Four years after playing for the last time, IU and Kentucky are in talks to pick up their men’s basketball series, according to reports.
Anthony Schoettle of the Indianapolis Business Journal first reported the discussions Wednesday afternoon. Kentucky officials confirmed the talks to him.
“The (Kentucky and IU) basketball staffs have had some general discussion about playing,” Kentucky Deputy Athletic Director DeWayne Peevy said to IBJ. “Up to this point, no contests have been scheduled.”
IU Director of Athletics Fred Glass said he would like to try and work out a solution.
“I personally would like to renew the conversations,” Glass told IBJ.
The two sides’ last regular-season game came was Dec. 10, 2011, when the “Wat Shot” knocked off the then-No. 1 Wildcats on a buzzer-beater.
They met again in that season’s Sweet Sixteen and have not played since.
Prior to that, IU and Kentucky had played every season since 1969.
When the programs’ contract ended in 2011, renewal talks broke down because of disagreements of venue — IU insisted at least some of the games be played on each team’s home court, while Kentucky preferred to play games at high-capacity neutral sites.
Alden Woods
