁is ▁highlight ed ▁by ▁marque e ▁match - ups ▁at ▁Ru pp ▁Arena ▁and ▁across ▁the ▁country . ▁Kentucky ▁will ▁travel ▁to ▁New ▁York ▁to ▁play ▁Michigan ▁State ▁in ▁the ▁annual ▁Champions ▁Classic , ▁to ▁the ▁Bah am as ▁to ▁play ▁Arizona ▁State , ▁back ▁to ▁New ▁York ▁to ▁play ▁Hof stra , ▁to ▁Las ▁Veg as ▁to ▁play ▁against ▁North ▁Carolina ▁in ▁the ▁annual ▁CBS ▁Sports ▁Classic , ▁and ▁finally ▁to ▁Louis ville ▁to ▁face ▁in - state ▁rival ▁Louis ville .. ▁Kentucky ▁will ▁also ▁host ▁U CLA ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁Kansas ▁in ▁the ▁Big ▁ 1 2 / SE C ▁Challenge . ▁ ▁T ick ets ▁for ▁Big ▁Blue ▁Mad ness , ▁Kentucky ' s ▁version ▁of ▁Mid night ▁Mad ness ▁went ▁on ▁sale ▁and ▁sold ▁out ▁on ▁September ▁ 3 0 . ▁ ▁Big ▁Blue ▁Mad ness ▁took ▁place ▁on ▁October ▁ 1 4 . ▁The ▁event ▁deb uted ▁the ▁team