UCLA announced today that it will play a home-and-home series with perennial men’s basketball power Kentucky, which will make its first appearance at Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 3, 2015.
The Bruins will play at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky for the first time on Dec. 3, 2016.
“This is a big win for fans of college basketball in Southern California who will now have the opportunity to watch two of the sport’s most storied programs meet in Pauley Pavilion,” UCLA coach Steve Alford said.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said when he and Alford “started talking about a possible series, it seemed like a no-brainer to me.”
UCLA last faced Kentucky in Los Angeles on Dec. 4, 1959, as part of a doubleheader at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, with the John Wooden-coached Bruins losing to an all-white Kentucky team coached by Adoph Rupp, 68-66. Wooden and Rupp combined to win 14 NCAA championships.
UCLA has won a record 11 NCAA men’s basketball championships, while Kentucky is second with eight. The Bruins have reached the Final Four 18 times, tying North Carolina for first, while the Wildcats are third with 16.
Kentucky has made a record 54 NCAA tournament appearances, while UCLA has made 44, third all-time.
