Pitino vs. Pope Set for CBS Sports Classic as Kentucky Faces St. John’s in Atlanta
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino addressed the media Wednesday night before a Mets-Marlins baseball game in New York, but the bigger news broke Thursday: Kentucky and St. John’s will face off on December 20, 2025, in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena as part of the newly reshaped CBS Sports Classic.
Originally, Kentucky was set to play UCLA in this year’s event, but with UCLA now in the Big Ten and sharing a conference with fellow CBS Sports Classic participant Ohio State, event organizers made a switch. St. John’s, the defending Big East champion, steps in as UCLA’s replacement. The other game will feature Ohio State versus North Carolina. Both matchups will air on CBS and stream on Paramount Plus, with tipoff times to be announced. Kentucky-St. John’s will be the second game of the doubleheader. Tickets go on sale in August, with presale information available at cbssportsclassic.com/tickets.
A FaceTime call between Pitino and Kentucky head coach Mark Pope, shared on social media, accompanied the official announcement. “I love you so much, man. Let’s go make this happen,” Pope said. Pitino responded, “Love you, Mark. It’s so exciting for both programs… I look forward to a great Christmas.”
Pitino, a Hall of Famer who coached Kentucky from 1989 to 1997, rebuilt the Wildcats into a powerhouse, winning the 1996 NCAA title and making another Final Four in 1993. He left for the NBA in 1997 but later returned to college basketball with Kentucky rival Louisville, where he coached for 16 seasons. Though once a villain to many UK fans, Pitino has been warmly welcomed back in recent years, including a standing ovation at Rupp Arena during Big Blue Madness last October.
Pope, a player on Pitino’s 1996 championship team, was hired as UK’s head coach after John Calipari left for Arkansas. He’s spoken often about his admiration for Pitino and hoped to bring him back to Lexington for a game commemorating their championship team’s 30th anniversary. While the matchup won’t take place at Rupp Arena, it is now officially part of the 2025–26 schedule.
The Kentucky-St. John’s showdown has all the makings of a marquee game. Pope led a newly built Kentucky team to a 3-seed and Sweet 16 finish in his debut season. Pitino’s second year at St. John’s saw the program win its first outright Big East title in four decades and notch its first NCAA Tournament win since 2000. The Red Storm were eventually eliminated by Calipari’s Arkansas team in the second round.
Both teams are projected to be national contenders. CBS Sports ranks St. John’s No. 2 in its early Top 25 for next season, with Kentucky at No. 11. Pitino’s roster features standout returner Zuby Ejiofor and the nation’s top-ranked transfer class, including Bryce Hopkins (a former Wildcat), Ian Jackson, Joson Sanon, and Dillon Mitchell. Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis is in the NBA draft process but has also entered the transfer portal.
At Kentucky, Pope awaits a decision from leading scorer Otega Oweh, who has until May 28 to declare whether he’ll stay in the draft or return. If he comes back, he’ll rejoin key players like Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, and Trent Noah. Kentucky also boasts the No. 4 transfer class nationally and a strong freshman group, highlighted by McDonald’s All-American center Malachi Moreno, five-star guard Jasper Johnson, and international big man Andrija Jelavic.
Kentucky’s non-conference schedule is loaded: matchups with Michigan State and Gonzaga at neutral sites, a road game at Louisville, Indiana at Rupp Arena, and an ACC/SEC Challenge game still to be announced.
Pitino, who turns 73 in September, earned AP Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career this past season. At that awards ceremony, he once again praised Pope. “Kentucky hired the right man,” he said. “Mark will be brilliant for so many years. He’s humble, caring, and a great offensive mind.”
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