Kentucky basketball vs Louisville final score: Jacob Toppin, Oscar Tshiebwe lead rout
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Kentucky recap from the game: Jacob Toppin explodes in return to starting lineup to down Cardinals
Louisville recap from the game: El Ellis plays big but Cards crumble in Kenny Payne's return to Rupp Arena
Kenny Payne walked over to his old boss, smile and dapped up John Calipari.
The longtime coworkers are now foes, but they looked like old friends in front of Kentucky men's basketball's bench. Payne, coaching Louisville, shared a couple laughs with Calipari as camera flashes went off and the arena broadcast the exchange on the video board. The interaction drew cheers and applause from a Rupp Arena crown that was nearly packed just before tipoff.
Saturday's game is not the first time the two coaches have met since Payne took over his alma mater in March, but the handshake and laughs marked the first time they're doing so on the same court as foes.
Payne, who starred for Louisville in the 1980s and won a national championship in as a freshman, spent 10 years working for Calipari at Kentucky, developing a reputation as a talented recruiter and developer.
His first season at U of L has not gone well, but Saturday's clash with the program's biggest rival was a chance to rejuvenate the Cardinals' season and inspire fans, even if UK entered the game as overwhelming favorites despite coming off a puzzling loss to Missouri on Wednesday.
It also means a lot for both men to face each other, even if they don't particularly enjoy taking on a friend.
"Obviously it'll be emotional," Payne said recently. "Had a lot of great memories there. But I'm at home (at U of L). And I've said it before, I'll say it again: I just want to win the game by one, and I'll run out the arena and get out of there."
“I’m gonna hate playing and coaching against him,” Calipari said in September at the Kentucky Chamber’s Annual Dinner Meeting. “Believe me, I have enough people that I want to beat when I walk in. I don’t like playing friends.”
U of L (2-11, 0-3 ACC) started the season 0-9 and is still trying to build an identity under Payne. UK (8-4, 0-1 SEC) is coming off yet another big-game loss, falling to Missouri in Wednesday's SEC opener. But the Wildcats are still heavy favorites against a longtime rival helmed by a former UK assistant coach under Calipari.
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Here’s what you need to know to watch, listen and follow along as the Louisville and Kentucky men’s basketball teams renew their rivalry for the first time since 2020:
Louisville basketball vs Kentucky score, live updates, highlights
What time is the Louisville vs Kentucky basketball game?
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Rupp Arena, Lexington
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What TV channel is the Louisville-Kentucky basketball game on?
Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery and Jay Wright (analysts) will call the game on CBS (AT&T U-Verse 32; Spectrum 5; DirectTV 4; Dish 32).
How to stream Louisville Cardinals basketball vs Kentucky Wildcats
The game will be available to stream on CBSSports.com
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Where are they now?The 2013 U of L men's championship basketball team
How to listen to Louisville-Kentucky basketball
Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst) will have the call on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville). Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will call the game on the UK Sports Network (WHAS 840-AM in Louisville).
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Louisville vs Kentucky basketball series history
Kentucky leads 37-17. The Wildcats have won 11 of the past 14 meetings, but the Cardinals won the most recent, beating UK 62-59 on Dec. 26, 2020 at the KFC Yum Center. Last season’s game was canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests in the Louisville program. It was the first time since 1982 the teams didn’t play a regular-season game. The cancelation altered the home-road cycle in the series. Last season’s game was scheduled for Rupp Arena, and the schools agreed to move this season’s game there. The series returns to Louisville next season.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville vs Kentucky basketball: How to watch, stream, live updates
