Kentucky Basketball’s Top Rivals

A rivalry is the intense competition between two athletic teams or athletes. The most common form of rivalry is between two teams in the same sport. Here are Kentucky Basketball’s Top Rivals.

The top 5 rivals of the Kentucky Wildcats

There are a lot of schools that could lay claim to being Kentucky’s biggest rival, but these five stand out above the rest.

1. Louisville Cardinals

The Cardinals have been Kentucky’s top rival for as long as anyone can remember. The schools are only separated by around 80 miles, and the fanbases are intensely loyal to their respective teams. The games between these two are always highly anticipated and hotly contested.

2. Indiana Hoosiers

The Hoosiers may not be Kentucky’s closest rival, but they are certainly one of the most fierce. The Wildcats and Hoosiers have met each other a whopping 133 times in their history, with Kentucky holding a slim lead in the series. These two teams always bring out the best in each other, resulting in some very memorable games over the years.

3. Tennessee Volunteers

The Volunteers may not be one of Kentucky’s traditional rivals, but they have certainly earned their spot on this list in recent years The games between these two teams have been exceptionally close and hotly contested in recent years with each team having its fair share of success. This is a rivalry that is only going to keep getting more intense in the years to come.

4. Duke Blue Devils

The Blue Devils may not be a traditional rival of Kentucky’s, but they are certainly one of the most despised teams among Wildcats fans. The games between these two teams are always highly anticipated and highly competitive, with each team usually bringing its best game to the table. This is a rivalry that has been growing in intensity in recent years and it doesn’t look like it will be slowing down anytime soon.

5. North Carolina Tar Heels

The Tar Heels may not be one of Kentucky’s oldest rivals, but they have definitely earned their spot on this list. The games between these two teams are always highly competitive, and each team usually has a lot riding on the outcome of the matchup. This is a rivalry that is only going to keep getting more intense in the years to come

The history of the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry

The Kentucky-Louisville rivalry is one of the most intense and well-known rivalries in all of college sports The two schools are separated by just over 70 miles, and the fan bases are some of the most passionate in the country.

The rivalry dates back to 1913, when the two teams first met on the basketball court since then, they have met a total of 133 times, with Kentucky holding a slim lead in the all-time series 65-58.

Over the years, the rivalry has had some legendary moments, including Christian Laettner’s game-winning shot in 1992 and Kevin Ware’s gruesome injury in 2013.

The schools are also two of the most successful programs in college basketball history, with a combined 11 National Championships between them.

The rivalry was put on hiatus for several years after Louisville joined the ACC, but it was renewed in 2017 with a matchup in Louisville. The game sold out in minutes, and it is clear that this is still one of the best rivalries in sports.

The history of the Kentucky-Tennessee rivalry

The Kentucky-Tennessee rivalry is a college basketball rivalry between the University of Kentucky Wildcats and the University of Tennessee Volunteers. The annual regular season series is considered one of the most intense rivalries in all of College Basketball The rivalry has been called “the best, most intense, most tradition-rich College Basketball rivalry in America”, and “the third best overall college basketball rivalry” by ESPN.

The two teams first played each other in 1913, and have played each other nearly every year since then. The intensity of the rivalry has increased over time, as both teams have become among the best in college basketball Kentucky and Tennessee have combined for seven NCAA Division I Men’s basketball championships (Kentucky has four, while Tennessee has three), 25 SEC Championships (Kentucky has 18, while Tennessee has seven), and 64 NCAA tournament appearances (Kentucky has 51, while Tennessee has 13).

In recent years, the Kentucky-Tennessee series has seen some close games and dramatic finishes. In 2009, Kentucky snapped a 26-year losing streak to Tennessee with a come-from-behind win in Knoxville. In 2010, Tennessee returned the favor by coming back from 16 points down to beat Kentucky in Lexington. In 2011, Kentucky won again in Knoxville by a score of 73-72 on a last second shot by UK freshman Doron Lamb.

The history of the Kentucky-Indiana rivalry

The Kentucky-Indiana rivalry is a college basketball rivalry between the University of Kentucky Wildcats and Indiana University Hoosiers. The yearly contest is one of the most intense in college basketball

The two teams have met each other 120 times, with Indiana holding a slim 61-59 lead in the all-time series. They first met in December 1921, and played each other every year from 1969 until 2011. The series was then put on hiatus until it was revived in December 2012.

The intensity of the rivalry can be attributed to the fact that both teams are among the elite of college basketball They are two of the winningest programs in NCAA history, and have combined for 31 NCAA Tournament appearances, 20 Final Fours, and 12 national championships.

In recent years, the rivalry has been fueled by the success of both teams. Kentucky has won eight national championships since 1996, while Indiana has made two Final Four appearances in that same time span.

The history of the Kentucky-North Carolina rivalry

Though the Kentucky-North Carolina rivalry is relatively new, it has quickly become one of the most intense in college basketball The two programs have met just four times since 2011, but each matchup has been highly competitive, with an average margin of victory of less than four points.

