Kentucky basketball dominated Louisville, but there was something missing in UK’s victory

The “Go Big Blue” chants began as soon as the national anthem ended Thursday night at the KFC Yum Center.

Near the final horn, with the outcome long since decided, the “C-A-T-S! CATS! CATS! CATS!” commenced as part of the celebration.

As expected, in the home of its archrival, this was Kentucky’s night.

And yet, there was something almost muted about UK’s 95-76 basketball victory over the Louisville Cardinals. Despite the triumph, despite Antonio Reeves’ 30 points and Tre Mitchell’s 12 rebounds and Reed Sheppard’s double-double (11 points and 11 assists), despite the fact that there were at least as many Kentucky fans in the stands as those backing the host Cardinals — “I would say it was pretty even,” UK’s Mitchell said afterward — the victory felt a tad hollow.

In fact, I’d make the case that Kentucky football’s 38-31 upset win over the Cardinals back on Nov. 25 meant more to Big Blue Nation than Thursday’s hoops win. Much more. That’s not to take anything away from UK basketball’s domination. That was no surprise. Football was different. The Cats’ victory over a 10-1 Louisville ranked 10th in the country was not only unexpected, it placed a different spin on UK’s season.

Truth be told, the UK-U of L basketball series is better when both programs are at the top of their game. We’re talking Joe B. Hall vs. Denny Crum, or Rick Pitino vs. Crum, or Tubby Smith vs. Pitino or John Calipari vs. Pitino. We’re talking about both teams playing not just for in-state bragging rights, but playing to build their NCAA Tournament résumés. Or, in a few cases, an NCAA Tournament win.

Thursday night, Louisville was playing for a coach fighting to keep his job as the head of a once-proud program that has dropped to an all-time low. Kenny Payne’s shaky employment status put BBN in a different spot. On the one hand, Kentucky fans love nothing better than to beat Louisville. On the other hand, Kentucky fans have great affection for Payne’s time as an assistant under John Calipari at Kentucky. And Payne is one of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet. Only the worst of the UK fandom could enjoy seeing the U of L coach go through what he is going through right now.

Still, this is a bottom-line business. No mistake about that. And Payne is now 9-35 at his alma mater, one not used to losing in basketball and certainly one not used to losing like this. Whether the Cardinals did enough on the floor Thursday to improve Payne’s job status is a matter of debate. U of L did outscore Kentucky by a point (43-42) in the second half, but the Cards trailed by 20 (53-33) at the break. Did Kentucky take its foot off the gas?

Consider this: Thanks in part to foul trouble, UK’s starting point guard, DJ Wagner, scored all of two points. Aaron Bradshaw, the 7-foot freshman starter, was held to just two points and four rebounds in 21 minutes. And the Cats still won easily. “They’re a machine,” Payne said afterward.

Given the gap between the current state of the two programs, there was the potential for matters to get ugly, on the floor and in the stands. It never really reached that point, however. Kentucky dominated, but it wasn’t a rout, at least not on the scoreboard. Given the halftime spread, a 40-point UK win was not out of the question. But Louisville didn’t quit. Give the Cards credit.

“The players love him because they play for him. They didn’t let go of the rope,” Calipari said afterward, taking up for his friend and former assistant. Cal added, “My guess is he’ll have the program within a year of where everybody wants it.”

If so, that would be a good thing. Not just for Louisville, but for the rivalry. Kentucky vs. Louisville is better when both teams are good. It makes everything mean more. Including the wins.

Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s win over the Louisville Cardinals

Kenny Payne saw firsthand what this Kentucky team is capable of. ‘They’re a machine.’

Box score from No. 9 Kentucky basketball’s 95-76 win over Louisville

Louisville basketball has bottomed out. Will Kenny Payne get any more time to lift it up?

At the end of an odd rivalry night, the UK coach goes to bat for the U of L coach