Kentucky and St. John’s will meet in the second game of the CBS Sports Classic in a matchup loaded with history. The game marks a reunion between St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino and Kentucky, where he coached from 1989 to 1997 and won the 1996 national championship. That title team included Kentucky’s current head coach, Mark Pope, adding another layer to Saturday’s game.
Both programs are looking to build momentum before conference play intensifies. Pitino and Pope bring extensive Division I coaching experience, and their shared history adds another layer to an already compelling matchup.
Kentucky vs. St. John’s Game Details
Date: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
How To Watch
TV Channel: CBS
Announcers: Play-by-play, Tom Leach; analysis, Jack Givens
Livestream: Paramount+
Radio: UK Sports Radio Network, WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1 (Lexington); WHAS-AM 840 (Louisville)
Where Do Kentucky and St. John’s Stand Heading Into Week 7?
Kentucky enters the game at 7-4 and has yet to begin SEC play. All four of the Wildcats’ losses have come against ranked opponents, including No. 7 Gonzaga, No. 12 UNC, No. 8 Michigan State, and No. 11 Louisville. While Kentucky is currently unranked, the strength of schedule has provided plenty of early-season tests.
St. John’s enters at 7-3 and 1-0 in Big East play and is ranked No. 22 nationally. The Red Storm’s losses have also come against high-level competition, including No. 4 Iowa State, No. 16 Alabama, and No. 21 Auburn. St. John’s has won three straight games, while Kentucky carries a two-game winning streak into Saturday’s matchup.
Efficiency could be a deciding factor, particularly from beyond the arc, as both teams look to capitalize on scoring opportunities while competing to win the CBS Sports Classic.
Kentucky is led offensively by Otega Oweh, who averages 14 points per game. The Wildcats also receive scoring support from Denzel Aberdeen, Collin Chandler, Malachi Moreno, and Kam Williams.
St. John’s counters with Bryce Hopkins, who leads the offense at 14 points per game. The Red Storm are also supported by Oziyah Sellers, Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, and Joson Sanon.
Both programs entered the season ranked inside the preseason top 10 and have their sights set on returning to that territory or, at minimum, remaining in the top 25. For Kentucky, a win in this matchup would go a long way toward reestablishing national momentum.
With both teams led by experienced coaches and harboring postseason aspirations, Saturday’s matchup shapes up as one of the more compelling nonconference games of the weekend.
