Report: Kentucky finalizing plans for preseason basketball tournament involving 4 teams

The college basketball season is set to start on Nov. 25 this year, which is later than normal, but better than nothing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, it was reported that Kentucky was finalizing plans to host an MTE (multi-team event) with 3 other schools in Lexington.

Per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Kentucky will host Detroit (where Kentucky coach John Calipari’s son plays), Hartford and Richmond, playing each school once:

Kentucky plans to host its own MTE in a pod format in Lexington, sources tell @CBSSports. Detroit, Hartford + Richmond are in the final stages of agreeing to play w/ UK in first week of the season. Each team would play each other once. Three doubleheaders over four or five days.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) September 19, 2020

However, this does mean that Kentucky wouldn’t be able to play in any sort of Champions Classic if it were to happen (which seems unlike) this year:

One more thing to note: Unless an exception is made, this ends any hope that Champions Classic could include a scenario in which UK/Duke/MSU/KU would all play two 2 of the other 3 teams in that field. There was a little buzz on that a while back. Only one MTE allowed per team.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) September 19, 2020

With those 3 teams in the mix, this will likely just be a tune-up for the Wildcats as they get ready for the SEC portion of their schedule. However, after they lost to Evansville in upset fashion last year, you can bet Calipari won’t be letting his players overlook any opponent this season.