Kentucky head coach Mark Pope is pulling out all the stops to see Rick Pitino, one of the most legendary figures in Wildcats history, coach once again at Rupp Arena—this time leading St. John’s.
Since his arrival at Kentucky, Pope has been vocal about wanting a home-and-home series with Pitino, the current St. John’s head coach. Both sides have shown interest, but finalizing the deal has proven to be a challenge. Despite the back-and-forth discussions, Pope remains hopeful.
“We desperately want to get Coach Pitino back to Rupp Arena because he’s so revered,” Pope told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. “If we get something done, it will be at the 11th hour.”
Honoring Pitino’s Legacy
Pope’s urgency to make this series a reality stems from two key reasons. Next season marks the 30th anniversary of Kentucky’s 1996 national championship, a team coached by Pitino. Additionally, with Pitino now 72 years old, opportunities for such a historic matchup are dwindling.
The proposed series would have St. John’s visit Rupp Arena during the 2025-26 season, followed by Kentucky traveling to face the Red Storm in New York for the 2026-27 season.
A Meaningful Return
Pitino made a triumphant return to Lexington earlier this year during Big Blue Madness, where he received a warm welcome from Kentucky fans. A potential game at Rupp, however, would mark the first time he returns to the iconic arena as an opponent since his time as Louisville’s head coach.
“If there is anything right in the basketball world, Coach P should be in this gym next year to celebrate 30,” Pope said in a previous interview. “He just should be. We’re working on it.”
Kentucky’s existing scheduling commitments have made finalizing the deal tricky, but Pope is determined to make it happen. If the basketball gods are smiling, Rupp Arena could once again see Rick Pitino in action—this time in a game that’s sure to be steeped in emotion and history.
Stay tuned to see if this long-anticipated matchup becomes a reality.
