Reliving the best moments in Louisville basketball rivalry vs. Cincinnati
By Alan Thomas
No. 6 – The Drop
February 22, 1996, no. 21 Louisville rolled into Cincinnati for the first time in five years.
Cincinnati’s senior point guard Keith LeGree was having a productive season, averaging 8.2 ppg, 5.7 apg, and 4.1 rpg, leading his team all the way to no. 6in the Top 25 poll. It seemed as though he had found his niche as the Bearcats’ floor general.
It didn’t all begin there for LeGree, however. Just two seasons prior, he had decided to flee from the Cardinals roster, opting to transfer to Cincy following a monster recruiting class landed by Coach Denny Crum, including three highly-skilled guards; one being standout point guard DeJuan Wheat. LeGree did not see enough potential for adequate playing time.
With time ticking away and Louisville up by five 71-66 with 12 seconds remaining, LeGree opted to drive the right side of the lane in search for a shot or a dish for an easy bucket to cut the lead to a single possession and set up the full-court press.
As the senior transfer approached the low block, he was met by defender Damion Dantzler, altering his shot. LeGree dished it off to forward Jackson Julson for a wide-open lay-up, but the pass was low and to the side, causing Julson to fumble it away and fall down.
The Cards secured the loose ball and pulled off the huge road upset. Poetic.
No. 5 – The snap
The 1977-78 Cincinnati squad had just moved into their illustrious home arena, Riverfront Coliseum (now Heritage Bank Center), boasting that the new venue was leaps and bounds ahead of the already aging Freedom Hall.
This did not sit well with the Louisville players, staff, or traveling contingency on January 7, 1978.
The #12 Bearcats came into the matchup tied for the nation’s longest home winning streak (60), and the hype that day was matched by a sellout crowd. The no. 10 Cardinals entered the game having won 8 of their last 9, and had hopes of spoiling Cincinnati’s run at home.
Led by Louisville native sophomore Darrell Griffith and a strong supporting cast of upperclassmen, the Cards were able to snap the Bearcats winning streak in a tight finish 78-75, making way for a sweet voyage back to the 502.