If the happiness of the holiday season hinged on University of Louisville wins in football or basketball, we would have fallen short this time around. Thankfully, it doesn’t. We feel the losses but move on.
While we look forward to the season all year long, we are relieved when the season is finally over. Normalcy is good, too.
One thing we could do without during the holidays is the Louisville-Kentucky basketball game. Fans of both teams are already on overload, not needing the raw emotions and rancor that emanates from the rivalry.
Some programming executives at CBS TV have to be responsible, deciding that college basketball needs the boost that only the U of L-UK basketball game can provide to tip off the broadcast season for them. Athletic directors at Louisville and Kentucky are apparently unable to refuse, regardless of the wishes of the fans.
Get some backbone, guys, refuse, turn them down, don’t schedule the game on a holiday weekend.
Ha, student athletes. Obviously, Knight helped UK out in more than one way last year as this years squad had a C average this semester. But its not even about an education, its about getting those kids into the NBA. Just ask Cal.
You’re right, this years UK squad did have a C average this year. They’re 18 years old. I know plenty of kids who struggle with college and they don’t have to go to practice like these kids do and they get similar grades. And of course it’s also about getting these kids to the NBA. You say it like it’s a bad thing, which I can’t understand why anyone would think that? Because having the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level is a horrible thing? You won’t win this argument. Your hatred for a coach and program has blinded you from the obvious. Not everyone recieves great grades, but the staff is looking to improve these grades just as they did in Cals 1st season. UL averages around a 3.0, which is good but not great. But that doesnt matter because pitino’s staff is looking for ways to improve the students whose average was lower than the 3.0 to better them. All coaches would want 4.0’s and have their kids all go pro. These kids are student athletes but they want to fulfill their dreams to play in the NBA because they’re good enough. Let them do what they want to do, as long as they get it done in the classroom. And so far, UKs student athletes have done that. I’ll let you have the last word, but it’s worthless what you put. The fact is this: UK student athletes are getting it done in the classroom and they have done this not just under Cal but Billy G, Tubby, Pitino, etc. as well as getting it done on the court and providing opportunities for kids to play in the NBA. Sounds like a terrible thing…
^ Another generalization about UK basketball being full of kids who care only about themselves and not wanting to excel in the classroom…Do you peronally know these players? I don’t. No one does but the people close to the program. However, you could be right about them not caring about their school work, but I don’t think that’s likely. Brandon Knight was a student athlete wasn’t he? 4.0 gpa I think covers that. If you don’t like UK, that’s fine. If you don’t like Cal, that’s fine. But don’t bad mouth 18-22 year old kids who wake up early every morning to go to class then head straight to practice/hitting the weight room. Every school has players that put in the work both on the court and in the classroom and kentucky is no different. Neither is Duke or UofL for that matter.
Could it be because they really do have student athletes on the basketball team?
Hard time understanding why UK fans would wish they could be like Duke? UK has more titles, more wins, etc. and have had more than just one coach who is remembered as opposed to Duke with just Coach K. You’ve got UNC who has had coaches like williams and the great Dean Smith as well as Kansas who has had multiple coaches with great success. These schools are better than Duke. There isn’t a whole lot to be jealous with Duke (even though they have an elite program). I’m having a hard time understanding your logic. As being both a Cats and cards fan from Louisville (more of a Cats fan though). However Charlie, you’re right about the game needing to be moved. It completely ruins a holiday for a fanbase where neither wants to lose to the opposing side. Let’s hope Jurich and Barnhart can figure something out because it’s miserable.
Jame h,
Even if Duke basketball considers UK a rival, the programs aren’t very similar. For instance, since Coach K arrived in Durham, UK has had six different basketball coaches. Many of the Blue Devil student athletes stay, get their degrees and are on the bench as assistant coaches. UK is way ahead of its rival in NCAA investigations and violations, however. I believe what you really mean is that UK wishes their program was more like Duke. So why don’t we just say that UK idolizes many things about Duke and wishes they could be more like the Blue Devils?
James H, this game is the biggest college basketball rivalry. And any UK fan that buys into Cal’s rant about how they’re the only program in the state is an idiot.
To James h,
Is Duke your biggest basketball rival in the same fashion that Tennessee is your biggest football “rival”? If so, you need to inform those schools since I doubt that they feel the same way.
Yes duke would call unc a bigger rival than uk but they’d most put uk 2nd to unc we just haven’t had enough games that count against Louisville in the tourney like we have with duke sorry cards fans but uk and cal are king of bluegrass and it will remain that way for the long foreseeable future
For now, unfortunately. If they put the same emphasis on the economy or education they put on basketball in Kentucky, this would be one hell of a state. Right now, that’s all they have.
Move the game?
Talk to TV. I assure you they have a great deal of input as to when it is played. But I have to confess it seems sort of logical to have it at the end of OOC play as a grand finale.
The holiday game has to stay. It’s the last game of the year It really does make basketball season. I hate UK and i know they would love to move this game ealier with in the season but it’s awesome the way it is. Louisville decorations on the lawn in the West End ARE AWESOME. Kids having diffrent views of santa like the hicks of ky see santa as blue #LAME. Still it’s awesome what we need to do is get away from CBS. WLKY SUCKS the worst news team in Louisville BY FAR. Put this on ABC and ESPN and it will then be THE GREATEST RIVLARY IN ALL OF SPORTS GO CARDS KILL KATS!!
Ahahaha Miles we agree on one thing keep the game on the same date but as a UK fan the rest is total stereotypical cardinal bs I’m sorry as a UK fan I can’t even say U of L is our biggest rival behind Indiana and duke and go cards lol cal is 3-0 verse that traitor y’all call coach
Do your homework. Basketball exists outside of UK. Pitino owns an 11-7 advantage over Calipari.
Not when were talking about uk and u of l an in that case cal is 3-0 against pitino