LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Head coach Pat Kelsey's first crack at Kentucky was certainly more competitive that his predecessor's two tries were, but unfortunately, the Louisville men's basketball program came up short in the annual Battle of the Bluegrass yet again,

Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats won the first meeting over Pat Kelsey’s Louisville Cardinals, but both college basketball coaches are inspiring hope.

Kentucky’s Brandon Garrison (10) is congratulated by head coach Mark Pope, left, and Andrew Carr, right, after making a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

First-year Louisville basketball coach Pat Kelsey breaks down his team’s fight, but eventual defeat, to Kentucky.

The first-year head coach of the Cardinals is also hopeful to reverse their recent fortunes in the Battle of the Bluegrass vs. the Wildcats.

If Louisville basketball's 3-point shooting doesn't progress to the mean, Pat Kelsey's Cardinals could be on the wrong side of program history.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The single-biggest annual event on the Louisville athletics calendar is finally here. Rivalry week has returned, and it's almost time for the Cardinals' men's basketball program to do battle with in-state arch rival Kentucky.

Eight games into the Pat Kelsey era, Louisville basketball has been defined by several key trends. Will they continue throughout the 2024-25 season?

That’s 13 University of Kentucky wins in the Wildcats’ last 16 men’s basketball games against Louisville — as well as six straight in Rupp Arena.

How does Louisville basketball stack up against No. 5 Kentucky entering Saturday's rivalry game? We dissect that and more in our latest mailbag.