Kentucky vs Louisville...The Sweet Sixteen...

[MrSplitshot]

We're roughly 72 hours out from this epic battle...and not 1 thread on Fishin.com about it. WTF?

I've played nice this week with my Cardinal friends, even though many have officially proclaimed this "Louisville Hate Week" in my neck of the woods. LOL

So, why have I played nice?

Well, to be honest...though it makes my Blue Blood shiver a bit to say it...I respect the Cards. They are defending National Champions. There isn't that guy in red that I just love to hate. I respect Rick Pitino as a coach...always have. (Make sure you read "coach" there...big difference.) The state of Kentucky is rockin' some ass right now in college hoops, between Kentucky and Louisville. Look at the Elite 8's, Final 4's, and National Championships just within these two programs over the last few years. Dominant.

I'll argue that UK vs UL is THE BIGGEST RIVALRY in College Basketball right now...and us fans have been treated to it more than once per year here lately between the regular season and post season. Put it on the NCAA Tourney stage where the stakes are so high and it just makes you fired up inside doesn't it?

I can't wait for Friday night at 9:45pm in Indianapolis. Bring it.

My prediction:
Even though Kentucky is playing their best ball of the year so far coming out of the SEC Tourney and against Kansas State and Wichita...I still have to give the edge on a neutral court to a more seasoned Louisville squad. Youth and talent beat veteran experience against Wichita last weekend, but I don't know about that lightning striking twice. As much as I'd love to win, and as much as I hope they prove me dead wrong, I just don't see Kentucky beating Louisville twice this year.

Louisville 72
Kentucky 66

What say you?

[kentuckykingfisher]

Well I'm lucky enough to have a ticket to the game so I'm really excited. As far as the game goes I'm really hoping uk wins.....lord please let them win lol. but I think uofl has the edge 69-62..... Cards win as much as I hate to say it. Either way it's going to be awesome getting to watch both games in Indy, so I'm not complaint because this is one those once in a lifetime games

[MrSplitshot]

Well I'm lucky enough to have a ticket to the game so I'm really excited.

Daaaaang, I'm jealous...enjoy the game!

[mhall]

The only way Louisville can win this game is Luke, Russ and Chris Jones have to combine for 8 to 10 three's between them. We are way to small and the match up's just glare at me off the paper. Kentucky had 8 more offensive rebounds than WS and actually had five try's on one offensive poss. That is just nuts and they did it because of their enormous size advantage.

Will Russ Smith try and let the game come to him or go all ''Russdiculous'' and Pitino has to counsel him through the game? The Harrison twins are trying to make it to the NBA and actually have scouts looking at them again now. Louisville needs to get into their defensive set and take charges. Randall was playing what I call ''Bulldozer ball'' against WS. Drive the lane as hard as you can force the ref's to blow the whistle and either get an And 1 or shoot two from the line. Poor ole Stephen Van Treese is in for a very long day, lol.

Too much size advantage and board dominance.
UK....69
UofL....61

I pray I'm wrong because there is two sum bitches I am going to ride until they take a swing at me if Louisville pulls this off. Not on here, two guys I know personally..............Gawd I will ride them like Robert Duvall did that horse in Lonesome Dove!

[mhall]

Hey what do you guys think about this? All tourney the ref's have let the games be decided mostly by the players and at times its been all out war out there almost every game I have watched.

Will Calipari do his usual pre-game whine session about how Louisville fouls on every play and will the ref's allow this or call the fouls committed on his team. He and Tom Crean do that prior to every match up with Louisville. Just an interesting side bar I'll kick in there....

Let'em play. bring it hard and mean or go pull up your lace panties and go home thats what I say!

[Bonefish]

I think most UK fans would rather not play this game because it is just to emotional to play two in one year. One game a year between the two schools is about enough for one heart to withstand. Who knows what will happen in this game. However, if KY plays like they did in the last one, they will win.

[know1]

I think Louisville is the better team, but I don't think they match-up well with UK at all. In other words, I think Louisville has/had a better chance to win the Championship, but I give the edge to UK in this one game.

Too much size at every position for UK, and their rebounding is awesome. It's the only consistent strength they've had all year.

I will agree that if Louisville is hitting 3s (or if UK is missing a lot of them), I give the edge back to Louisville.

As to the fouls, there's no doubt that Pitino coaches them to push the envelope of hand checking on the dribble. They see what they can get away with, and their strategy is to adapt to the refs call. If the refs are calling it loose (i.e. not following the letter of the rule and letting them put their hands on people), then Louisville's press is a lot more effective. UK gets away with hand fouls as well at times, but the difference is theirs are usually on offense. They like to push off to create space and it bothers me to see it. I don't think the refs have called them enough on it.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Cats win 75-65. Harrison twins have been playing lights out trying to get to the Final Four in their home state and Randle is a beast inside trying to do the same. Andrew is making very good decisions, Aaron is shooting the ball better than he has all year. I think shutting down Hancock is key because he seems to make a lot of timely 3's. Russ will have a hard time dealing with the size if Andrew. Kentucky has the size and body advantsge on the inside as well. All this and I haven't mentioned Young and Poythress. Kentucky are not a bunch of Freshmen anymore. If this game was Sunday, only 2 days after Wichita St, then an emotional letdown maybe. But with it Friday to get over WS and focus on U of L, I give the Cats the edge. The guys on Louisvilke have a ring. The guys on Kentucky want a ring, NBA draft and vindication for how the season went. Edge Cats

[psprowler]

Uk 54
UofL 52

Fouls UK 25, UofL 22
Free throws UK 14-25, UofL 11-19
FG% UK 38, UofL 32
3pt fg UK 2 of 12, UofL 5 of 23

I predict a clunker. To the guy that paid way too much for my tickets...enjoy.

[MrSplitshot]

Uk 54
UofL 52

Fouls UK 25, UofL 22
Free throws UK 14-25, UofL 11-19
FG% UK 38, UofL 32
3pt fg UK 2 of 12, UofL 5 of 23

I predict a clunker. To the guy that paid way too much for my tickets...enjoy.

That looks ugly....but it's beautiful to me. LOL

A win is a win.

I'll take it.

[DJD]

Lville by 8.

[MrSplitshot]

I'm wound up tighter than an 8 day clock....