This feels different. The Cards and Cats face off in the second Battle of the Bluegrass in 17 years and the fifth such occasion in 29 years that doesn’t involve Rick Pitino. Louisville and Kentucky becomes more about the fans and players, and less about the coaches.
It has been said that in Rick Pitino’s early years at Kentucky, Pitino made Cardinal legend Denny Crum’s teams old news. Then, in the early 2000’s Pitino came in and revitalized the same downtrodden Louisville program. In 2009, John Calipari took over at Kentucky, and since, has gone 9-2 against the Cards.