The Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats basketball date has been announced, and fans are furious. The two in-state rivals will play each other at the KFC Yum! Center! on Tuesday, November 11, making fans from both programs scratch their heads in confusion and anger.
Fans from both programs are shocked and outraged, as the intense rivalry showdown is usually later in the season and on a more convenient day for fans. The Cardinals and Wildcats are expected to be two of the top teams in the nation next season, as Pat Kelsey and Mark Pope have added elite players this offseason and are bringing in superstars from the class of 2025.
The Cardinals fans are not thrilled by this announcement. A game that early in the season takes away the spotlight it deserves and makes it appear that they are putting this intense rivalry showdown to the side.
Louisville basketball schedules Kentucky rivalry game on worst date imaginable
The Cardinals and Wildcats rivalry showdown is the game every Cardinal fan circles when the schedule is announced. Louisville basketball fans are screaming at this announcement, as it is absurd that the basketball showdown will play before the two football teams play each other for the Governor's Cup.
The Cards and Cats will face off on the football field at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on November 29. The intense basketball showdown will take place 18 days before the football game.
This basketball matchup is the earliest the two teams have played each other in their 57 matchups, dating back to the 1912-13 season. The earliest matchup between these two teams before this announcement was on November 26, 1983, when the Wildcats defeated the Cardinals 65-44.
Louisville and Kentucky are, in many experts' way-too-early top 10 for the 2025-26 season, and a game that early takes the spotlight away from this massive showdown and rivalry. Fans have been excited to see the matchup between the Cardinals' 5-star commit, Mikel Brown Jr., against the Wildcats' 4-star commit, Jasper Johnson, but this showdown being played immediately when the season starts nearly takes away all the thrill and excitement, as the young players will still be learning how to play and develop at the collegiate level.
This matchup should be in December or at least late November. This rivalry is pushing to be one of the best rivalries in college basketball, and the Kelsey vs. Pope showdown on November 11 next season will be a must-watch game for all college basketball fans.