Kentucky finalizing deal to host WKU inside Rupp Arena

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers cheerleaders hold their mascot Big Red as they perform. Big Red has been big and red since 1979 when it was created. It represents the spirit of the students and alumni. (Syndication: USA TODAY)

The Kentucky Wildcats and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have only met on the hardwood a grand total of seven times in the history of the respective programs. Mark Pope is set to bring that total to eight in his debut season as head coach in Lexington.

A deal is being finalized to bring the Hilltoppers to Rupp Arena in 2024-25 as part of a three-game multi-team event, according to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports.

“Mark Pope (and) UK officials want to have at least one intra-Kentucky matchup for the fans in Pope’s first season,” the report says.

The dates are not set, though the three-game MTE is expected to feature all matchups vs. mid-majors with another expected to be an HBCU program.

News: Kentucky is finishing a deal to host Western Kentucky at Rupp Arena next season, per sources. It’s notable because the schools have only met seven times ever. Mark Pope + UK officials want to have at least one intra-Kentucky matchup for the fans in Pope’s first season.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) May 11, 2024

Kentucky is also set to take on Duke in the Champions Classic, Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic, Louisville at Rupp Arena, Gonzaga in Seattle and an ACC program to be determined at a later date for the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Pope has also been outspoken about scheduling a home-and-home with Rick Pitino and St. John’s in the near future, a top priority for the program in his first season with the Wildcats.

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“The love BBN has for Rick Pitino is almost unfathomable,” he told Andy Katz of NCAA.com this week. “We’ve got to find some way to work this out where we can get Coach and his great St. John’s teams into Rupp Arena and play so he can work his magic — hopefully not quite well enough (to win).”

As for other scheduling details, Pope acknowledged there are some “real complications” and “obligations we have to figure out” regarding other high-profile non-conference events fans would like to be a part of.

“We have really gotten to a place where we can dive into the heart of scheduling,” he said. “It’s on me, I’ve got to work out some solutions so that we can keep doing great games like that because I want them and BBN wants them, we all want them. We’ve just all got to make the books work too.”

Among those details coming out these week they’re getting finalized inside the Joe Craft Center? An in-state battle vs. Western Kentucky coming to Rupp Arena this fall.