LEXINGTON, Ky. _ Kentucky announced a three-game college basketball series with Notre Dame beginning this coming season in Rupp Arena.
UK and the Irish will have a tough act to follow.
The last time the teams played came in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region finals. Notre Dame led for much of the first 30 minutes. But Karl-Anthony Towns' 25 points enabled unbeaten Kentucky to rally and win, 68-66. As the players left the court, the expression on the faces of UK players suggested relief tinged with disbelief.
"If our previous games are any indication, this is going to be a great series ...," UK coach John Calipari said in a news release. "The game in 2015 in the Elite Eight was one of the best all-around games I've been a part of. Elite play from both teams."
Kentucky has played Notre Dame twice earlier during Calipari's time as coach. UK beat Notre Dame in Louisville in 2010-11 and the Irish won in South Bend in 2012-13.
Game times and what network will televise the games will be announced later, UK said.
"I've got a feeling these three games are going to provide some similar battles," Calipari said. "Mike Brey is a terrific coach who always builds teams that are going to fight and give you everything they've got."
The first game in the series will be played in Rupp Arena on Dec. 12, 2020.
The second game will be played at a neutral site on Dec. 11, 2021. That site will be announced later, the news release said.
The third game will be played at Notre Dame on Dec. 10, 2022.
"It is great to renew a series between two of the 'blue bloods' of college basketball," Notre Dame's Brey said. "If our recent battles with Kentucky are any indication, these games should be appointment viewing for college basketball fans."
Kentucky leads the series with Notre Dame, 43-19. Only two other non-conference opponents have beaten UK more times than Notre Dame: Indiana (25) and North Carolina (24).
Four Southeastern Conference opponents have beaten Kentucky fewer times than Notre Dame: South Carolina (13), Ole Miss (13), Arkansas (11) and Texas A&M (four).
The new series resumes what was once a long-standing rivalry. UK played Notre Dame every season from 1960-61 through 1981-82 in an annual game in Louisville. This annual tradition ended after Notre Dame rankled UK with a game-long stall. UK won a tense 34-28 overtime victory.
With the announcement of a series against Notre Dame, Calipari said, "I really like how our non-conference schedule is coming together for the next few seasons."
Earlier this spring, Kentucky announced non-conference games in the 2020-21 season against Kansas (Nov. 10 in Chicago), Detroit Mercy (Nov. 13 in Rupp Arena), Hartford (Nov. 17 in Rupp Arena), Georgia State (Nov. 20 in Rupp Arena), Richmond (Nov. 23 in Rupp Arena), Georgia Tech (Nov. 27 in Atlanta), Cleveland State (Nov. 30 in Rupp Arena) and UCLA (Dec. 19 at an unannounced site).
Kentucky's planned game this winter against Michigan in London, England, was rescheduled for 2022.
