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Men's Basketball

Looking Back At the UK/UofL Rivalry this Decade

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It’s the night before the 53rd edition of the Battle of the Bluegrass, between Kentucky and Louisville.

The Cats and the Cards are set to tip-off at 3:45 p.m. EST on CBS.

I’m not old enough to remember the rivalry before Calipari, but I think it’s safe to say that the rivalry has never been more exciting. Ever since I found out Santa wasn’t real, the night I lose the most sleep is the eve of this basketball game.

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I hate Louisville with a passion and most Kentucky fans do, and if you don’t, you aren’t a real Kentucky fan. I cannot stand Louisville fans either. They’re terrifying in person and even more so online. Is there a worse fanbase? Well, Tennessee fans are pretty bad.

Calipari literally owns Louisville, like they are his fourth child. He’s 10-2 against them.

I could go on for days, so instead, let’s look at the best games from this decade of the rivalry.

#5: 2010

The first game between John Calipari and Rick Pitino who literally cannot stand each other.

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I don’t remember this game well, but I’ve seen highlights, and I think it would’ve been pretty fitting if both sides just started fighting each other.

You had Eric Bledsoe and Reginald Delk jawing at each other seconds into the game where Cal eventually intervened telling Delk, “You’re messing with the wrong guy, he’ll kick your ass.”

You also had DeMarcus Cousins elbow Jared Swopshire in the face going after a loose ball. Maybe one of the wildest starts to a college basketball game?

Pretty clean. How did Cousins not get thrown out?

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#4: 2012 Final Four

I was at this game. Don’t remember it too well, but I was there.

My dad has never been so nervous about a sporting event in his life.

Kentucky dominated Louisville the whole game, then the Cards came back to make it interesting, but two dunks by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the final seconds sealed the game for the Cats.

It all ended with Anthony Davis throwing the ball into the air and yelling, “this is my state! this is my state!.”

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#3: Pitino’s last game at Rupp

Kentucky and Louisville were pretty equal for a change.

Tyler Ulis went off with Tom Leach’s “the card killer strikes again” call. He had 21 points and eight assists.

Not only was it Rick Pitino’s last game at Rupp Arena, he also left with some class. Pitino let us UK fans know that we’re #1.

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#2: Josh Harrelson’s breakout game

I don’t remember this game at all. You could tell me that they didn’t play that year and I would believe you.

All I know is that Kentucky wasn’t supposed to win this game and then Jorts went off.

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Brandon Knight had 25 points and Harrelson had 23 points, 14 rebounds, and oh wow he hit a three-pointer.

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#1: Aaron Harrison sends the Cards home

Now I remember this game like it was yesterday.

Kentucky was not supposed to win this game, in fact, they weren’t even supposed to be here, but the Cats upset the undefeated Shockers of Wichita State in the second round, so they made it to Indianapolis.

The Cards were the better team and played like it. Kentucky led the game 2-0 early and didn’t hold the lead again until it was 67-66 with 1:22 left.

The best part? A guy named Aaron Harrison.

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https://twitter.com/KY_Clips/status/1078839269186289665?s=20

Go Cats.

Men's Basketball

CBS Sports: Kentucky Has “ended pursuits” in Transfer Portal Following Aberdeen Commitment

In the wake of yet another addition to Kentucky’s incoming roster, CBS Sports reports that Coach Pope and staff may have closed the portal.

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Mark Pope and staff may have everything they need from the transfer portal.
Chet White | UK Athletics

Following another flurry of transfer portal additions in his second year at the helm, it appears that Mark Pope and staff are satisfied with their sophomore haul. The portal in Lexington may be officially closed for the 2025-26′ season.

Right after Kentucky received the surprising commitment of Denzel Aberdeen, Matt Norlander, an analyst for CBS Sports, posted the following on X (Twitter):

“Barring any portal defections, Kentucky has ended its pursuits of all other portal targets, sources told CBS Sports. Getting Aberdeen today [April 21] meant they’ve moved off Andrej Stojakovic, Rylan Griffen, etc. Otega Oweh going through pre-draft process-but I expect him back in Lex”.

