Will the Kentucky/Louisville Basketball Game Happen This Year?
Since the University of Kentucky and the University Louisville resumed their basketball rivalry in 1983 (it's ridiculous that it was EVER on hiatus, and for 24 YEARS), not one game has been cancelled.
That's right. It's been 38 years since we went a season without one.
Let's hope 2020 doesn't do its thing and hit us Bluegrass hoops fans where we live and cause a cancellation of--I'll say it--the best rivalry in college basketball.
I'm not being alarmist; I have concerns about the UK/U of L game this year with good reason.
Cardinals head coach Chris Mack and Wildcats head coach John Calipari have been doing a little collegiate saber-rattling regarding this year's tilt.
Here's the gist of it all:
Chris Mack doesn't "see the equity" in having the annual match-up at the Yum! Center this year because he feels it would be unfair to have the 'Cats come into a nearly empty arena (due to COVID) THIS year and then have to take his Cardinals to a full Rupp Arena NEXT year. Mack thinks this year's game ought to be on a neutral court.
Citing home games, this season, against Notre Dame and whoever ends up being Kentucky's Big 12/SEC Challenge opponent in what will be, in all likelihood, a nearly empty Rupp Arena, Calipari doesn't believe a pandemic (nobody's fault) should be a reason to move the game to a neutral location.
I'm gathering his point is that UK will be returning those games in full arenas. The 'Cats and the Fighting Irish have announced a three-game series, with the first set for Lexington this year, the next at a neutral site in 2021, and the final one in South Bend in 2022. And the Big 12/SEC Challenge event is always home-and-home; it's just not always the same opponent from year to year.
So, yeah, the Kentucky/Louisville game is up in the air, at this point.
Thanks 2020, you don't know when to quit, do you?