By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
Kentucky will add a new opponent to the schedule starting next season with a visit to the Big Apple.
The Wildcats will play Metro Atlantic Athletics Conference member Monmouth at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 9 in the Citi Double Cash Classic, while the Hawks will play Kentucky for a second time the following season at Rupp Arena.
Monmouth coach King Rice is looking forward to playing the Wildcats for the next two years.
“I’m very excited to have to opportunity to play against Kentucky for the next two years and I’ve looked up to coach Calipari for a long time,” Rice said in a university release.
Rice played for the late Dean Smith at North Carolina from 1987-91 and is third on the team’s all-time assist list with 629. Rice was recruited by Smith and former Kentucky coach Eddie Sutton before he settled on the Tar Heels.
“I’ve always liked Kentucky, going back from when I was a kid and they were recruiting me,” Rice said. “I’ve always had the utmost respect for coach Calipari, and when we had the chance to play it shows how much he valued our friendship. It’s an honor for me and our program to play against Kentucky.”
Rice just completed his sixth season at Monmouth and has guided the Hawks to a 55-15 record during the past two seasons. Monmouth went 28-8 two years ago and lost in the second round of the NIT.
Monmouth lost to Ole Miss in the NIT last season, but went 27-6 and won the league’s regular-season title.
Kentucky’s full schedule hasn’t been released, but portions of the slate have been revealed. The Wildcats will take on Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago on Nov. 14 and also will play UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic in New Orleans on Dec. 23. Kentucky also will hosts instate rival Louisville and Harvard next season at Rupp Arena. Harvard is coached by former Duke standout Tommy Amaker.
Elzy, Collins to be inducted
Former Oldham County High School star and University of Kentucky women’s basketball assistant coach Kyra Elzy and former Wildcats player Lisa Collins will be inducted into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2017 at Elizabethtown in July.
Elzy won two national championships while playing under the late Pat Summit at Tennessee, while Collins won three state championships at Laurel County High School from 1077-79. She scored 140 points in the Sweet Sixteen and lettered during all of her four seasons at Kentucky.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter