LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky men's basketball team will face the University of North Carolina Tar Heels Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas.
Thursday, the UK Athletics program announced that the Wildcats' originally scheduled opponents, the Ohio State Buckeyes, would not be able to play in the Dec. 18 game due to positive COVID-19 cases within the program.
UNC ran into the same issue when their opponent, UCLA, was forced to drop out of the other game Saturday afternoon due to "COVID-19 developments."
The new match-up was announced Friday. Tickets for the game can be purchased online and previously purchased tickets will still be valid.
According to UK Athletics, Kentucky is 2-1 vs. the Tar Heels after falling to North Carolina in the event last season. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST.
When Kentucky was still looking for an opponent, a suggestion came from a familiar face - former University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino.
Pitino's team, Iona College, had found itself in a similar situation Thursday after Seton Hall had to drop out of their scheduled game at Madison Square Garden.
When both teams appeared to lack opponents, Pitino reached out to UK on Twitter.
"@KentuckyMBB if you need an opponent Saturday, we travel," he said.
According to a report from the Athletic, several college basketball teams are canceling or postponing games due to COVID-19. Outbreaks have also been reported in the NFL, NHL and NBA.
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