Kentucky officially announces date/location for 2024-25 matchup vs. Gonzaga

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Photo of Gonzaga head coach Mark Few by Junfu Han | USA TODAY NETWORK

News of Kentucky’s 2024-25 matchup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs first leaked in mid-May, but on Monday, UK officially confirmed it.

In what will be the third installment of a six-year series between Kentucky and Gonzaga, this season’s edition — which is being called the “Battle in Seattle” — is scheduled for December 7 at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA. UK also confirmed that the 2025-26 matchup will take place in Nashville, TN at Bridgestone Arena, home of the annual SEC Tournament.

A tip time and TV assignment for the 2024-25 game will be announced at a later time. If you’re looking to make the trip to the Pacific Northwest, tickets will go on sale June 28 at 1:00 p.m. EST at climatepledgearena.com.

The third installment of our six-year series against Gonzaga will take place on Dec. 7, 2024, in Seattle.

We will play Gonzaga in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena during the 2025-26 season.

📰🔗 https://t.co/Moh5CLdxqr pic.twitter.com/wQQqYxTucH
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 24, 2024

The first game of this new series (which was initially sparked by former head coach John Calipari) in 2022-23 took place in Spokane, WA with game two in 2023-24 hosted at Rupp Arena. Unfortunately, Kentucky dropped both games, but the opportunity for revenge will present itself this winter with new head coach Mark Pope now leading the charge.

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Looking ahead, the 2026-27 matchup will return to Rupp Arena with the 2027-28 venue set for the McCarthey Athletic Center on Gonzaga’s campus.

For the majority of Kentucky’s new-look roster, taking on Gonzaga will be a first. Only two of the 12 Wildcats have gone head-to-head against Mark Few’s program.

San Diego State transfer guard Lamont Butler faced the Bulldogs once in Dec. 2023, finishing with four points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal during just 11 minutes played in a win. Meanwhile, BYU transfer guard Jaxson Robinson faced Gonzaga twice during the 2022-23 season. Robinson recorded 17 points (5-9 FG), four assists, two rebounds, one steal, and one block in 36 minutes in Jan. 2023, and then 10 points (4-11 FG), one rebound, one assist, and one steal in 35 minutes a month later. BYU lost both matchups.