The rivalry began in 2011, when North Carolina defeated Kentucky in the NCAA tournament Elite Eight. The Tar Heels would go on to win the National Championship that year, while the Wildcats would have to wait until 2012 to claim their first title under Head Coach John Calipari

In 2014, the two teams met again in the NCAA tournament this time in the Sweet Sixteen North Carolina edged Kentucky 79-76 in a close game dashing the Wildcats’ hopes of a perfect season.

The most recent meeting came in 2016, when Kentucky and North Carolina faced off in the regular season for the first time since 1961. The Wildcats won 103-100 in a thrilling overtime battle, avenging their loss from two years earlier.

With both programs regularly competing at a high level, it’s likely that the Kentucky-North Carolina rivalry will continue to grow in intensity in the years to come.

The top 5 moments in the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry

Few basketball rivalries can match the passion, intensity and history of the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry.

The two teams first met on the hardwood in 1913, and they have played each other nearly every year since then. The series is currently tied at 24-24, but Kentucky holds a slight edge when it comes to postseason meetings, winning four of six matchups.

Here are the top five moments in this historic rivalry:

1) 2013 National Championship Game: In one of the most thrilling games in NCAA tournament history, Louisville edged out Kentucky in overtime by a score of 82-81. This game had it all — back-and-forth action, Big Shots and a thrilling finish. It was also the first time that two in-state rivals had faced each other for the national title.

2) 1992 Elite Eight: This was the first time that Kentucky and Louisville met in the NCAA Tournament and it did not disappoint. After trailing by double digits early in the second half, Kentucky came storming back to take the lead. But Louisville would not be denied, as star forward Jamal Mashburn hit a layup with 2.1 seconds left to give his team a hard-fought 73-69 victory.

3) 2014 Sweet 16: In one of the most controversial endings in College Basketball history, Louisville beat Kentucky 74-69 in overtime. With just seconds remaining in regulation and Louisville leading by three points, officials waved off a potential game-tying three-pointer by UK’s Derek Willis after determining that he had stepped out of bounds before taking the shot. That call enraged UK fans and sparked lengthy debate about whether or not it was the right call.

4) 1995 Regular Season meeting: This was one of the most anticipated games in recent memory, as it featured two powerhouse teams ranked No.#1 and #2 in the country squaring off against each other. In a back-and-forth affair that saw 11 lead changes and nine ties, Kentucky finally emerged victorious with a 79-76 win over their hated rivals.
Given how strong both teams were that year — Kentucky would eventually win the national title, while Louisville finished as runner up — this game is widely considered one of the best games ever played between these two bitter rivals.

5) 1979 Elite Eight: In what is arguably the most famous game in this storied rivalry’s history, underdog Louisville upset heavily favored Kentucky by a score of 80-68 en route to their first ever Final Four appearance. This game is fondly remembered by Louisville Fans as “The Dream Game,” while UK fans simply refer to it as “The nightmare.”

The top 5 moments in the Kentucky-Tennessee rivalry

The Kentucky-Tennessee rivalry is one of the most legendary in all of sports. The two teams have been playing each other since 1903, and the intensity has only grown over the years. There have been some truly unforgettable moments in this rivalry, but here are the top 5:

5) 2005: Kentucky upsets #1 Tennessee
In a season where they would go on to win the National Championship Kentucky had a bit of a rocky start. They lost 3 of their first 5 games, and barely squeaked by Tennessee in their first matchup. However, they turned things around in the rematch, upsetting the number one ranked Volunteers in overtime.

4) 2006: Tennessee completes comeback to beat Kentucky
After Kentucky jumped out to a 14-point lead midway through the second half, it looked like they were going to run away with this one. But Tennessee would not be denied, as they went on a 22-4 run to close the game and come away with the victory.

3) 2010: John Calipari’s first win over Tennessee
In his first year at Kentucky, John Calipari had his work cut out for him against a Tennesse team that was coming off an Elite 8 appearance. The Volunteers got off to a hot start and led by 14 at halftime, but Kentucky came roaring back in the second half to take the lead. Tennessee would tie it up at the end of regulation, but Calipari got his first signature win as a Wildcat in overtime.

2) 2011: UK comes back from 18 down to beat UT
Down 18 points with just over 12 minutes remaining, it looked like Kentucky was going to suffer a bitter defeat at home against their biggest rivals. But behind some clutch shooting from Doron Lamb and Darius Miller, and some big stops on defense, the Wildcats went on a 25-5 run to close out the game and pick up the come-from-behind victory.

1) 2011: Tyler Bray hits miracle shot to beat UK
In what is arguably the most iconic moment in this rivalry’s history, Tyler Bray hit a miraculous shot at the buzzer to give Tennessee an improbable win over Kentucky. Bray caught an off-balance heave from halfcourt and somehow managed to get it just over UK’s big man Anthony Davis and through the hoop as time expired. It was an unbelievable shot that will be remembered for years to come by both fanbases.

