Three days before hosting Kentucky in the annual grudge match, the Rick Pitino Louisville Cardinals (as Sebastian Telfair might say) took one on the chin, 72-69.
Ouch.
Granted, the Minutemen aren't terrible at all. In fact, they're 9-2, their only losses are to #4 Pitt and Boston College. While their wins aren't much to look at (except now, the Big East's Cardinals), they have a good young coach in former Wildcats point man Travis Ford and a great frontline anchor in Rashaun Freeman.
Don't forget, this isn't UMass' last trip to the Bluegrass this winter. They play Kentucky at Rupp on Dec. 22.
Poor Louisville fans. They want so badly to believe, but Pitino just won't let them.