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With the addition of Aberdeen, the Wildcats’ roster ballooned to near-max capacity for next season. Seeing two of the team’s walk-on players, Grant Darbyshire and Walker Horn, enter the transfer portal seemed to all but confirm this suspicion, too.

Losing One of Our Own

That is, until last night. With less than two hours remaining for players to do so, Travis Perry shocked much of the Big Blue Nation by throwing his name into the hat. This came just weeks after a string of comments from the Kentucky-native point guard seemed to confirm his return for a sophomore season.

Though all the same, given Kentucky’s bulk of back-court additions this offseason, his departure makes sense for the sake of playing time alone. The Lyon King will be sorely missed.

So while the Kentucky staff may still be very much content with their current roster, with hundreds of players remaining in the portal and an unexpected spot on the roster coming open, another grab is far from out of the question.

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Who Coach Pope and company would go after is entirely unclear, as that potential player would likely have to accept a minimized role off the bench for a stretch of his time in Lexington. If anything, the logical replacement would be a direct fill-in at the PG2/PG3 spot in Perry’s absence.

Either way, the ‘Cats are set to come into next season as one of the most exciting teams in college basketball with a ceiling far out of view. Mark Pope continues to prove his prowess in the transfer market, too, easing the worries of Wildcats fans and closing the door on many supposed “insiders” who’ve spent the last month suggesting otherwise.

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Men's Basketball

REPORT: Travis Perry Enters Transfer Portal

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Kentucky basketball Travis Perry talks about growing more comfortable on the court.
Jordan Prather | IMAGN

The transfer portal has been kind to Kentucky in the Mark Pope era. Last season, the staff was able to build a Sweet Sixteen roster almost exclusively from the portal, and this offseason have put together a top-five portal class.

While the portal giveth, it also taketh. Just hours before the deadline to enter, Kentucky native and fan favorite Travis Perry has entered the transfer portal, per multiple reports.

Coming to Kentucky as the state’s all-time high-school scoring record holder, fans were excited to see how his career would unfold in Lexington.

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Not expecting to play much freshman, he was called upon due to injuries and played some key minutes for the Wildcats into the postseason. He averaged 2.7 PPG and .6 APG on 32% shooting from three.

Looking at the depth chart, it was difficult to see where Perry would get much playing time next season, leading to his decision to enter the portal.

Perry has yet to release an official statement, but all the best to him in his future.

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Men's Basketball

Top Transfer Guard Denzel Aberdeen Commits to Kentucky

Former Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky, likely closing the transfer portal for next year’s roster.

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Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky.
UF Athletics

Another day, another “boom.” Denzel Aberdeen has officially committed to Kentucky for the 2025-26’ season.

A soon-to-be senior guard fresh off his championship win with Florida, Aberdeen spent his first three years of eligibility in Gainesville. Now, following an apparent conflict in the Gators’ rotation, he’s swapped teams in the southeast.

At 6 ‘5”, 190, Aberdeen spent much of this past season beating defenders off the dribble and making them pay at the rim. His speed and size made him a nightmare off the bench for opposing teams, and for the short stretch of play that he started during the year, Florida didn’t miss a beat. 

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In 19 minutes, Aberdeen averaged 8 points, two rebounds and one assist per game. His consistent contribution to the Gators’ title run made him one of the most coveted transfers in the cycle this season, and given his big blue commitment just days after entering the portal, Mark Pope clearly wasted no time in Kentucky’s pursuit.

Aberdeen slots in as yet another addition to what was already one of the strongest portal classes going into next season. His SEC experience and combo-guard intangibles make Aberdeen one of the most exciting portal players to come through Lexington in a long while, reinforcing Kentucky’s back court to what may be the final degree.

Whether or not Mark Pope is officially done for next season, nobody is sure, but this commitment only further cements the fact that he knows exactly what he’s doing. Just like the  fanbase behind him, Coach Pope seems to never sleep.

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