Gonzaga, Kentucky sets Dec. 7 date for nonconference game in Seattle

June 24—Days after an offseason coaching change led Washington to cancel the final two games of a long-term contract with Gonzaga, another program on the Bulldogs’ nonconference schedule has kept its commitment despite its own change of leadership.

Gonzaga and Kentucky agreed on Dec. 7 for the third part of a six-game series between two major college basketball programs. The game will be a continuation of GU’s “Battle in Seattle” series and will be held at Climate Pledge Arena.

Reporting time and television information will be announced at a later date.

The Zags are 2-0 in the current series, defeating Kentucky 88-72 in the 2022 game at Spokane Arena and 89-85 last season at Lexington’s Rupp Arena. After this season’s game in Seattle, the teams are expected to close out the series with three more games at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (2025-26), Rupp Arena (2026-27) and McCarthey Athletic Center (2027-28).

Longtime friends and fellow coaches Mark Few and John Calipari have agreed to the long-term series ahead of the 2022-23 college basketball season, unveiling the first of six games during a marathon at UK’s Rupp Arena.

Calipari left Kentucky this offseason for the same role at Arkansas and the Wildcats found his replacement soon after, hiring Mark Pope, who became familiar with Gonzaga during his time coaching BYU in the West Coast Conference.

Gonzaga will face a new Kentucky team this fall without returning players from the team that lost to the Bulldogs in February. UK’s additions include touted transfers Jaxson Robinson (BYU), Lamont Butler (San Diego State), Koby Brea (Dayton) and Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia).

The Bulldogs return six of the eight players who appeared in last season’s game at Rupp Arena, including starters Ryan Nembhard, Graham Ike, Ben Gregg, Nolan Hickman and key reserves Braden Huff and Dusty Stromer.

Few’s team also reloaded through the transfer portal, adding Pepperdine standout Michael Ajayi, Arkansas guard Khalif Battle, Tarleton State forward Emmanuel Innocenti and Colgate guard Braeden Smith, who is planning to redshirt next season.

Former Eastern Washington wing Steele Venters is also expected to be a factor in Gonzaga coming off an ACL injury that forced him to miss the entire 2023-24 season.

The Zags are 9-5 all-time in the Battle of Seattle, but have yet to win in the new downtown arena, losing 91-82 to Alabama in 2021 and 76-63 to UConn last season at the Continental Take Seattle Tip-Off.

Tickets for the December 7th game between Gonzaga and Kentucky will go on sale to the general public on June 28th at www.climatepledgearena.com. Presales for Zag members begin June 26th and can be purchased through gozags.com.