Mark Pope took questions for over half an hour on Tuesday, and nobody in the room asked about Kentucky adding St. John’s to its upcoming basketball schedule. The CBS Sports Classic recently announced that Pope will face his old coach, Rick Pitino, in 2025, as Pitino’s Johnnies replace UCLA in the annual December showcase. Yet, no curiosity in the matchup from the crowd at Pope’s offseason press conference.
So, Pope brought the game up himself before exiting stage right.
“Nobody asked about St. John’s? Is this possible?” he asked the room. “I’m excited. You guys aren’t excited about this?
“Wow. Man, I’ve been working hard on this game, and I’m so grateful to CBS, I’m grateful to UCLA. I don’t know what happened with UCLA, but somehow they’re not in this, and St John’s is. It’s awesome. I’m so hyped.”
The Pope-Pitino reunion at the 2025 CBS Sports Classic will take place on Saturday, December 20, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. North Carolina and Ohio State will open the doubleheader, followed by Kentucky versus St. John’s in the main event. The tip-off times will be announced at a later date.
A fashionable challenge to Pitino
To drum up more excitement around Kentucky versus St. John’s, Pope threw out a challenge to Pitino and Pitino’s tailor: “I’m putting this out there so Coach P can hear it: I am bringing the suit game. I already started planning. Coach, just be ready. Okay, bring it.”
Pope confirmed that he won’t copy Pitino’s trademark all-white suit, noting, “I’m not trying to be The Don, that position has already been taken.”
Still, Pope intends to beat Pitino at Pitino’s own game, suits, as Kentucky and St. John’s play out the basketball game.
“I’m bringing the thunder,” Pope warned. “I don’t know what coach has prepared, but he better get with his tailor, because it’s on right now.”
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