Pitino is also aiming to face Louisville next season.

Jason Marcum has been covering the Cincinnati Bengals for Cincy Jungle since 2014 and the University of Kentucky for A Sea Of Blue since 2015.

The Kentucky Wildcats might end up playing St. John’s and Rick Pitino next season after all. But there’s a twist.

In a conversation with the Louisville Courier-Journal, Pitino shared that the Red Storm could visit Kentucky next season for an exhibition matchup.

“We may be going to Kentucky for an exhibition game,” Pitino stated. “We wanted to go there for a regular game, but they can’t; they couldn’t make it work, sadly. We were aiming for a home-and-home (series) with them.”

This January, the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee gave the green light to a rule change allowing teams to play two exhibition games against any four-year school, including Division I teams, meaning Kentucky could host the Red Storm as one of its exhibition games next season.

Both teams were hoping to schedule a home-and-home series, but for now, that plan seems to be off the table.

During the same interview, Pitino mentioned that St. John’s is preparing for a home-and-home series with the Louisville Cardinals, starting with a game at Madison Square Garden in early 2025-26. That matchup will be one of the most anticipated next season.

Here’s hoping we still get that St. John’s vs. Kentucky showdown.