Mark Pope reviving the Kentucky vs. Indiana rivalry series was something Cats fans had been asking for since it was discontinued in the early 2010's. Especially after the brutal loss that the Hoosiers handed Kentucky with the historic "Wat Shot" (let's not talk about it), the Wildcats' vengeance at Rupp Arena last season was long overdue.
But with a non-conference schedule that, even with that addition, is being perceived as weak, the Cats could use another historical rivalry brought back from the grave. Folks forget that, at one point in time, Kentucky vs. Notre Dame was a college hoops mainstay.
Fans on either side will remember Kentucky's back-to-back losses in 2020 and 2021 (a darker age of the John Calipari tenure), as well as the Cats' two-point win in the Elite Eight in 2015. Prior to that, though, the history goes way further back, making this matchup one of the most storied in the history of blue and white hoops. No, I'm not kidding.
Kentucky's Sneakily Storied Rivalry With Notre Dame
Every year from 1958-1982, the Wildcats and the Fighting Irish faced off. The annual duel often featured a high ranking on either side, and through the years, there were more than a few nail-biters shared between the blue and the gold.
Now, sure, Kentucky has statistically dominated this meeting; even on the heels of two straight losses, the Cats lead this one 43-21 all-time. Having met for the first time all the way back in 1929, this one has all the ingredients for a proper modern revival.
The only catch? Notre Dame isn't, well, good right now. Any non-conference battle is fun, but for the time being, things may not be particularly close.
Notre Dame's Modern Struggles
The Fighting Irish, led by head coach Micah Shrewsberry, have suffered four straight losing seasons. Their 13-18 tally from this past year specifically slated them at No. 16 in the ACC. Playing in a conference in which the bottom half is notoriously less competitive anyway, it's far from a good look for Notre Dame currently.
So, I suppose my proposal should come with that one contingency: Notre Dame, when they're good again, would be the perfect candidate for a new home-and-home series with Mark Pope's Wildcats. Nobody wants to see a below .500 team come to Rupp for a rippin'.
Then again, I may prefer an ACC team, especially one with the history that Notre Dame has with Kentucky, to the likes of Grambling State or Sacred Heart. Maybe that's just me, though.
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