Yesterday, college basketball had some blockbuster showdowns, as Michigan State defeated Duke and Kansas defeated Kentucky. Both games were top-25 showdowns, as Michigan State vs. Duke was a top-5 matchup with Duke ranked No. 2 and Michigan State No. 5, and heading into Tuesday, Kentucky ranked No. 24 and Kansas No. 15.
Louisville could be on the verge of ending a 35-year NBA Draft drought
Louisville basketball fans might have tuned in late to watch their in-state rival, the Kentucky Wildcats, take on Kansas. Louisville, of course, defeated Kansas in the preseason, but this matchup had multiple other storylines, including Louisville native Tyran Stokes facing one of his finalists, the Kentucky Wildcats, and Mark Pope.
Stokes went on to have a statement game, but after the game, what really caught the Cardinals' eyes was what the former 5-star said about Kentucky.
Tyran Stokes showed his Louisville roots in a way Cardinals fans will love
For anyone who didn’t follow or maybe doesn’t remember, Louisville was heavily involved in the recruiting process for Tyran Stokes. The Cardinals tried to keep the 5-star local, who ranked No. 1 overall in the 2026 recruiting class, but they battled Kansas and Kentucky, and he ultimately narrowed his list to just those two schools.
"I mean, I'm pretty sure everyone obviously knows. For me, it was up to Kansas and Kentucky for my last two schools," stated Stokes.
However, it appears the Louisville native made this game “personal”, as he gave in to his roots and where he was from, and had this game circled since he grew up a Cardinals fan.
"I'm from Louisville. I had a long recruiting process with Kentucky, so obviously when I chose Kansas and I knew that game was going to be here, it was personal for sure,” stated Stokes. “So, growing up, you know the tradition and the rivalry that was between Louisville and Kentucky. So being from Louisville, I still got that same emotion as if I was playing for Louisville.”
Tyran Stokes says beating Kentucky was personal. Why? Even though he had UK as a finalist, he says he grew up a Louisville fan, feeling how UL fans do about Kentucky. "I kinda still got that same emotion, as if I was playing for Louisville." Well then.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTuckerCBB) November 11, 2026
Of course, it would have been a dream for Cardinals fans to see Stokes play for Louisville and his hometown school, but Louisville fans are loving this answer that he still has that “emotion” toward Kentucky.
Stokes finished the game with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, and he is trending as the projected No. 1 overall pick for the 2027 NBA Draft. The former No. 1 overall recruit showed his Louisville colors last night in their dominant win over Kentucky, and while he didn’t pick the Cardinals, Louisville fans are showing support for their local 5-star after this answer.
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