Mark Pope to face off against Rick Pitino on a national stage next season

Mark Pope is heading into his second season at UK.

ATLANTA, Ga. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Kentucky and Head Coach Mark Pope will take on former head Wildcat Rick Pitino and St. Johns in the 2025 edition of the CBS Sports Classic on December 20 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

“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.”

 Pitino was the head coach at Kentucky from 1989-1997, and Pope was the captain of the 1995-96 Wildcat team that won the national championship. The Cats and the Red Storm have met 16 times with UK owning an 11-5 advantage in the series.

The Buckeyes will take on the Tar Heels in the first game and will be followed by the Red Storm facing the Wildcats. Both games of the doubleheader will air on The CBS Television Network and stream live on Paramount+.

Tip times will be announced at a later date.