Add the Hoyas to the schedule: Georgetown will visit Rupp Arena on Oct. 30
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A new game has been announced for Kentucky basketball’s 2025-26 season, featuring a familiar opponent for the Big Blue Nation.
The Georgetown Hoyas will come to Rupp Arena for an exhibition matchup against the Cats on Thursday, October 30.
Thanks to new NCAA regulations allowing Division I teams to compete in preseason games, both squads have added this early-season highlight to their calendars. This game will not impact official records or statistics.
“This may sound a bit uncalculated, but I really enjoy playing against strong teams all the time,” Pope shared in a recent press conference. “I believe it’s crucial. Whenever there’s an opportunity for great teams to come to Rupp, we’re all in for it, whether it’s the exhibition season, preseason, or conference play.”
“Competing with elite teams teaches you so much about your own abilities,” Pope added. “Having the chance to do this in an exhibition, where the stakes are lower, is beneficial. It’s not just the insights we gain from the game itself, but the energy and excitement it brings to our locker room throughout the summer and fall as we prepare. It’s a reminder: ‘Guys, this is approaching quicker than you may think.’ Those are all significant advantages.”
Kentucky and Georgetown have met only twice in their history: during the 1921-22 season, when the Hoyas won at home 28-23, and the famous Final Four game in 1984, where the Cats struggled in the second half, allowing Patrick Ewing and Georgetown to clinch a 53-40 victory on their way to a National Championship.
Currently, Georgetown is under the leadership of head coach Ed Cooley, who is in his third year with the program. The Hoyas had a challenging first season with a record of 9-23, but they improved to 18-16 in his second year.
Junior Malik Mack, who started all 32 games last season, is the Hoyas’ top returning scorer, averaging 12.9 points per game. He also hit a team-high 59 three-pointers with a shooting percentage of 35.5%.
The Cats last competed against Cooley in 2023 when John Calipari’s squad defeated Cooley’s Providence Friars in the NCAA Tournament, winning the first-round match 61-53 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Additionally, Kentucky will host Purdue in an exhibition game the week before, on Friday, October 24.
“Purdue’s Matt Painter may not be the absolute best coach in college basketball, but he certainly ranks among the top few. His achievements at Purdue are remarkable,” Pope remarked about Purdue’s head coach. “I have immense respect for him; his unique coaching style makes it tough for opposing teams. It’s going to be a lot of fun to face that challenge.”
“I’m truly excited for BBN. We get to play the No. 1 team in the country in late October, which is fantastic for our fans. We’re also working on another exhibition game [against Georgetown] that I believe will be outstanding,” Pope mentioned prior to the official announcement of the Georgetown exhibition.
The game time and television details will be revealed at a later date.
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