The 2012–13 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2012–13 college basketball season. The team's head coach was John Calipari, who was in his fourth season. They played their home games at Rupp Arena and were members of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 21–12, 12–6 in SEC play to finish in a three-way tie for second place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament to Vanderbilt. They were invited to the 2013 NIT where they lost in the first round to Robert Morris.