3) Can Louisville shake history?
Increased emotion and intensity often overrides projections in rivalry games of this magnitude, which is why contests between these two (and in many of the sport’s other great rivalries) are almost always close.
However, there’s no denying that John Calipari seems to have Louisville’s number. The Wildcats are 10-2 against the Cardinals since he took over, and they have yet to lose to them at Rupp Arena.
It is worth noting that Kentucky has entered the game as the favorite more often than not. That will not be the case on Saturday as the Cardinals enter the game as the higher-ranked team of the two, marking the first time that has happened since 2013. That said, Kentucky won that game, too.
Most of Calipari’s dominance came against Rick Pitino, including two wins that came in the NCAA Tournament. Chris Mack is hoping to change this history and give new life to the Cardinals in this rivalry. He experienced the rivalry for the first time last year and told the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast in August that he knows his team has to be better specifically in this game.
"“It is a huge rivalry and I don’t think you get a full appreciation of it until you live in this state. You’re either wearing something blue or you’re wearing something red and there’s really no in between. A lot of households are divided across the state of Kentucky and it’s a great thing because people feel so strongly about the sport of basketball in our state. “Last year, we did not play very well and they did a great job. They came into the Yum Center and did what they needed to do and wasn’t a great feeling so we have to become better. I think that’s what rivals do. They set the bar and they push one another and we’re going to have to be much better than we were last year especially at their place knowing how intense the rivalry is.”"
Both teams are desperate. Kentucky needs a win to stop their losing streak and Louisville needs a win to get back in this rivalry. Those stakes, on top of the natural disdain involved in this rivalry, should make it one of the games of the year.