Rick Pitino Has Confirmed Home-And-Home Series With Kentucky
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 10: Head coach Rick Pitino of the St. John's Red Storm reacts during the first half against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Fiserv Forum on February 10, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Rick Pitino will be headed back to Kentucky to coach against his former program in 2025-26.
Pitino confirmed an upcoming home-and-home between St. John's and Kentucky in a text to NJ Advance Media's Adam Zagoria on Monday.
The non-conference series will open in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Kentucky's 1995-96 national championship team, which Pitino coached.
“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 Zagoria, adding that "contracts haven't been signed" yet but an agreement was in place.
The seeds for this matchup were planted last month by new Kentucky head coach Mark Pope, who played for Pitino on that 1995-96 squad. During his introductory press conference, Pope suggested a future series with St. John's.
Pitino quickly accepted the challenge.
"Wow, just saw clips from our Captain’s press conference. Not shocked, but pleasantly surprised. Would expect nothing less from @CoachMarkPope," Pitino wrote on X/Twitter. "Also, @StJohnsBBall accepts, this year at UK, next year at the Mecca! Looking forward to saying goodbye to @KentuckyMBB."
Pitino served as Kentucky's head coach from 1989-97, going 219-50 overall with five trips to the Elite Eight, three Final Four appearances and that 1996 national championship.
In his first season at St. John's, the Hall of Fame coach led the Red Storm to a 20-13 record. The program declined an NIT bid after being left out of the NCAA Tournament.
