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The Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals square off today in Rupp Arena with much at stake for both teams.
For Louisville, they need a win in order to validate their 11-1 start with no other wins over a quality team to speak of. A win would also halt what's been a stretch of dominance in favor of the Cats and their 7-1 record under John Calipari vs the Cards.
For Kentucky, this would be a much-needed bounce-back win after last week's embarrassing loss to Ohio State. A win over a top-15 Louisville team would also keep the Cats in the discussion for as high seed in the NCAA Tournament since quality wins are going to be hard to come by in SEC play.
Whatever happens, Kentucky has dominated this rivalry, and even a loss here won't change that. As good as both programs have been recently, you can't ask for much better than a 7-1 mark against your biggest rival, especially with two of them coming in the tournament.
Tweet(s) of the Day:
My nephew went hard to the hoop on Christmas morning and paid the price. pic.twitter.com/jYVdCbZZXo
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) December 25, 2015
On this Holiday, here's a look back at the top plays of the UK season featuring @JustMarcusLee @_JustCharles_ & more https://t.co/q6HUwxGBWL
— Lee K. Howard (@HowardWKYT) December 26, 2015
Merry Easter y'all! pic.twitter.com/Z6Xjj5Ehqg
— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) December 25, 2015
Your Quickies
Keys to Victory vs Louisville
Kentucky has won seven of eight meetings with the Cards since John Calipari took over college basketball’s winningest program, and since the original Dream Game in 1983, the Cats hold a commanding 24-12 lead in the rivalry. How cane UK score win No. 25?
Pitino's return to 'Camelot' is complex
The Louisville scandal has prompted a call for class from Calipari asking the Hatfields to make nice with the McCoys. It will be interesting to see how well Calipari succeeds, whether UK fans show restraint or derision in the wake of allegations that UL hired strippers and prostitutes to entertain players and recruits.
"Be careful what you wish for…you might just get it."
Of Louisville’s 11 wins since 1984, 2 came while UK was on probation, and another 2 came during the de facto probation the program suffered under Billy Gillispie. That, in essence, leaves the Cards a grand total of 7 legit wins over the Cats in the last 30 years, which is funny since they're the ones who wanted this rivalry so badly.
5 things the Cards must do to win at UK
If Louisville is going to win in Rupp for the first time since Gillespie was coaching UK, here's how they'll look to do it.
Cats hope they hit reset over holiday break
After suffering their second loss of the season, Kentucky's players had the chance to get some time off and "take a little break and get our minds reset," Marcus Lee said.
John Clay podcast: Kentucky-Louisville basketball
Lexington Herald-Leader sports columnist John Clay talks with Eric Crawford of WDRB television in Louisville and Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald-Leader to preview Saturday's basketball game between the Cats and the Cards.
Kentucky needs to replace outgoing seniors on defense to maintain depth
UK’s biggest areas of need are in position groups hit hardest by graduation, where depth takes a hit. The current recruiting class demonstrates that Stoops is following a depth-based plan that focuses on developing young talent and taking chances on high-volume intake.
Calipari thinks certain players playing too many minutes
John Calipari says he wants to find a way to alleviate playing certain guys too many minutes. He's also concerned about slow starts. And is Tyler Ulis healthy?
Saturday’s college football bowl previews
Here are previews for all of Saturday’s college football bowl games, starting with the St. Petersburg Bowl at 11 a.m.
Search your feelings; you know it to be true: Star Wars is our father
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a warm reminder of the role the original trilogy for a generation of children seeking a father figure.
Former UC assistant Al Hmiel confesses to being college basketball slimeball
Louisville case prompts former Cincinnati assistant coach Al Hmiel to admit to lies told and corners cut in recruiting. "I questioned my integrity, where my life was going, 'cause I was living a lie," Hmiel said. "I felt like I was a pimp or prostitute myself, selling myself for the University of Cincinnati to bring players in, and looking at moms and dads and flat-out lying."