Kentucky to play Providence in Barclays Center in December

The University of Kentucky men's basketball team will return to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., next season to play Providence.

The Cats will play the Friars on Dec. 1, 2013, which will mark the schools' first meeting since 1976.

Providence (17-14) finished 10th in the Big East Conference this season.

The teams' only previous meeting took place in the National Invitation Tournament, a game won 79-78 by Kentucky on March 18, 1976, in Madison Square Garden.

Ticket information will be announced at a later date.

Kentucky played Maryland in the Barclays Center to open this season, winning 72-69.

The New York Post reported Saturday that Kentucky and Maryland have agreed to multi-year deals to play games annually in the Barclays Center.

This story was originally published March 16, 2013 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Kentucky to play Providence in Barclays Center in December."