Mark Pope, Rick Pitino share excitement for Kentucky-St. John’s matchup in 2025

The Kentucky-St. John’s matchup pitting former UK coach Rick Pitino against Mark Pope is officially happening.

CBS Sports announced that the 2025 CBS Sports Classic will be held on Dec. 20 in Atlanta. The event will also feature North Carolina against Ohio State. Tipoff times for the 2 games will be announced at a later date.

“Obviously, Kentucky was Camelot for me, I’ve said it many times,” Pitino said in a released statement. “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.”

2025 CBS Sports Classic Matchups Announced

St. John’s joins this year’s elite doubleheader and will face Kentucky on Dec. 20 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta

Release: https://t.co/0snDdvP1as pic.twitter.com/WpN3wGqk6B

— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) May 1, 2025

To announce the matchup, Kentucky shared a video of a friendly FaceTime call between Pitino and Pope.

“It’s 30 years since you won your first national championship and I got mine, thanks to you,” Pope said to Pitino. “I think we should give the Johnnies and all of BBN the greatest Christmas gift ever on Dec. 20 in Catlanta.”

For Pitino, it’s hard to believe it’s been 3 decades.

“You know, it feels like it was about 7-8 years ago that we won the championship,” Pitino said to Pope. “I coached one of the greatest teams in the history of the game, and you were the captain.”

Christmas in Catlanta

Thank you, @CBSSports Classic, for making this happen. pic.twitter.com/PpAePu1fG1

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) May 1, 2025

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.