Mark Pope and Rick Pitino celebrate the upcoming basketball season during Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 at Rupp Arena.

Pitino returned to Rupp Arena last October for the Big Blue Madness event and made his first public appearance at the venue since 2015, when he was the head coach at Louisville.

Mark Pope vs. Rick Pitino is officially on the 2025-26 college basketball ... Kentucky head coach Mark Pope stands with former UK coach Rick Pitino during Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena on Oct. 11.

This is extremely exciting for Kentucky fans as it means Mark Pope will face off with his former coach, Rick Pitino. Ever since Pope took the job in Lexington, the two elite coaches have wanted to ...

Pitino immediately endorsed his former star as the two have remained close, with Pope bringing out his former coach during the 2024 Big Blue Madness event, teasing facing St. John’s during his ...

Pitino guided Kentucky back from NCAA sanctions to the 1996 national championship before later becoming an enemy to the fervent fan base for coaching rival University of Louisville.

DETROIT — Rick Pitino will face his former captain next year in a blockbuster non-conference showdown in Atlanta. St. John’s has signed on to face Kentucky and coach Mark Pope in the CBS ...

When Mark Pope took the job as the head coach of the Kentucky basketball program, all of Big Blue Nation wanted him to schedule a game against St. John's.

Mark Pope and Rick Pitino will face off during the 2025-26 college basketball season, ... Last October, the former UK head coach was a surprise guest at Big Blue Madness, ...

Pitino led St. John's to the Big East regular-season and conference tournament championships in his second season at the helm in 2024-25, while Pope guided Kentucky to the Sweet 16 in his debut ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mark Pope versus Rick Pitino is officially on the 2025-26 college basketball schedule. But this matchup between student and teacher won’t be happening in Rupp Arena, as was ...