Mike Woodson talking with John Calipari about renewing UK-IU series

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It was around this time last year that Indiana’s first-year head coach Mike Woodson sparked the idea of renewing the Hoosiers’ annual basketball series against Kentucky. Now entering his second season as the lead man for IU, Woodson is still hoping to make it happen.

During a media opportunity on Wednesday night, Woodson told reporters that he’s been in contact with Kentucky head coach John Calipari about renewing the UK-IU rivalry. The two programs have not played each other since the 2016 NCAA Tournament with the last regular-season matchup happening back in Dec. 2011. Woodson says he’s not opposed to playing on a neutral court.

“I’m gonna stay on (Calipari’s) heels about trying to get the Kentucky-Indiana series back on the table,” Woodson said, according to the IndyStar. “Over the years that was a helluva game. It might not be Bloomington-Lexington. However we’ve got to get it done, I’ll take it.”

Mike Woodson wants Indiana vs. Kentucky basketball rivalry back https://t.co/CHWrdG5oEP
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) May 25, 2022

Kentucky currently leads the all-time series against Indiana with a record of 32-25 and has been especially dominant since the early 90s. Over the last 23 matchups between the two schools, UK has lost just six of those outings.

Woodson led Indiana to a 21-14 mark in his first season as head coach, including a 9-11 mark in the Big Ten that was good enough to make the 2022 NCAA Tournament’s First Four as a 12-seed. IU would advance out of the play-in round before losing to five-seeded Saint Mary’s in the Round of 64.

Many years ago, a disagreement over where to play the rivalry game between Calipari and then-Indiana head coach Tom Crean ultimately led to the cancelation of the matchup that was scheduled for the 2012-13 season. Calipari is opposed to a home-and-home series, and the rivalry has been put on hiatus ever since.

Woodson also added that he’s been in talks with Louisville’s new head coach Kenny Payne about a potential series. He said that he was “promised a game” between the two programs within the next two years.