Pitino to face Kentucky for very first time considering that 2016

• Jeff BorzelloMay 1, 2025, 11:48 AM ET

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  • Basketball recruiting insider.
  • Joined ESPN in 2014.
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John’s is replacing UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic and will deal with Kentucky next season on Dec. 20, the network revealed Thursday.The annual four-team doubleheader debuted in 2014 and has included North Carolina, Ohio State, Kentucky and UCLA in each of the past 11 seasons. The 2025 event will occur at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.The matchup puts St. John’s coach Rick Pitino versus his former school and player in Kentucky coach Mark Pope. Both teams were also in the top 10 of ESPN’s leading 25 rankings in April.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated”I believe we must provide the Johnnies and all of BBN the best Christmas

gift ever, on Dec. 20 in Catlanta. What do

you say?” Pope said to Pitino in a social media video revealing the matchup.Pitino coached at Kentucky from 1989 to 1997, leading the Wildcats to the championship game in 1996. Pope was on the national title team under Pitino and took control of as UK coach last spring. When Pope was tabbed to change John Calipari, Pitino praised the hire and made a look at Big Blue Madness in October.After leaving the Wildcats for an NBA stint with the Boston Celtics, Pitino went back to college coaching at Louisville in 2001 and went 6-12 against Kentucky. The St. John’s -Kentucky match will be Pitino’s very first game versus the Wildcats considering that 2016.”Obviously, Kentucky was Camelot for me, I have actually stated it lot of times,”Pitino said in a declaration. “So now to bet The Captain [Pope], who made many unique minutes for me and

the group, in a fight that CBS is putting on is rather unique. I will remember it for a long, long period of time. “Pitino led St. John’s to the Big East regular-season and conference competition champions in his 2nd season at the helm in 2024-25, while Pope guided Kentucky to the Sweet 16 in his debut campaign.UCLA director of athletics Martin Jarmond said

in a statement that the school need to be”tactical and have some flexibility”as they explore future schedule alternatives.” We want to strengthen our home schedule, and I understand that our fans are thrilled for the chance to add a game in Pauley Structure,” Jarmond said.Bruins coach Mick Cronin has made obvious of his contempt for his team’s travel schedule throughout Huge 10 play. UCLA and the other West Coast groups in the Big 10 deal with a few of the most difficult travel of any power-conference teams in the nation.”We need to go back 4 times,”Cronin said in January.” Oh, the Big 10 groups

get to come to Los Angeles where it’s 70 degrees one time a year. They do not even have to switch hotels. We are 12 miles apart. Are you joke me? Please inform me you’re kidding me.” We have actually seen the Statue of Liberty two times in the last 3 weeks while we were landing. We likewise saw the Capitol Building. And we have actually still got to return, and after that we have actually got to go back for the Big Ten tournament. They do it one time.”Also in January, while discussing how UCLA returned from a trip in the early hours of the early morning and after that had

to play a couple of days later on versus a group with a much longer break in between games, Cronin said,”When you offer your soul to tv, that’s simply the method it is.”