Rick Pitino says St. John’s and Kentucky will play a home-and-home beginning during the 2025-26 season to honor the 30th anniversary of Kentucky’s 1996 NCAA championship team. “For our 30th anniversary next year we will go to Rupp [Arena] and they will return to MSG the following year [2026-27],” Pitino told NJ Advance Media by text Tuesday night.

Former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino told NJ.com's Adam Zagoria the home-and-home series between UK and St. John's is set to begin in 2025-26.

There has been a lot of scheduling news in the previous week, with Kentucky basketball scheduling Western Kentucky this season and their SEC opponents announced. On top of that, fans got the exciting

One of the easiest, more obvious scheduling plans for Kentucky early on in Mark Pope’s tenure would be a matchup with Rick Pitino, his head coach while with the Wildcats in the 90s. Now, those contests between the two are unofficially official.

Among the reasons prized Seton Hall transfer Kadary Richmond picked St. John’s, at the top of the list was Rick Pitino’s history of player development, and in particular his work in improving his players’ jump shots. The 6-foot-6 Richmond’s one weakness is his long-range jumper.