John Calipari discusses the return of the Indiana rivalry series

Kentucky has naturally come across many of college basketball’s blue bloods over the past several years. One that they haven’t met, though, which has been unfortunate for some for some time considering how far back they go as rivals, is Indiana.

However, fans of both programs who wished to see its return got their wish with the offseason announcement that the Wildcats and Hoosiers would be renewing their rivalry from 2025 to 2028. As John Calipari put it at the SEC’s Media Day, it was something that he and Mike Woodson agreed they needed to bring back.

“Mike and I talked and wanted to do it,” said Calipari. “We’ve had to move it back because of our schedule. We have one of the toughest schedules in the country every year so we moved it out a little bit.”

“But I think it’s good for both programs and excited to get started,” Calipari said.

Indiana will open the series in Rupp Arena on December 20th, 2025. The Hoosiers will return there just under two years later on December 18th, 2027. Kentucky will play their first away game in the series in Indianapolis inside Lucas Oil Stadium on December 27th, 2026. The series finale will be in Assembly Hall on December 16th, 2028.

Kentucky and Indiana haven’t played a regular season game since 2011. That matchup famously ended with a game-winning, buzzer-beating three by Christian Watford. The shot gave the Hoosiers a 73-72 win over the No. 1 Wildcats.

While the two schools are just over three hours apart, UK and IU have only met twice since. Both came in the postseason in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky got revenge later that season in ’11-’12 with a 102-90 win in the 2012 Sweet 16 while Indiana won the most recent matchup, a 73-67 victory in 2016’s Round of 32.

Kentucky leads Indiana by seven games in the series with the record set at 32-25.

Calipari and Woodson will be bringing one of college football’s better rivalries back in just over two years. That’s when both sides can look to settle the score in a matchup that went dormant for almost far too long.

Boogie Fland sets commitment date for Oct. 20

We’ll know which college that Boogie Fland plans to suit up for by the end of the week.

Fland, a five-star point guard in the class of 2024, will announce his college decision this Friday, Oct. 20 at 2:00 p.m. EST at his New York-based high school, Archbishop Stepinac.

Fland is considered as the No. 15 overall high school senior in the country by On3 and the top-rated point guard. He’ll choose between a trio of finalists that includes Kentucky, Indiana, and Alabama.

2024 Top-20 PG Boogie Fland will be announcing his college decision on Friday, Oct. 20 at 2pm ET, his coach tells KSR+.

Finalists: Kentucky, Indiana, and Alabama

On3 Profile: https://t.co/PBjAoxcueo pic.twitter.com/7Q5dvICjpW

— Jacob Polacheck (@PolacheckKSR) October 16, 2023

Coming down the home stretch, Kentucky and Indiana have been rumored as the frontrunners with the Hoosiers believed to hold a slight edge. Travis Branham told KSR on the Sources Say Podcast last month that it was a “head-to-head” battle between UK and IU.

Is Fland next to join the fold for Kentucky or will he head for the Hoosiers?