Red-hot rivalry ready to burn across the Kentucky bluegrass

Big article from USA Today this morning on college basketball's most intense rivalry.

Up the road in Louisville, some are immune to the Kentucky hype.

"They had the same buzz two years ago," Louisville athletics director Tom Jurich says. "Remember when they were recruiting eighth-graders?"

That was a route taken by Gillispie that became fodder for sports talk shows and bloggers.

Louisville, which won 1980 and 1986 NCAA titles under coach Denny Crum, has enjoyed far more success than its state rival in recent years. It made the Final Four in 2005 and advanced to the Elite Eight the past two seasons.

"We are the No. 1 revenue producer in college basketball," says Pitino, whose program raked in $23,519,846 in 2008 in operating revenue, according to the latest NCAA figures. "Nobody's close. (Kentucky is) going to say, 'We have the most wins in college basketball.' I've painted the argument on both sides."

3 months ago Mike Rutherford 6 comments 0 recs |

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Two things about this article

1. I love that Preston calls it “The Battle of the Italians.” Just one more reason in the book why he is my favorite player on this team.

2. Calipari is f’ing crazy if he thinks that UK fans won’t step over the line with their taunts when we come to play in Rupp. All of us are steeling ourselves for what some of the fan bases will be saying, and I’m 100% certain that UK’s will be the most vulgar and farthest over the line. If Calipari somehow convinces that fan base to be classy, he will deserve Coach of the Year.

by Chris Redman is my hero on Nov 5, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

amen

but no greasy used car salesman has ever followed up on any empty promises…right?

by twistedwedge on Nov 7, 2009 2:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He said that..

because it is the right thing to say. Everyone in the world realizes that UK fans have zero class and will be the harshest on Rick (dont blame them in this case though). I think Calipari is smart enough to not come out and say his fans are classless and are going to heckle the shit out of Pitino. That would be a pretty bad move on his part.

by Web on Nov 5, 2009 1:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Calipari is trying to spin the PR. There’s no way he has any control over the zombie nation. They will show their class or lack there of and then he will back pedal. They will be brutal I do believe. I love this rivalry. To me (and I’m biased) it’s the best. UNC/Duke is not nearly as interesting historically and they play, what seven times every year or something it seems? Say what you will about UK fans (they are about the most obnoxious I know of) I do respect the actual school and the basketball program’s history and tradition. It’s easy to lump it all together, but it’s good to get some perspective on things.

Maddie in Portland, Oregon

by kentuckybred on Nov 5, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs