Kentucky announces three-year series with Notre Dame

by:Mrs. Tyler Thompson05/28/20

@MrsTylerKSR

Joe Robbins/Getty Images North America

The Fighting Irish are coming to Rupp Arena. Kentucky just announced a three-year series with Notre Dame, with the first game taking place December 12, 2020 in Lexington, the second game at a to-be-determined neutral site on December 11, 2021, and the third game in South Bend on December 10, 2022.

“If our previous games are any indication, this is going to be a great series,” John Calipari said in a release from UK. “I can remember playing Notre Dame in 2010 in Freedom Hall and Ben Hansbrough going crazy in the first half and Terrence Jones willing us to victory in the second half. We went to South Bend a couple years later and that place was nuts. The football team was there and they thumped us. And then the game in 2015 in the Elite Eight was one of the best all-around games I’ve been a part of. Elite play from both teams.

“I’ve got a feeling these three games are going to provide some similar battles. Mike Brey is a terrific coach who always builds teams that are going to fight and give you everything they’ve got. I really like how our non-conference schedule is coming together for the next few seasons.”

Kentucky and Notre Dame have only met eight times in Lexington, with the Cats coming out on top in every meeting. UK leads the series 10-6 in South Bend, Indiana, but the Irish have won two straight in the series at home, including a 64-50 win in 2012.

Here is next year’s schedule as we know it:

  • Kansas – Nov. 10 | United Center (Chicago) | Champions Classic
  • Detroit Mercy – Nov. 13 | Rupp Arena | Bluegrass Showcase
  • Hartford – Nov. 17 | Rupp Arena | Bluegrass Showcase
  • Georgia State – Nov. 20 | Rupp Arena
  • Richmond – Nov. 23 | Rupp Arena | Bluegrass Showcase
  • Georgia Tech – Nov. 27 | State Farm Arena (Atlanta) | Holiday Hoopsgiving
  • Cleveland State – Nov. 30 | Rupp Arena
  • Notre Dame – Dec. 12 | Rupp Arena
  • UCLA – Dec. 19 | TBA | CBS Sports Classic

Kentucky needed a marquee non-conference game to replace the game vs. Michigan in London, which was postponed due to the pandemic. Bring it, Brey.

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