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.

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.