Kentucky and Notre Dame agree to 3-year series

The Kentucky Wildcats have added a new opponent to the nonconference slate.

On Thursday, the school announced a three-year series with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, which will begin next season in Rupp Arena. The series will also include a neutral-site event in 2021 (located to be determined later) and a road game in South Bend, Indiana, in 2022.

“If our previous games are any indication, this is going to be a great series,” UK head coach John Calipari said in a press release. “I can remember playing Notre Dame in 2010 in Freedom Hall and Ben Hansbrough going crazy in the first half and Terrence Jones willing us to victory in the second half. We went to South Bend a couple years later and that place was nuts. The football team was there and they thumped us. And then 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.

“I’ve got a feeling these three games are going to provide some similar battles. Mike Brey is a terrific coach who always builds teams that are going to fight and give you everything they’ve got. I really like how our nonconference schedule is coming together for the next few seasons.”

The Wildcats lead the series 43-19 and won the last matchup between the two schools. That came in the 2015 NCAA Tournament for a spot in the Final Four, which Kentucky won 68-66.

Kentucky and Notre Dame have only met eight times in Lexington, and the Wildcats won every meeting. Kentucky leads the series 10-6 in South Bend, but the Irish have won two straight in the series at home, including a 64-50 win in 2013.

The Wildcats currently have dates now set with nine opponents for the 2020-21 season.

· Kansas – Nov. 10 | United Center (Chicago) | Champions Classic

· Detroit Mercy – Nov. 13 | Rupp Arena | Bluegrass Showcase

· Hartford – Nov. 17 | Rupp Arena | Bluegrass Showcase

· Georgia State – Nov. 20 | Rupp Arena

· Richmond – Nov. 23 | Rupp Arena | Bluegrass Showcase

· Georgia Tech – Nov. 27 | State Farm Arena (Atlanta) | Holiday Hoopsgiving

· Cleveland State – Nov. 30 | Rupp Arena

· Notre Dame – Dec. 12 | Rupp Arena

· UCLA – Dec. 19 | TBA | CBS Sports Classic

Other nonconference matchups for this upcoming season will include the annual rivalry game vs. Louisville and the annual SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Dates for those have yet to be announced.