Louisville and Kentucky Clash in In-State Basketball Rivalry

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The No. 12 Louisville Cardinals will face off against the No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET in what promises to be an intense in-state rivalry game. The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN from the KFC Yum! Center, marking their earliest meeting in history.

Both teams enter the game with perfect 2-0 records and dominant early-season performances. This marks the first time since 2019 that both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25 heading into their annual clash, with Kentucky being ranked No. 9 and Louisville at No. 11.

Statistically, the teams present a compelling matchup. Kentucky is ranked No. 1 by KenPom in defensive efficiency, while Louisville is ranked No. 3 in offensive efficiency per BPI. The Wildcats are also high in offensive efficiency at No. 11, whereas the Cardinals sit at 34th defensively.

According to DraftKings, Louisville is a 6.5-point favorite going into the game. Both teams play at a fast pace, with Louisville averaging just 12.8 seconds per possession, the second shortest in the nation, and Kentucky at 15.5 seconds.

“In-state rivalry games are always fun and exciting, and we can’t wait to get to it,” said Kentucky coach Mark Pope after a recent win. “This is certainly a big one, just like they all are.”

Louisville forward Kasean Pryor shared the sentiment, acknowledging the pressure of the rivalry. “You can’t even walk around the city of Louisville without somebody telling you to beat UK,” he remarked, reflecting on the importance of the matchup.

The Cardinals, who have lost 10 of their last 12 encounters with the Wildcats, are looking for their first victory in the series since 2020. Last season, Kentucky triumphed 93-85 at Rupp Arena, led by guard Lamont Butler‘s impressive 33-point performance.

So far this season, Kentucky’s Collin Chandler leads the team with an average of 14.5 points per game, while preseason SEC Player of the Year Otega Oweh follows closely with 14.0 points. In contrast, Louisville’s Khani Rooths boasts a leading average of 18.0 points per game.

“It means a ton to their fan base. It means a ton to our fan base,” Louisville coach Pat Kelsey said about the rivalry. “It’s one of the things that makes college basketball great.”

As tip-off approaches, anticipation is building for this highly competitive and meaningful game in college basketball.