Louisville basketball: Predicting who wins between Cards and UK
By Jacob Lane
The Big Red Louie team gives their final predictions for the 2019 edition of the Bluegrass rivalry. Can Louisville basketball pick up their first win since 2016?
In just a matter of a few hours, Louisville basketball will look to claim a spot atop the Bluegrass when they go head to head with arch-rival Kentucky.
There hasn’t been a game that has “Louisville” written all over it like the 2019 edition does since probably 2013-14, just months after the Cards claimed their first title, and returned stars, Russ Smith and Luke Hancock. Ultimately, Rick Pitino and the Cards fell in that one and its games like that one that has left many fans curious of when Louisville would be able to get back into the rivalry.
There’s no denying that John Calipari has owned Louisville since taking over at Kentucky. Louisville has one this game just twice since the year 2010, but behind Chris Mack and the scoring prowess of Jordan Nwora – not to mention the experience of guys like Dwayne Sutton, Steven Enoch, Darius Perry, Fresh Kimble, and Ryan McMahon.
So can Louisville win? Predictions have been all over the place the last few weeks, and if I’m being honest with you, the closer we get to the game the less and less comfortable it seems Louisville fans are.
Louisville comes in after having 10 days rest since their last win over Miami (OH), while Kentucky comes in after dropping 13 spots in the rankings after losing back-to-back games in Las Vegas against Utah and no. 2 Ohio State.
Behind Tyrese Maxey and Ashton Hagans, the Cats are desperately in need of a big non-conference winning before heading into SEC play. Kentucky hasn’t been the same Kentucky team this season by any means, struggling to find their footing with several new freshmen and players who talent-wise don’t fill the bill of what we’ve seen in years past.
In fact, in the first time since maybe the 2013-14 season (which we mentioned a bit ago), Louisville will have the best player on the floor – which should make a world difference.
So enough talk. Who wins? Our team predicts.
Alex Stengel –
It’s hard to remember being able to see both sides of the Louisville fan fence this clearly when it comes to our most anxious game of the season.
On one side, you have the fans that point to Louisville’s less than stellar history in the rivalry – with the Cards only winning a few games in the last decade. Especially considering the last Louisville win at Rupp was over 10 years ago.
On the other side, you have the fans that see the Cardinals glass half full. This will be the best Louisville team the Cats played against since probably 2013. Our depth, height, and accuracy are just a few main reasons why Cardinal fans are more confident than in years past.
However – most things, including records and rankings, get thrown out the window when discussing rivalry games.
Not only is Louisville playing against Kentucky in Lexington, their playing against history and a stigma that will remain true unless they break the mold in securing a rare victory.
In saying this, I believe the Cards have what it takes to pull out a win in Rupp, handing the Cats their 3rd loss in a row – with Enoch emerging as the catalyst for the Cards.
If Enoch comes out with the right attitude and poise, there is no comparable player for Kentucky that will be able to consistently defend him in the post.
Cards win 72-65 in an exciting, grind-it-out game.
Time to see if Louisville can break rewrite history in Rupp.
Alan Thomas –
Cards 72 Cats 59
Louisville enters the game ranked 15th in points allowed (58.4). They face an abysmal three-point shooting Kentucky team (324th). When you consider that Chris Mack’s pack-line defense invites three-point shooters to sling it from deep all day long, all signs point to a lethargic Wildcat offense.
Kentucky will have the advantage up top on defense, but if the Cards can force the issue with big man Steven Enoch, it will open up the entire floor for the overmatched Louisville guards.
Also, Enoch has a history of wealth against teams that like to run the floor. He’s my MVP of this one. I think he EATS.
Charron Elliott –
This is going to be the first year in nearly a decade that I can say with the most confidence that I think Louisville will defeat Kentucky at Rupp.
The score will be 76-70 and the games MVP will be Dwayne Sutton with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
I think the Cardinals have the advantage inside the paint and it will ultimately come down to how the game is officiated. The first half will be all UK and they will probably lead by at least 10 points due to just the adrenaline rush from playing your in-state rival.
Tyrese Maxey will have about 20 points in the first half for UK and Ashton Hagans will be a tough cover for Louisville in first 20 minutes. Jordan Nwora will keep the Cardinals within reach of a comeback in the first half and make some unbelievable plays.
It will be a closer game once the adrenaline wears off and Ryan McMahon will make some timely threes and Sutton will be the best player on the court in the second half which will ultimately lead to Louisville winning in Lexington.
Jacob Lane –
I have no what to think about this one considering that it has Louisville written all over it, yet that probably means Kentucky will win.
Here’s where I put my faith in this game; experience.
In year’s past, we’ve seen Louisville both at home and on the road, struggling to look like themselves. Whatever the gameplan has been for UK, the Cards have done themselves no favor and have simply just been overmatched and out talented most years.
That won’t be the case this season. As long as the Louisville team that we all know is capable of beating anyone shows up. The defense alone of the Cards should be enough to limit Kentucky who has had a really hard time shooting the ball this season. If they can keep Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery off the glass, and not allow Hagans and Immanuel Quickley to get into the lane, I think this one is a win.
I think the combination of Jordan Nwora outside and Steven Enoch inside will be way too much. I also believe that Dwayne Sutton, who has been a complete non-factor in his first two games against Kentucky, closing his career (in the rivalry matchup) with a bang, grabbing 15 or more rebounds and scoring in double figures.
It’s time to bring that win back to Louisville, folks.
Louisville 71, Kentucky 64