It's Pope vs. Pitino as Kentucky Faces St. John's This December

As a longtime college basketball fan, I'm well aware that May through July is kind of a dead period as far as big collegiate hoops news is concerned. Every sport takes somewhat of a backseat in its off-season.

Mark Pope and Rick Pitino

But May 2025 kicked off with some exciting basketball news, and it's news that Kentucky fans have been waiting to hear every since former UK star and captain of the 1996 National Championship team, Mark Pope, was named the Wildcats' head coach in April of 2024. In fact, at the massive event welcoming Pope, that hope was fueled by the appearance of hall-of-famer Rick Pitino, who coached the Cats' to a 34-2 season in 1995-1996 and that year's national title.

At first, it was a matter of whether or not Kentucky and St. John's (Pitino's current school) could schedule the game. But fate and another iconic college hoops program intervened.

Kentucky vs. St. John's

Every December, there's an event called the CBS Sports Classic. It began in 2014 as a showcase for four of the top programs in college hoops. Since the beginning those four teams have been Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA, and Ohio State. But, for travel reasons, UCLA is bowing out for 2025-2026, meaning the organizers had to find a replacement. In stepped the St. John's Red Storm and their hall of fame coach who, along with Coach Pope, took some time to discuss the match-up and reminisce about that magic season 30 years ago.

Since both teams figure to be pre-season top 10 squads, and it's...well, for crying out loud, it's Rick Pitino coaching against Kentucky, the atmosphere should be electrifying in Atlanta, ahem, CATlanta.

Oh, and North Carolina and Ohio State will be there, too.