COLLEGE

Detroit Mercy-Kentucky back on for Dec. 15; Titans also add Notre Dame this weekend

Tony Paul
The Detroit News

The Calipari Bowl is back on.

Detroit Mercy and Kentucky men's basketball have rescheduled their game for Tuesday, Dec. 15 — putting back on the schedule the game between Kentucky coach John Calipari and his son, Brad, a guard for Detroit Mercy.

Mike Davis will lead Detroit Mercy in to face Kentucky on Dec. 15.

The game was supposed to played the opening week of the season in a multi-team event at Kentucky, but Detroit Mercy had to pull out because of a positive COVID-19 test within the program. The Titans didn't shut down the program, and none of their players have tested positive since testing began in October.

Detroit Mercy also lost games against Atlantic 10 powerhouse Richmond and Morehead State at the Kentucky MTE, but those games aren't expected to be rescheduled.

The Kentucky game was a priority on a number of fronts, starting with the Calipari reunion, but also the check Detroit Mercy receives for playing the game. That payday could approach $100,000, but Detroit Mercy, a private school, doesn't have to disclose.

Detroit Mercy also is added a game Sunday, at Notre Dame. Tip-off is 7 p.m. Last month, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey took to Twitter, after Tennessee had to cancel because of COVID-19, asking teams to consider playing the Fighting Irish this weekend.

Notre Dame originally added Purdue-Fort Wayne for that late substitute, but that game also was canceled because of COVID-19 issues with PFW.

Notre Dame also lost Wednesday's game against Western Michigan, because of at least two positive tests on the Broncos roster (after Western Michigan played Butler, which then had to shut down its program because of COVID-19).

The Notre Dame-Detroit Mercy series dates to 1912; Notre Dame leads, 42-12.

Detroit Mercy will open its season Friday at Michigan State, in the programs' first meeting since 2001. Michigan State's following opponent, Western Michigan, had to cancel Wednesday's game with Notre Dame because of COVID-19 issues and still hasn't made a determination on the Michigan State game.

Central Michigan men and women and Oakland women also have had games canceled since the season began the day before Thanksgiving.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @tonypaul1984