UK vs UL Basketball: 2019 Game Preview
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UK is set to take on UL in the 2019 NCAA tournament Get a preview of the game, including predictions, here.
UK vs UL: The Rivalry
UK vs UL is one of the fiercest rivalries in college basketball The two schools have been competing against each other for over a century, and the intensity of the rivalry has only grown over time.
This year’s UK vs UL matchup promises to be especially exciting, as both teams are ranked in the top 25 and are coming off of strong seasons. UK is led by star freshman guard Malik Monk, who is averaging over 20 points per game UL is led by senior forward Deng Adel, who is averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds per game
The game will be played on Saturday, February 18th at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. UK is currently a 6.5 point favorite to win the game.
UK vs UL: The History
The Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals have been rivals in college basketball for over a century. The two schools first met on the hardwood in 1913, and they have been going at it ever since. The Cats and the Cards have met a total of 170 times, with Kentucky holding a narrow lead in the all-time series 86-79-5.
While the UK-UL rivalry is one of the fiercest in all of College Basketball it has been particularly relevant over the last few years. In 2012, Louisville joined the ACC, making them conference foes for the first time ever. Since then, the two teams have met 14 times, with Louisville winning nine of those games. Most recently, the Cardinals knocked off Kentucky in 2018 by a score of 73-69.
The 2019 UK-UL matchup will be played on Saturday, December 28th at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. This will be the first time these two teams have played each other at Rupp Arena since 2013. Tipoff is set for noon EST and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
UK vs UL: The Coaches
The 2019 college Basketball season is just around the corner, and there are plenty of big games to look forward to. One of the most anticipated games is the matchup between UK and UL, two of the top programs in the country.
Both teams are coached by legends of the game. UK is coached by John Calipari who has led the team to 3 NCAA Championships UL is coached by Rick Pitino, who has also won 3 NCAA championships.
This will be the first time these two coaches have faced off against each other in a college basketball game Both coaches have a tremendous amount of respect for each other, but that won’t stop them from trying to win this game.
The game will be played on December 28th at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. It will be televised on ESPN at 8:00 PM EST.
UK vs UL: The Players
In this matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Louisville Cardinals there are a few Key Players to keep an eye on.For the Wildcats, PJ Washington will be a big presence in the paint. The 6’8” Power Forward is averaging a double-double this season with 15 points and 10 rebounds per game He will be matched up against Louisville center Steven Enoch, who is also 6’8”. In the backcourt, Kentucky will look to Tyler Herro and Keldon Johnson to provide scoring. Herro, a freshman, is averaging 13 points per game while Johnson, a sophomore, is averaging 16 points per game
For Louisville, Jordan Nwora will be the player to watch on offense. The 6’7” forward is averaging 17 points and seven rebounds per game this season. He will likely be guarded by UK forward Reid Travis, who is 6’8” and averages 11 points and seven rebounds per game. In the backcourt, Louisville relies on Christen Cunningham and Dwayne Sutton to provide scoring. Cunningham, a senior, is averaging 11 points per game while Sutton, a junior, is averaging nine Points per game
UK vs UL: The Fans
When it comes to the Kentucky-Louisville basketball rivalry, the fans are just as important as the players. These two fan bases are some of the most passionate in College Basketball and they don’t hold back when it comes to showing their support for their team.
The Kentucky Wildcats have a long tradition of success on the basketball court and their fans expect nothing less than a win whenever their team takes the court. The Louisville Cardinals have had their share of success as well, but they are always looking to take down their biggest rival.
Both fan bases travel well, so expect a loud and rowdy environment whenever these two teams meet. This is one of the most intense rivalries in college basketball and the fans play a big role in that.
UK vs UL: The Game
In a matchup between two of the best teams in college basketball the Kentucky Wildcats will take on the Louisville Cardinals These two teams have a storied rivalry, with the Wildcats holding a slight lead in the all-time series. This year’s game promises to be a great one, as both teams are ranked in the Top 25.
The Wildcats are led by freshman sensation Tyler Herro who is averaging 17 points per game He will be up against a tough Cardinals defense, which is giving up an average of only 60 points per game. The Cardinals are led by junior guard Jordan Nwora, who is averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds per game.
The game will be played at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, and will tip off at 7:00 PM EST. It will be broadcast on ESPN2.
UK vs UL: The Prediction
The Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals will face off on December 28th, 2019 in what will be one of the most highly anticipated games of the college basketball season Both teams are ranked in the top 5 of the AP poll and the winner of this game will likely have the inside track to a number 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament
The Wildcats are coming into this game with a perfect 12-0 record and are fresh off of a blowout win over their in-state rival, Louisville. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are 11-1 with their only loss coming at the hands of the then-ranked number 2 Michigan State Spartans Both teams have been impressive on offense, but UK has been especially dominant, averaging 85.8 points per game while shooting an astounding 49.5% from three-point range Louisville has been no slouch on offense either, averaging 83.6 points per game.
On paper, Kentucky looks like the clear favorite in this matchup. However, Louisville is a very talented team and they will have home court advantage in this game. The Wildcats will need to be at their best if they want to come away with a win.
UK vs UL: The Aftermath
It’s been a little over a week since the Cats took down Louisville in an epic grudge match. Let’s take a look at how each team is fairing in the aftermath of the game.
Both teams have seen a drop in their rankings, with UK falling from 5 to 12 and UL falling from 16 to 24. This is to be expected, as both teams lost key players to injury during the game. UK lost PJ Washington early in the first half, and UL lost Jordan Nwora shortly thereafter. Washington is expected to return within the next few weeks, while Nwora is out for the season with a broken foot.
UL has also seen a drop in morale, as their Head Coach David Padgett was recently fired. This is likely due to the team’s poor performance this season, as well as their loss to UK. UK, on the other hand, has remained relatively upbeat despite their loss of Washington. The team is confident that they will be able to perform well without him and are looking forward to his return.
UK vs UL: The Legacy
UK vs UL is one of the biggest rivalries in college basketball The two teams have met every year since 1913, making it one of the oldest rivalries in the sport. UK leads the all-time series 103-40, but UL has won four of the last six games. The Wildcats are coming off a loss to Duke in the Elite Eight, while the Cardinals are coming off a loss to Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen UK is ranked #1 in the AP poll, while UL is ranked #9. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.