St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s to Meet Kentucky in Marquee Showdown in 2025 CBS Sports Classic on December 20
5/1/2025 12:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
2024-25 National Coach of the Year Rick Pitino and the Red Storm will square off with the Wildcats at State Farm Arena in Atlanta
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's men's basketball program will participate in a marquee showdown against Kentucky in the 12th edition of the CBS Sports Classic on Dec. 20 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, CBS announced on Thursday.
The CBS Sports Classic will feature a doubleheader as Ohio State will take on North Carolina before the Red Storm and Wildcats square off for the first time since 2011. Both games will air on CBS and will be streamed live on Paramount+. Tip times will be announced at a later date.
2024-25 National Coach of the Year Rick Pitino spent eight seasons leading Kentucky from 1989-1997 where he compiled a 219-50 (.814) overall record during his time in Lexington. Pitino guided the Wildcats back to national prominence winning five SEC Tournament titles, advancing to three Final Four's and capturing the 1996 National Championship.
On the opposite sideline will be Kentucky Head Coach Mark Pope, Pitino's former team captain from the 1996 National Championship team. In his first season leading the Wildcats, Pope led his alma mater to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019. The two have never met on the hardwood in the coaching ranks.
"Obviously, Kentucky was Camelot for me, I've said it many times," said Pitino. "So now to play against The Captain [Mark Pope], who made so many special moments for me and the team, in a battle that CBS is putting on is quite special. I will remember it for a long, long time."
The Johnnies and Wildcats will meet for the 17th time in the history of the two storied programs and first since 2011. The Red Storm's last victory over the then-No. 12 Wildcats came in the 2000-01 season opener at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 9, 2000, 62-61. In the last meeting on a neutral court, St. John's defeated Kentucky in the 1985 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, 86-70, on March 22 at McNichols Arena.
Pitino has faced off against his former program 18 times throughout his career, all of which came during his tenure at Louisville from 2001-17. In his last time facing the Wildcats, the Hall of Famer led the Cardinals to a 73-70 victory at home on Dec. 21, 2016.
The Red Storm is coming off a historic 2024-25 campaign tying a program record for single-season victories with a 31-5 overall mark and captured the BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Under the direction of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, the Red Storm won all 21 games in New York City and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Looking ahead to next season, Pitino returns BIG EAST Most Improved Player and First Team selection Zuby Ejiofor and welcomes the No. 1 transfer class in the country, according to 247Sports.
The CBS Sports Classic was established in 2014 and will return to Atlanta for the second time, where the event was held in 2023. This past season, the doubleheader was hosted at the Red Storm's home arena, Madison Square Garden.
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase official travel packages for the CBS Sports Classic, which will include game tickets for both contests of the doubleheader and hotel accommodations near State Farm Arena. Fan travel packages are set to go on sale in August, allowing fans exclusive early access to secure their seats for the event ahead of the launch of public ticket sales. Tickets for the general public will go on sale later in August.
Fans interested in attending the event can register to receive direct email alerts regarding ticket news and other event details at www.cbssportsclassic.com/tickets. Fans who register for these alerts will receive key information on travel package sales and will also be eligible for an exclusive ticket presale.
For more information on the CBS Sports Classic, visit their website.
The CBS Sports Classic will feature a doubleheader as Ohio State will take on North Carolina before the Red Storm and Wildcats square off for the first time since 2011. Both games will air on CBS and will be streamed live on Paramount+. Tip times will be announced at a later date.
2024-25 National Coach of the Year Rick Pitino spent eight seasons leading Kentucky from 1989-1997 where he compiled a 219-50 (.814) overall record during his time in Lexington. Pitino guided the Wildcats back to national prominence winning five SEC Tournament titles, advancing to three Final Four's and capturing the 1996 National Championship.
On the opposite sideline will be Kentucky Head Coach Mark Pope, Pitino's former team captain from the 1996 National Championship team. In his first season leading the Wildcats, Pope led his alma mater to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019. The two have never met on the hardwood in the coaching ranks.
"Obviously, Kentucky was Camelot for me, I've said it many times," said Pitino. "So now to play against The Captain [Mark Pope], who made so many special moments for me and the team, in a battle that CBS is putting on is quite special. I will remember it for a long, long time."
The Johnnies and Wildcats will meet for the 17th time in the history of the two storied programs and first since 2011. The Red Storm's last victory over the then-No. 12 Wildcats came in the 2000-01 season opener at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 9, 2000, 62-61. In the last meeting on a neutral court, St. John's defeated Kentucky in the 1985 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, 86-70, on March 22 at McNichols Arena.
Pitino has faced off against his former program 18 times throughout his career, all of which came during his tenure at Louisville from 2001-17. In his last time facing the Wildcats, the Hall of Famer led the Cardinals to a 73-70 victory at home on Dec. 21, 2016.
The Red Storm is coming off a historic 2024-25 campaign tying a program record for single-season victories with a 31-5 overall mark and captured the BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Under the direction of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, the Red Storm won all 21 games in New York City and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Looking ahead to next season, Pitino returns BIG EAST Most Improved Player and First Team selection Zuby Ejiofor and welcomes the No. 1 transfer class in the country, according to 247Sports.
The CBS Sports Classic was established in 2014 and will return to Atlanta for the second time, where the event was held in 2023. This past season, the doubleheader was hosted at the Red Storm's home arena, Madison Square Garden.
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase official travel packages for the CBS Sports Classic, which will include game tickets for both contests of the doubleheader and hotel accommodations near State Farm Arena. Fan travel packages are set to go on sale in August, allowing fans exclusive early access to secure their seats for the event ahead of the launch of public ticket sales. Tickets for the general public will go on sale later in August.
Fans interested in attending the event can register to receive direct email alerts regarding ticket news and other event details at www.cbssportsclassic.com/tickets. Fans who register for these alerts will receive key information on travel package sales and will also be eligible for an exclusive ticket presale.
For more information on the CBS Sports Classic, visit their website.
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