Kentucky vs. Louisville is a college basketball rivalry that approaches the fever pitch of Duke vs. North Carolina. Skeptical? Watch the No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats try to knock off the No. 4 Louisville Cardinals tonight at 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS or live stream it for free here. Kentucky fans can find the radio broadcast on WKYM 101.7 FM, while Louisville fans can tune in to the Sweet 16 action on WKRD 790 AM.
Louisville are the defending champions, seeking to reach their third straight Final Four. They are four-point favorites, and are facing a team that starts five freshmen that underachieved all season. That said, they are an extremely talented group of underclassmen led by a coach, John Calipari, who has steered supremely young teams to great success.
Calipari admitted that he'd like it if some of his stars remained in school to help him win, but he also enjoys the success they've had from moving on. "I think we're all playing the hand we're dealt," Calipari said. "Kids are going on to the league from us and performing, and I'm proud of that. Would I like to have had them for four years? Yes. But I also like what's happened for them and their families."
Despite their youth, Kentucky seems like they're growing up before the nation's eyes. Part of that process has been the doubt hurled their way by critics who saw them ranked No. 1 overall at the season's outset.
"They had to hear how bad they were as players, how selfish they were, they're not together, this isn't a team," Calipari said. "Instead of separating, they stuck together. They kept believing in the staff and wanted answers, 'How do we get this right?' and they accepted answers."
Still, Louisville is full of talented seniors with championship pedigree. Even with that in their back pocket, the Cardinals are wary of the Wildcats. "I know everyone wants to talk about experience," sharpshooter Luke Hancock said. "But they've got six, seven, eight, nine, 10 guys that are going to play real hard. We have the same. It's not going to be too big an advantage either way."
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