The University of Kentucky men’s basketball program has officially added Rick Pitino’s St. John’s Red Storm to its 2025-26 non-conference schedule, setting the stage for a headline-grabbing matchup that is sure to stir excitement and nostalgia among college basketball fans.
The game marks the first time Kentucky will face a team coached by Pitino since his controversial departure from Louisville in 2017. Pitino, who led Kentucky to a national title in 1996 and revitalized the program in the 1990s, returned to college basketball with Iona in 2020 and took over St. John’s in 2023.
The matchup is expected to take place at Rupp Arena, though final details including date and television coverage have not yet been announced. The game is part of Kentucky’s aggressive non-conference scheduling strategy under head coach Mark Pope, designed to boost NCAA Tournament résumé and fan engagement.
“We’re always looking to challenge ourselves and deliver marquee matchups,” said Pope in a statement. “Bringing Rick Pitino and St. John’s to Lexington is not just great for our players—it’s great for college basketball.”
This game will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated early-season matchups, pairing a rising St. John’s team with the tradition-rich Wildcats. It also reunites Pitino with a fanbase that still has mixed emotions about his legacy.
