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Date set for Kentucky, Louisville showdown as new era of series begins

The Kentucky and Louisville series will resume this year with two new head coaches and the date has been set.

By Alec Lasley

Louisville s Skyy Clark looks for a shot under the rim against the Kentucky defense in the second half. The Wildcats won 95-76 at the KFC Yum! Center on Thursday, December 21, 2023
Louisville s Skyy Clark looks for a shot under the rim against the Kentucky defense in the second half. The Wildcats won 95-76 at the KFC Yum! Center on Thursday, December 21, 2023 / Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal / USA
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It will be a new era for both Kentucky and Louisville basketball as two new coaches will emerge on the sidelines for the next installment of the heated rivalry.

And now we have a date for the matchup next year. On Friday, CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein reported that the game will be on Dec. 14 at Rupp Arena.

Kentucky has won 13 of the last 16 meetings, including the last two. In 2023, the Wildcats won 95-76.

Louisville has not won two games in a row in the rivalry since 2008-2009. 2008 was also the last time the Cardinals won inside Rupp Arena. They have lost the last seven matchups in Lexington.

This will also be the earliest time the two teams have met in a season since 1993 when the game took place on November 27. The two teams have played before December 20 just six times in the last 34 years.

Like Kentucky, Louisville enters this season with a new head coach. Pat Kelsey arrived at Louisville following three successfull seasons with College of Charleston. He made the NCAA Tournament in each of the previous two years. Before Charleston, Kelsey was at Winthrop for nine years where he made three NCAA Tournament appearances.

His career record is 261-122 (.681).

Louisville is coming off of an 8-24 season in 2023-24. In Kenny Payne's two seasons at Louisville, the Cardinals were just 12-52.

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