Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

As one of the most successful and popular NCAA college basketball teams in the country, the Kentucky Wildcats frequently play in front of sold out crowds at their home Rupp Arena, which is one of the largest arenas in Division 1 NCAA basketball. Many would consider the Wildcats to be the top college basketball program in the United States, with 8 NCAA championships (second only to the UCLA Bruins), 68 total postseason appearances (the most of any team in America), and 131 total March Madness wins (tied with the North Carolina Tar Heels for first). The Wildcats were the first NCAA team to register 1000 wins (way back in 1968) and 2000 wins (in 2009). Famous Wildcats alumni include star players like Anthony Davis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey, and Bam Adebayo have gone on to dominate in the NBA. The 1948 Wildcats team not only won the NCAA title but went on to represent the United States at the 1948 London Olympics, taking home the gold! In recent years, the Wildcats posted an impressive run of 4 Final Four appearances in just 5 seasons (from 2011-2015), winning the 2012 tournament and finishing as runners-up in 2014. Since 2015, however, they have not been further than the Elite 8 and endured a disappointing tournament last year in 2023 when they were knocked out in the second round 79-76 by the Florida Atlantic Owls. For most teams, this wouldn’t be cause for alarm, but by the Wildcats’ standards, and those of their fans, more will be expected in the seasons to come. 

Is it hard to get cheap tickets to Kentucky Wildcats games?

Any team that has been as successful over the decades at a national level as the Kentucky Wildcats is going to inspire a huge popular following among both local fans and fans of NCAA basketball in general. With past Wildcats players like Anthony Davis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey, and Bam Adebayo moving on to the NBA, hoops aficionados are also keen to discover the next big star of the future. Wildcats fans have been known to drive from all over Kentucky and further afield just to see the Wildcats play. Many even travel to away games and the NCAA March Madness tournament. While this generates an incredible atmosphere at Wildcats, it can make tickets difficult to find, especially for postseason tournament games, key conference deciders or rivalry matchups (see below). For the cheapest tickets to Kentucky Wildcats games, check the TicketX listings on this page, using our handy TicketX seating chart to compare prices and locations. Tickets can be purchased from TicketX with a single click for the lowest commission fees! 

Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Rivalries

Any basketball team that has been winning NCAA championships since the 1940s is going to make a few enemies on the way and the Kentucky Wildcats are no exception. The team’s most heated rivalry is with their fellow Kentuckyans, the Louisville Cardinals, without any shadow of a doubt. While the Cardinals have had their fair share of success over the years, the ‘Cats hold a 38-17 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams (for many years, Kentucky refused to even play Cards, thinking it beneath them…) and won the two teams’ last meeting 95-76, but their next game in December 2024 will no doubt be another hotly contested affair. Other rivals include the Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, Kansas Jayhawks, UConn Huskies, Florida Gators, and Tennessee Volunteers. The Wildcats also have a rivalry from afar with the UCLA Bruins based on the Bruins being the only NCAA basketball team with more overall championships titles. 

Are Kentucky Wildcats basketball games exciting?

Rupp Arenais famous for the atmosphere generated by its passionate Kentucky Wildcats basketball fans and is frequently described as one of the loudest arenas in all of American college sports. Responding to a particularly energized crowd at an emotional win over Kansas in 1990, an TV commentator even compared facing the crowd at Rupp Arenato going “up against the lions at the Roman Coliseum.” Clad in blue, Wildcats supporters begin their game days early, packing the neighboring Hyatt Regency Hotel’s lobby and restaurants downtown in a basketball fans’ take on pre-game tailgating.