Rick Pitino’s St. John’s will face Mark Pope’s Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic.

Rick Pitino will face off against his former captain, Mark Pope, in this year’s CBS Sports Classic. The highly anticipated matchup between St. John’s and Kentucky was confirmed during a FaceTime call between the two coaches. The game will take place on Saturday, Dec. 20, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, replacing UCLA in the event’s double-header lineup.

Pope, who captained Pitino’s 1996 Kentucky national championship team, called it “the greatest Christmas gift ever” during the call. Pitino reflected on their championship years, humorously noting, “It feels like six or seven years ago that we won the championship… Now we get to coach against each other.”

In addition to St. John’s and Kentucky, this year’s CBS Sports Classic will feature Ohio State and North Carolina. The event, which rotates between cities each season, is part of a star-studded non-conference schedule, similar to the Champions Classic, in which Kentucky also participates.

The matchup is particularly meaningful, as it marks the first meeting between Pitino and Pope since Pitino led Kentucky to a national title in 1996. Although a home-and-home series had been discussed, Pitino had previously indicated it wouldn’t happen soon. This game, however, fulfills a long-awaited coaching reunion.

St. John’s, bolstered by a strong roster of transfer players, including Ian Jackson and Bryce Hopkins, is poised for a strong 2025-26 season. Pitino’s tenure at Kentucky included a national title, five SEC titles, and six NCAA Tournament berths. Pope’s first season at Kentucky included a Sweet 16 run and a 24-12 record.