The top 5 moments in the Kentucky-Indiana rivalry

The Kentucky-Indiana rivalry is one of the most storied and intense in all of College Basketball From the infamous “Bloody Tuesday” game in 1975 to Christian Laettner’s game-winning shot in 1992, there have been countless memorable moments between these two powerhouse programs. Here are the top 5 moments in the Kentucky-Indiana rivalry:

1) The 1975 “Bloody Tuesday” game: This was one of the most violent games in college basketball history, as Kentucky and Indiana players engaged in a massive brawl that spilled into the stands. This led to a years-long ban on playing each other, but the rivalry was rekindled in the late 1990s.

2) The 1992 Elite Eight game: This is arguably the most famous moment in the rivalry, as Christian Laettner hit a last-second shot to give Duke a 103-102 win over Kentucky. The Wildcat fans were devastated, while Duke went on to win the National Championship

3) The 2001 Sweet Sixteen game: This was another classic game between these two rivals, as Indiana upset then-undefeated Kentucky 73-64. It was a huge win for Indiana and cemented their status as one of Kentucky’s top rivals.

4) The 2010 NCAA Tournament game: In one of the most controversial games in recent memory, Kentucky beat Indiana 75-73 after a controversial call went against the Hoosiers. Indiana fans were furious and felt that they were robbed, while Kentucky went on to win the National Championship

5) The 2012 NCAA tournament game: In another close and thrilling game, Kentucky edged out Indiana 69-68 in overtime. It was a great victory for Kentucky and added another chapter to this storied rivalry.

The top 5 moments in the Kentucky-North Carolina rivalry

1. 2002 Elite Eight: Kentucky 103, North Carolina 72

This was the game that put Kentucky Basketball back on the college basketball map. Duke had won the National Championship the year before and UNC was coming off a National Championship appearance. This game was a blowout from the start, with Kentucky leading by as much as 40 points. It was a sign of things to come from the John Calipari era, as Kentucky would go on to win the National Championship the following year.

2. 2005 NCAA Tournament North Carolina 75, Kentucky 73

This was a classic Elite Eight matchup between two of the best teams in the country. Kentucky came into this game undefeated and were heavy favorites to win. But UNC’s Rashad McCants hit a clutch three-pointer with less than a minute left to give UNC the lead for good. This game is also remembered for being one of Julius Hodge’s best performances, as he had 25 points and 11 rebounds in the upset victory.

3. 2009 NCAA Tournament North Carolina 89, Kentucky 77

This was another close matchup between these two bitter rivals in what was an instant classic NCAA tournament game. The Tar Heels were down by as many as 12 points in the second half but they rallied back to take the lead late in the game. UNCs Tyler Hansbrough had 28 points and 14 rebounds in what would be his final collegiate game.

4. 2011 NCAA Tournament Kentucky 73, North Carolina 72

This was one of the most thrilling games in recent memory between these two powerhouse programs. UK trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half but made a furious comeback to take the lead late in the game. The Wildcats then held on for dear life as UNC missed several shots that would have won them the game at the buzzer. This victory sent Kentucky to their first Final Four since 1998 and they would go on to win the national championship that year.

5. 2012 NCAA tournament Kentucky 76, North Carolina 69 (OT)
This was another dramatic battle between these two Blue Blood programs that went down to wire once again

Why the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry is the best in college basketball

The Kentucky-Louisville rivalry is one of the fiercest in all of college basketball It’s a rivalry that has been brewing for over a century, and the intensity only seems to be increasing with each passing year. Here are four reasons why the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry is the best in college basketball

1. The history. The Kentucky-Louisville rivalry dates back to 1913, making it one of the oldest rivalries in college basketball In all that time, there have been some truly incredible moments, from Louisville’s “dream game” win in 1975 to Kentucky’s “comeback kids” victory in 2012.

2. The passion. There is no shortage of passion in this rivalry, from the fans to the players to the coaches. Louisville and Kentucky fans are some of the most diehard in all of college basketball and they absolutely despise each other. The hatred between Louisville and Kentucky fans is so intense that they even have a name for it: The Bluegrass Blood Feud.

3. The stakes. Every game between Louisville and Kentucky means a lot, but some games mean more than others. When these two teams meet in the NCAA tournament it’s always must-see TV. And when they meet in the regular season with first place on the line? That’s when things really get interesting.

4. The tradition. This is one of the most tradition-rich rivalries in all of college basketball with each team boasting a long list of accomplishments and legends. From Adolph Rupp to Rick Pitino to Lebron James this rivalry has seen some of the greatest players and coaches in history cross its hardwood floors.

There’s no doubt about it: when it comes to College Basketball rivalries, nobody does it better than Kentucky and Louisville