'We don't like Kentucky at all': Louisville's J'Vonne Hadley opens up on rivalry

Oct 8, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Louisville player J'Vonne Hadley answers questions from the media at The Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn Images

The rumored Pat Kelsey and Mark Pope fight outside of a recruit’s house that ultimately picked Kansas sure did start a ruckus. Pope downplayed the fight at Kentucky media day. Kelsey did the same at ACC Media Day. But that moment certainly did feel like the first time this rivalry got some of its mojo back during the Pope-Kelsey era.

We will not have to wait long for the meeting in the 2025-26 season. The Cats will head down I-64 in just a month to meet an the KFC Yum! Center on Nov. 11. There’s a good chance that crowd has a lot of blue in it. Despite this meeting occurring very early in the calendar, the game seems to have more stakes this season since both programs enter the year with a case to be top-10 good.

The Cats and the Cards will each have a ton of first-year transfers on the floor when these two meet on the hardwood. However, some veterans return and know what this game means. The Field of 68 asked Louisville forward and former Colorado transfer J’Vonne Hadley about the rivalry at ACC Media Day. He did not hold back.

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“We definitely do need that. We don’t like Kentucky at all. It’s just like how it goes when you’re playing for the separate teams whether you like it or not,” Hadley said. “But you do need that hatred in you if you play for either of the teams. Everywhere you go, like, people say “beat Kentucky” or when you’re in Lexington people say “beat Louisville”. That’s just kind of how people view the rich history.”

ICYMI: @LouisvilleMBB's J'Vonne Hadley doesn't hold back 🍿

"We don't like Kentucky at all. It's just how it goes… You need that hatred for them if you wanna play for Louisville. It's expected" 👀

🎥: https://t.co/YlepZadORq pic.twitter.com/aoccflzaAV
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) October 8, 2025

This has been a lot of rivalry talk in October. The college basketball world is very excited about that game next month. We’ve seen the coaches brush shoulders. That could all combine to give us a more juicy rivalry matchup when red faces blue again.