Kentucky, Gonzaga discontinue basketball series 2 games short, cite ‘scheduling priorities’

A non-conference series between two of college basketball’s best programs is no more.

Kentucky and Gonzaga announced in a joint statement Wednesday that they are discontinuing their annual series with two games remaining on their contract.

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The Wildcats and Bulldogs have played each other in each of the last four seasons with Gonzaga going 3-1 in those matchups. Gonzaga beat Kentucky, 94-59 in December in Nashville.

Kentucky was scheduled to host Gonzaga in 2026-27, and Gonzaga was scheduled to host the matchup in 2027-28. Those games will not take place.

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Per a statement provided to media, the programs mutually agreed to the early termination of the agreement “to allow each program freedom to re-evaluate future scheduling priorities, including conference obligations and nonconference opportunities.”

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Why cancel Kentucky-Gonzaga?

It’s not clear what specifically prompted to programs to nix the high-profile series. Conference schedules are bloated with the increased consolidation of conferences. But the SEC has played an 18-game league schedule since 2012, long before Kentucky and Gonzaga began their series.

Gonzaga, meanwhile, is leaving its longtime WCC conference home for the newly formed nine-team Pac-12 starting next season. Assuming a home-and-home series of conference games, that adds up to 16 conference games for Gonzaga next season.

The series was originally agreed upon by Gonzaga head coach Mark Few and then-Kentucky head coach John Calipari. Calipari and Kentucky have since split, and Calipari is now the head coach at Arkansas. Mark Pope is slated for his third season as Kentucky’s head coach in 2026-27.

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mens-college-basketball/article/kentucky-gonzaga-discontinue-basketball-series-2-games-short-cite-scheduling-priorities-201048371.html

Author : Jason Owens

Publish date : 2026-05-20 20:10:00

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