SerpApi.Org
I already know any Louisville fan that decides to click onto this will be ready to point to their win over Kentucky this past season. To that I say: Fair game. The Cardinals battered the Wildcats this past season, and even knowing what that second-year Pope team would go on to suffer, their shortcomings at the Yum Center don't seem any less painful. We just never want to lose to Louisville.
Thankfully, though, the Big Blue Nation rarely has to deal with that feeling. Kentucky's 40-18 all-time record against the Cardinals says enough about the rivalry without diving in, but upon further inspection, one of the most embarrassing ongoing losing streaks is revealed.
Louisville hasn't won a game in Rupp Arena since January 5, 2008. That's coming up on two entire decades without a single victory away from home. I'm not even going to talk trash, that's just really unfortunate.
We all knew that John Calipari dominated this matchup in his time with the Wildcats (he'll forever get a little credit for that, no doubt) but this statistic reveals what is a truly insane aspect of Kentucky's historic fued with their red-bearing neighbors.
A Runaway History for Kentucky
Calipari went 13-3 in total against Louisville as the shot-caller for Kentucky, with all three of those losses coming, again, away from home. The majority of those contests came against Rick Pitino, who has since returned to Big Blue Madness wearing the blue and white.
Arguably Louisville's most accomplished coach publicly returned to their bitter rival's home floor to support the team in the modern day. Does it get any more telling than that?
Although, to be fair to the Cardinals (as hard as that is), times are beginning to change. Louisville has a transfer portal class this season widely seen as the nation's best, and coming off a victory over the Wildcats last season, Pat Kelsey and his crew technically have the momentum.
But we'd be remiss to forget Mark Pope's specific passion for Rupp Arena, as well as Kentucky's own offseason accomplishments.
Mark Pope's Passion for Rupp Arena
Led by the guy who refuses to wear anything but a suit on Rupp's legendary sideline, you'd best believe the Wildcats will fight tooth and claw, regardless of the expectation when Louisville comes to Lexington in December.
But, to combat the No. 1 transfer pledging to the Cardinals in Flory Bidunga, No. 2 overall transfer Milan Momcilovic is a Wildcat. On top of that, Zoom Diallo, who has historically dominated his individual matchups with Louisville's Jackson Shelstad in the backcourt, will get to run back what has become an extremely favorable duel for him.
It's not all cut and dry, but now felt like a better time than ever to issue a quick reminder to Cardinals fans as to what exactly they're stepping into.
Unless Louisville goes on a decade-long winning streak, this rivalry will remain one-sided into the far, far future. And for those counting, Kentucky's alumni team, La Familia, did just improve their own all-time record to 2-0 over The Ville. Just sayin'.
Today's best reads
- Kentucky fans should embrace Mark Pope's underdog status ahead of his third year
- Milan Momcilovic's early practice footage may have Kentucky fans hanging a banner in July
- Milan Momcilovic's Kentucky paycheck is proof that NIL is officially out of control
- The biggest "what if" 5-stars that came and went in modern Kentucky Basketball history
- NBA legend Jamal Crawford turns down Kentucky job, forcing Mark Pope to look elsewhere
This article was originally published on wildcatbluenation.com as Dishing Louisville fans a stark reminder of their humiliating road drought vs. Kentucky.
