It's that time of year again. The time of year that turns brother against brother, and divides a state unlike ANY single game in college basketball. When talking about the greatest rivalry in college sports, you can forget "Tobacco Road", it pales in comparison. No one game contains this much hate, anger, or detest like the Kentucky, Louisville game. Fans on both sides look forward to this day every single year. The day when the Cats and Cards do battle, and that day is this Saturday.
For the first time since the addition of John Calipari to the Kentucky bench, Louisville will enter the game as the better team, not to mention the favorite to win. Rick Pitino has his best team since stabbing Kentucky fans in the back and taking the Louisville job. You look down the Louisville bench and they seem to have all pieces required to have a very special season. They have a veteran point guard in Peyton Siva, who by the way seems like he has been playing at UofL for ten years, and a whole lot of talent to go along with him. So this Saturday could be the toughest game these young Cats will have all season long.
Here's a look at the Cards' numbers;
UL UK
PPG: 78 78
RPG: 39 39
APG: 15 16
SPG: 12 8
BPG: 3 8
TPG: 13 12
FG%: 45 49
FT%: 69 64
3P%: 33 35
Looking at the numbers, there isn't much difference between the two. However, there are three things that isn't listed above that Kentucky falls behind in. 1.) experience. I know some out there will say this is what you get when you recruit "one and done" type players. I over look these people because they are the same ones that complained when Kentucky wasn't getting said players. But experience will be key in this game. 2.) Home court advantage. Not saying the Cards will get all the calls, just that it is always tough playing on the road. 3.) playing as a team. This Kentucky team is having a hard time figuring out how to play together . Over and over again this season we have seen guys play too much one on one just to have it come back and bite them in the end.
Taking all this into consideration, it will take one heck of an effort for Kentucky to pull off the upset Saturday. I'm not saying it can't or won't happen. I'm saying they will have to play drastically better than they have been as of late. With that said, the one thing you can't do in this rivalry is predict how it will turn out. When teams are playing with this much heart and intensity anything can happen. But if I was forced to pick I'd say....
Cats by five in overtime. (guessing with my heart on that one)
Cards by 8-10 (DAMN THAT HURT)
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