Report: Annual Kentucky-Louisville matchup date set for Dec. 31

Kentucky and Louisville play in one of the fiercest rivalries in college basketball every season. There will be plenty of hype surrounding this year’s matchup, with a former assistant of John Calipari, Kenny Payne, taking over the Cardinals’ program.

The matchup had been on a year hiatus, with the two programs not playing but a return is in store for this season. Rupp Arena will be the venue but until Wednesday afternoon, a date was not yet known.

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports is reporting that the game will take place on New Year’s Eve. A festive affair indeed as Kentucky and Louisville meet up on the hardwood once again.

The Wildcats lost last year at the KFC Yum! Center during the 2020-2021 season, ending a three-game winning streak. Payne went 10-2 against the Cardinals while he was an assistant coach in Lexington and was on the side of Big Blue Nation. Now, he is back at his alma mater, looking to start a winning streak with Louisville.

Kentucky and Louisville first met in 1913 and have played a total of 54 times. The Wildcats have the all-time series lead with 37 wins while the Cardinals just have 17. More times than not, John Calipari has had his team on the winning end since taking over the program, winning 10 of 13 matchups.

This rivalry goes even further than the regular season as well. Six different times the two have met in the NCAA Tournament, all in the Sweet Sixteen or later. Kentucky has the advantage there as well, winning four times, including the last two. The 2012 Final Four was the highest stakes of the six, meeting in New Orleans before the Wildcats won the national championship.

Both programs are going to have their calendars scheduled for the matchup, even if they have to wait until the final day of 2022 to play. Whoever wins will be ringing in the New Year with a smile on their face while the loser will want a fresh start as the calendar moves to 2023.