A new chapter of the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry was written, and it played out just like many before it—on the side of the Wildcats. Mark Pope’s Kentucky squad secured a 93-86 win over Pat Kelsey’s Louisville team, marking their 14th win in the last 17 matchups. It was another dominant night for the Cats in front of their home crowd, but not without some tense moments along the way.
With three key players missing, the Cards quickly found themselves in an early hole, as Kentucky jumped to a 12-point lead just 10 minutes into the game. It felt like a blowout was on the horizon, but Louisville fought back behind a red-hot shooting performance, hitting 14 of 39 from three-point range. Terrence Edwards led the charge with five threes, making the contest a nail-biter as the game wore on.
Despite the pressure, Kentucky’s Lamont Butler stepped up in a huge way. Returning from a two-and-a-half-game absence due to an ankle injury, Butler turned in one of the most memorable performances in the rivalry’s storied history. The senior point guard was flawless, going 10-for-10 from the field, including six made threes, for a career-high 33 points.
“Lamont Butler just gave us one of the all-time greatest performances in the history of this super special game,” said a proud Mark Pope. “The numbers back it up. The way he came into it backs it up. Major credit to him.”
It wasn’t just the play on the court that made the night memorable; the atmosphere was electric and full of intensity. A scuffle broke out on the Louisville bench, with Brandon Garrison caught in the middle, while a UofL player threw a gesture at Kentucky fans on his way to the locker room. The rivalry had its bite back, and Big Blue Nation had plenty to celebrate as the Cats cruised to another victory.
The win not only solidified Kentucky’s dominance in the rivalry but also showcased the team’s resilience and Butler’s leadership as the Cats head into the latter part of the season with momentum.
