Kentucky finalizes exhibition showdown with Georgetown
Mark Pope isn’t easing into year two quietly.
Kentucky has added another high-profile exhibition game to its 2025-26 preseason slate, finalizing a matchup with Georgetown set for October 30. It joins a previously announced showdown with Purdue scheduled for October 24, giving the Wildcats a pair of early tests in a busy Halloween week.
While Georgetown isn’t the powerhouse it once was under John Thompson, Ed Cooley has made the Hoyas relevant again—and dangerous.
Georgetown's rebuild underway with Ed Cooley
Cooley enters his third season at Georgetown, and the turnaround is already evident. In the two seasons before his arrival, the Hoyas managed just 13 wins total. Last year alone, they won 18, including a promising 12-2 start that was ultimately derailed by injuries.
Despite fading late to finish 18-16, Georgetown showed enough to earn a bid to the inaugural College Basketball Crown, picking up a postseason win before bowing out in the second round.
They now head into 2025-26 without Thomas Sorber, their standout freshman big who declared for the NBA Draft. Still, the Hoyas retained Kayvaun Mulready, a former top-60 recruit who showed flashes of two-way potential, and added Arizona transfer KJ Lewis, a strong-bodied wing with high-major experience.
It’s not vintage Georgetown—but it’s a serious, well-coached team trending up.
A challenging exhibition slate for Kentucky
For Pope and Kentucky, the exhibition schedule now includes two opponents from major conferences, and both come with postseason experience.
- Oct. 24: Kentucky vs. Purdue
- Oct. 30: Kentucky vs. Georgetown
That’s a step beyond the traditional preseason tune-ups. And it’s intentional.
Kentucky’s loaded 2025-26 roster—headlined by two-way veterans like Otega Oweh and Jaland Lowe, plus freshman phenoms like Jasper Johnson and Jayden Quaintance—needs early challenges to establish chemistry and test rotations.
These exhibition games offer just that. Purdue brings Final Four expectations. Georgetown brings size, athleticism, and a chip on its shoulder. Both offer Kentucky a chance to sharpen before the real thing begins.
Why it matters
These matchups aren’t just fan-service. They’re prep games with purpose.
Pope wants his team tested early—and that starts with Georgetown and Purdue.
It’s also a subtle nod to what Pope is building: a national brand with national expectations. Facing name-brand programs—even if they’re in different stages of rebuild—signals that Kentucky isn’t afraid to make October meaningful.
Final word
Kentucky vs. Georgetown might not have the same weight it did in the '80s or early 2000s, but don’t let the name nostalgia fool you. The Hoyas are improving, and Pope clearly sees value in testing his team against competitive high-majors before November.
Two exhibitions. One intense week. Welcome to Halloween season in the Bluegrass.