Report: Kentucky to face Rick Pitino, St. John's in CBS Sports Classic

St. John’s is replacing UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic, per David Berov. The Red Storm will square off against Kentucky in their inaugural appearance in the highly-touted event. North Carolina and Ohio State will retain their spots in the showcase.

The Kentucky-St. John’s showdown will have no shortage of storylines. St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino won a national championship at Kentucky in 1996. The team captain was Mark Pope, the current head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Pitino hasn’t been shy to support his former pupil. When Kentucky hired Pope last spring, Pitino voiced his support for Pope, reassuring Kentucky fans that they were getting an excellent coach.

Pope returned the favor, inviting Pitino to Big Blue Madness, along with the former members of the 1996 National Championship team. Pitino stole the spotlight, walking on the Rupp Arena floor to a standing ovation; a scene that would’ve seemed impossible only two years ago.

While Kentucky fans hailed the moment as a healing opportunity, some St. John’s fans weren’t happy to see their head coach dressed in another program’s attire. Pitino quickly put fans’ frustrations to rest by leading the Red Storm to a regular-season conference title and a Big East Tournament championship.

In the south, Pope made Pitino proud, leading the Wildcats to a program-record eight Top 15 wins and an appearance in the Sweet 16 in his debut campaign at the helm. After the season, Pitino praised Pope’s success.

“I always follow the guys I coached and I followed them religiously this year, rooting for them all the time,” Pitino said during a ceremony in San Antonio, TX. “Mark did a fabulous job this year playing a very difficult schedule. I loved the way his guys play. I loved the offenses he runs. I loved the way they moved the ball, they shared the basketball. I knew he’d be a great coach. There was no doubt in my mind.

“You never know when your players are going to be great coaches or not, but I went to see Mark and at that point I knew he’d be a great coach. Kentucky hired the right man. Mark will be brilliant for so many years, such a humble person, such a caring person, and such a great offensive mind. So yes. I followed them all the time, religiously.”

Evidently, it’ll be easy for Pitino to build a scouting report against the ‘Cats. Kentucky lost 85-65 to Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic last year. Dates haven’t been announced for the event in the upcoming season.