Big Red Louie
Fansided

Louisville basketball: Relive the best UofL game from each round of the NCAA Tournament

By Presley Meyer

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 08: Montrezl Harrell #24 of the Louisville Cardinals dunks an alley-op pass in the first half against Glenn Robinson III #1 of the Michigan Wolverines vduring the 2013 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at the Georgia Dome on April 8, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 08: Montrezl Harrell #24 of the Louisville Cardinals dunks an alley-op pass in the first half against Glenn Robinson III #1 of the Michigan Wolverines vduring the 2013 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at the Georgia Dome on April 8, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
Denny Crum, Louisville basketball
6 MAR 1994: UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HEAD COACH DENNY CRUM COACHES FROM THE BENCH DURING THE CARDINALS VERSUS UCLA BRUINS GAME AT THE PAULEY PAVILION IN WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA. Mandatory Credit: J.D. Cuban/ALLSPORT /

Elite Eight

The Dream Game vs. Kentucky in 1983

From the most fun, to the most important game, not only in Louisville NCAA Tournament history, but in program history as well.

You know the story. Kentucky had a long-standing tradition of not playing Louisville under Adolf Rupp, and that carried over to the Joe B. Hall era. The two teams were set to clash in the ’82 tournament, but UK lost the game prior, but as fate would have it, the Cards and Cats met in the ’83 Elite Eight instead.

The teams played their first match-up in 24 years in Knoxville, Tennessee. After a great start for Kentucky, Louisville managed to claw it’s way back into the game, force overtime, and the rest was history.

Louisville and Kentucky have played at least once in every season since 1983. The rivalry had already begun years prior to the Dream Game, but it has escalated to new heights since fate finally forced the teams to play.

Nearly 40 years later, regardless of the year, if Louisville beats Kentucky, the rest of the season is gravy.

From a fan’s perspective at least, this remains the greatest rivalry in college basketball, and it all began with one game that wasn’t supposed to happen.

That overtime session is just magic.

Beating Kentucky’s ass in any sport will never get old, but we wouldn’t be where we are today without this game. A complete culture-shifter across the Louisville sports landscape.

Home/Louisville Basketball