LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Let’s start with recent history:

KKKKKKKKKKKKLKK.

And that:

KKKKK.

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

When John Calipari succeeded Billy Gillispie as UK basketball coach before the 2009-2010 season, a friend of Calipari called me to explain what was going to happen.

From what I remember of the conversation, the plan was to recruit the absolute best talent in the country, chase Final Fours and national titles, and run Rick Pitino out of the state.

Cal reached four Final Fours in its first six seasons.

The Wildcats won the national title in 2012.

And Pitino’s career in Louisville ended in 2017, when Calipari struck him eight times in 10 games.

This wasn’t a rivalry. This was when Kentucky told Louisville to go to its room, turn off the lights and not say a word until the Cardinals were ready to do something about the one-sidedness of the discussion.

“Let’s be honest,” U of L coach Pat Kelsey said Friday morning while previewing the game the programs will play Saturday afternoon at 5:15 p.m. at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

“Coach (Skip) Prosser always said that when he was at Xavier. When he first arrived at Xavier and they played Cincinnati, there were a number of consecutive years where Cincinnati won a number of the crosstown shootouts.

“And his quote, and I really believe in this, ‘If you don’t win one every now and then, it’s not much of a rivalry anymore.’

“And I’m very aware of that. I know how much winning this game means to our fan base in this city.”

Expecting a Louisville win on Saturday requires particularly strong optimism. The Cards lose three valuable players due to injuries. They are on the way. Kentucky is in the top 10 in computer performance formulas, while Louisville is parked in the 50s.

There’s a reason the Wildcats are expected to hold a 10-14 point advantage on Saturday.

Kelsey reiterated his belief that if the national coach of the year were chosen today, Kentucky’s Mark Pope would be the winner.

He also said that he believes this is the best Kentucky team of the last decade. Not the most talented team. The best team.

“The way they play is good,” Kelsey said.

“When I was at Winthrop, we played Kentucky in 2019 (and lost 87-74) and I thought that was a really, really good team we played against.

“Then you go back two years, in 2017 they were a really, really good Kentucky team.

“In my opinion this is the best of the last 10 years. I mean, these (others) were decorated with great players, lottery tips and all that.

“But this team is probably not only just as dangerous, as talented and strong, but it’s also older, right? They have an old, experienced squad.

“So a lot of respect for their staff and for Mark as a coach. We’re doing everything we can to figure out what our best plan of attack is, both offensively and defensively. They make it difficult because of their talent and their plan.”

What doesn’t require particularly strong optimism is to expect U of L to win its share of these games once Kelsey establishes his program.

Over the last five seasons, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, LSU, Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Auburn all had more success against Kentucky than Louisville.

There is no reason for Louisville to continue losing 13 of 16 games against Kentucky. There is no reason that Terrance Williams, Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith, Earl Clark and Andre McGee are the last group of Louisville players to say they won at Rupp Arena (89-75, January 5, 2008 ).

“I’m putting everything I have and our players are into our next opponent,” Kelsey said. “And we’re doing the same thing for this game.

“And just to make everyone feel a little better at home, maybe a little more. Why not? Hopefully this will reassure people. I understand. It’s big. It’s big for me.”

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