When Kentucky and Louisville square off Friday on the final day of 2010, it will mark the third time these two rivals have played on New Year’s Eve. The Cats won in 1996 while the Cards prevailed in 1988.
That’s just one of many historical footnotes to the game on both teams’ schedules that means the most to their fans — outside of the NCAA Tournament, of course. With that in mind, here’s one man’s opinion on the top 10 games in the Battle of Bluegrass, which has been an annual affair since the 1983-84 season.
December 2004 – UK 60, U of L 58The Comeback: As poorly as Kentucky played in the first half (down 32-16), the Wildcats played that well in the second, led by Patrick Sparks. The Central City, Ky., product scored 15 of his 25 points in the second half, including three clinching free throws in the final seconds.
Next to Kyle Macy, Sparks might have been the best “big-shot guy” to wear the blue and white in my lifetime. He relished taking those kinds of shots, and understanding the nature of the UK-U of L rivalry as well as he did, he was a natural to step up and seize the opportunity to lead his team back.
The comeback is tied for the largest halftime deficit that Kentucky has overcome in its storied history (the other occurred in the Mardi Grass Miracle at LSU).
November 1983 – UK 65, U of L 44The Redemption: The Big Blue Nation needed redemption after the “Dream Game” loss the previous March and this game — which marked the start of the annual meetings between the two rivals — gave that tonic to the UK fans.
Sam Bowie missed all three shots he took but was a dominant force nevertheless, grabbing 10 rebounds, blocking five shots and dishing out five assists in a 65-44 rout. The late Melvin Turpin came up big with 16 points and nine boards and Jim Master led the Cats with 19 points. December 1986 – UK 85, U of L 51Rex Erupts: Rex Chapman came to Kentucky as arguably the most hyped high school legend ever in this state and this was his breakout game. Chapman threw down thunderous dunks en route to a 26-point performance as the Cats scored their most lopsided win ever over the Cardinals – and they did it at FreedomHall. The final was 85-51.
December 2001 – UK 82, U of L 62Tubby Time: This was arguably the day when Tubby Smith got his most amount of love from the UK fan base, as former coach Rick Pitino came back to Rupp as coach of the Cats’ archrival. Tickets were reportedly going for $1,500, and with Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans combining for 35 points, the Cats pulled away in the second half for a decisive 82-62 win.
It was Smith’s first win over Pitino and it was Pitino’s first loss to a former assistant of his.
March 1984 – UK 72, U of L 67″Beal” Street: This matchup in the semifinal round of the NCAA Mideast Regional at Rupp Arena marked the only time UK and U of L met twice in the same season. While the Cats dominated in the first one, the rematch was a different story as Lancaster Gordon and Milt Wager combined for 47 points to put the pressure on the third-ranked Cats. Stepping up big time for the Big Blue was the team’s smallest player, ultra-quick point guard Dicky Beal. He tied Master for the scoring lead with 15 in addition to nine assists and six steals as UK overcame a six-point halftime deficit to prevail 72-67 on the way to the Final Four.
January 2010 — UK 71, U of L 62The Battle: Tensions flared up early in this matchup with U of L seeking an unprecedented third straight win over the Cats. In all, five technical fouls were whistled and the two teams combined for 37 turnovers.
DeMarcus Cousins was the difference for Kentucky, scoring a team-high 18 points and grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds. Patrick Patterson and John Wall added 17 apiece as Kentucky outlasted the Cards 71-62 in a game that signaled this rivalry was getting close to where it was in the 1980s.
December 1987 — UK 76, U of L 75The Tip: You know how the experts say the records don’t matter when these two get together? Well, this was a game to illustrate that point.
Unranked Louisville had a one-point lead over No. 1 Kentucky in the final seconds at Rupp Arena, but Cedric “Swoop” Jenkins tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer for his only basket of the day in a 76-75 UK win.
December 1995 — UK 89, U of L 66The Statement: Louisville had upset Kentucky in a New Year’s Day matchup the previous season and a Kentucky team that would win the school’s sixth national title was ready to send a message about where it was headed that season.
Tony Delk torched the Cards for 30 and Antoine Walker had a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds in an 89-66 rout.
December 1992 — UK 88, U of L 68Mash Up: Kentucky stamped its return to college basketball’s elite with that incredible performance against Duke the previous March. In the 1993 season, the Wildcats would continue that momentum with a Final Four run.
Jamal Mashburn and Rodrick Rhodes led the way with 27 and 20 points, respectively, as Kentucky roared back from an early 10-point deficit to lead by as many as 27.
December 1985: UK 69, U of L 64Bennett Answers the Call: With U of L doing a good job on Kentucky star Kenny Walker (holding him to 5-of-13 shooting), the Cats needed another player to step and fill the scoring void. Louisville native Winston Bennett answered the call.
Bennett scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead UK to the 69-64 win. Walker did his part, too, by grabbing 14 rebounds.
