Louisville Basketball: Revisiting The Last Five Games Against Kentucky
We take a look at the last five games between the Louisville basketball team and their rivals, the Kentucky Wildcats.
The Louisville basketball team will be squaring off against the Kentucky Wildcats in less than a week, therefore we are going to take a look at the last five games between these two amazing programs.
Unfortunately for the Cards, the Wildcats have been dominating them on the basketball court.
Kentucky is currently on a four game winning streak in the series and looked primed to come into the Yum Center looking for their fifth. However, rivalry games can change on a dime, so don’t lose hope Louisville fans. Keep the faith alive.
December 26th, 2015 | Kentucky 75 – Louisville 73
This was a game that the Cardinals could have won at the end. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to get the job done, but at least we all saw how well Damion Lee could play in a big-time game and also in a tough environment.
Lee scored a game-high 27 points, while Tyler Ulis led the Wildcats in scoring with 21 points. This was the second straight year that Ulis killed the Cards.
The Cards were down big, but a late second-half surge got the Cardinals close enough to attempt the game-winning shot. However, that shot was off target and Calipari’s Cats escaped for their fourth straight win.
Let’s hope that the outcome is a little bit different this year.
December 27th, 2014 | Kentucky 58 – Louisville 50
This was honestly one of the best games that Louisville has ever played against a Kentucky team that was much better than everyone else. Well, I guess except for Wisconsin.
The Cards weren’t able to pull this one out in the Yum Center, but they did contain Karl-Anthony Towns. He ended the game with only 10 points and 9 rebounds.
However, what ended up killing the Cardinals was that Tyler Ulis led the Wildcats in points with 14. This was the first of two years that he led UK in scoring against Louisville. Thank goodness he is in the NBA as we speak.
On the Louisville side, Terry Rozier had the best game of any Cardinal. He finished the game with a team-high 14 points and 8 rebounds.
What ultimately lost this game for the Cards was that they were 3-14 from three. However, that UK team was great at defending the perimeter and completely shut Louisville’s outside scoring chances down.
Dec 26, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena. Kentucky won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Tournament 2014 | Kentucky 74 – Louisville 69
This was the heartbreaker. Kentucky and Louisville met in the Sweet 16, but it was Kentucky moving onto the Elite 8 after a close win over the Cards thanks to Aaron Harrison.
Harrison ended up being the hero for the Wildcats in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. He hit three huge shots against Louisville, Michigan, and Wisconsin that propelled the Cats into the National Championship game.
Louisville was leading for most of this game, but as usual, they couldn’t close it out.
It was a bitter ending for Russ Smith and Luke Hancock at the University of Louisville, even though Smith went for 23 points and Hancock for 19.
December 28th, 2013 | Kentucky 73 – Louisville 66
The Harrison twins were on full display against Rick Pitino and the Louisville basketball team in Rupp Arena on that fateful day in 2013. This was a back and forth contest, but Kentucky was able to pull away late in the game thanks to their dynamic duo.
The Cardinals actually let four of the Cats’ five starters go into double figures in this game, while holding the infamous Willy Cauley-Stein to only 2 points.
Russ Smith and Chris Jones led the Cards’ effort to knock off Kentucky, with Smith leading the team with19 points.
Smith always gave Kentucky all they could handle, but as usual, one player cannot make the difference in games as big as these.
Dec 20, 2014; Bowling Green, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino shouts against Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the first half at E.A. Diddle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
December 29th, 2012 | Louisville 80 – Kentucky 77
Finally, something that we can celebrate a little about. Louisville ended a four year drought against the Wildcats in a 3 point win over Kentucky in the Yum Center. Not to mention, this was the same team that went on to win the National Championship over Michigan.
The three players that dominated for the Cards on that day were Chane Behanan, Peyton Siva, and Russ Smith.
Do you miss reading those names together as much as I do?
These three guys played amazing, but it was a solid combined effort from four more guys that helped Louisville win.
Dieng, Behanan, Blackshear, and Smith all had seven rebounds in the Cards’ win over Calipari’s Cats.
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