Kentucky vs. Louisville viewing info, what to watch for, odds, and predictions

SB Nation

Kentucky vs. Louisville is one of the best rivalries in college sports, and this year’s chapter in the series is the most anticipated in years.

Facing off on Tuesday night in the KFC Yum! Center, the two

teams will face off in the earliest game of the series’ history, and just the second time ever in November.

It will also mark the first time since 2019 that both teams face off in a ranked matchup.

The Wildcats have won six of the last seven meetings (insert 67 joke), and will look to continue that streak. While the rivalry has been tame as of late, mainly because Louisville has been uncompetitive, this year’s matchup has generated some buzz as both teams enter the matchup as top-15 teams while getting plenty of Final Four buzz.

There’s also been plenty of buzz off the court for additional intrigue in this Bluegrass rivalry showdown.

Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey reportedly got into a verbal altercation outside of Taylen Kinney’s home, and Louisville’s Kasean Pryor told the media, “F**k em (Kentucky)”, leading up to the game.

Talk is cheap, but one team will walk out of Tuesday’s game with bragging rights for the year. It also could be a postseason preview, as both teams look fully capable of making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, so it wouldn’t be shocking if they meet up again in March/April.

Let’s take a look at the matchup and some things to watch for the Kentucky Wildcats as they take on the Louisville Cardinals.

3-Point Shooting

The early concern for this Kentucky team has been shooting. Through the preseason, the Wildcats never shot better than 31 percent, and in the first half of the season opener, they shot just 2/16 from deep. However, in the last three halves of basketball, Kentucky has shot over 41% from deep.

So, which is the true representation of this team?

The last three halves of basketball for Kentucky have also included having a true point guard running the offense, as Denzel Aberdeen and Jaland Lowe have returned from their respective injuries, allowing other players to play their true roles, and that has certainly made everyone look more comfortable.

No one else is more than Collin Chandler, who is leading Kentucky in 3-pointers made (8) and percentage (53%).

Mark Pope said multiple times this offseason that this collection of players is a better shooting group than last season, but does not have a shooter of Koby Brea’s caliber. Tuesday against Louisville is a great opportunity to show just that.

In addition, Louisville shoots a heavy volume of 3s, so it’s imperative that Kentucky defend the 3-point line to win.

True Test for Defense

Last season, Kentucky’s defense ranked outside of the top 50. Knowing that they needed improvement to compete in the SEC and for a Final Four, Mark Pope and the staff put a lot of effort into recruiting players who would raise the defensive level of this year’s team.

Though two regular-season games, that looks to have paid dividends.

Kentucky held Nicholls to 15 points in the first half of the season opener, just three points shy of a Kentucky record, and forced Valparaiso to sub-30% shooting.

However, those performances were against sub-200 KenPom teams. Louisville is currently 3rd in offensive efficiency, and will provide a true test of how good this defense is.

The Cardinals will likely look to attack Jaland Lowe, whom they took advantage of in two conference games last season against Pittsburgh. They need to be sound on second and third defensive rotations, which they have struggled with at times.

First True Road Game

Tuesday will be Kentucky’s first true road game of the season. Of course, there will be some Kentucky fans, as blue gets in everywhere, but this will be the first time this roster will face adversity in a hostile crowd together.

Mark Pope has commented on Kentucky’s communication, calling for improvement, specifically on the defensive end. They have practiced in Rupp Arena and Historic Memorial Coliseum, simulating crowd noise, but there won’t be a whistle to correct things in the Yum! Center.

The team chemistry will be tested, and this game will provide an ample test in terms of where they are in chemistry and communication.

In what is expected to be a close game, the Wildcats will need to aim to shoot better than 70% from the free-throw line after shooting poorly there in the exhibition season and vs. Nicholls before shooting well vs. Valparaiso.

Players to Watch

PG Mikel Brown Jr, 6’5, 180 lbs

14.5 PPG
7.5 APG
4.0 RPG

F Khani Rooths, 6’10, 210 lbs

18 PPG
8.5 RPG
61.8% FG

G Ryan Conwell, 6’4, 215 lbs

15.5 PPG
1.5 APG
5.5 RPG

F J’Vonne Hadley, 6’7, 210 lbs

13 PPG
9 RPG
71.4% FG

Kentucky Basketball vs. Louisville Cardinals

Time: 8 PM ET on November 11, 2025
Location: KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky
TV Channel: ESPN will have the broadcast.
Announcers: Jay Bilas and Dan Shulman
Online Stream: SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens will have the call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
Replay: WatchESPN and ESPN networks (check local listings)
Rosters: UK | UofL
Stats to Know: UK | UofL
KenPom: UK | UofL
Team Sheet: UK | UofL

Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook has yet to release the odds for this game. Check back later for those. As far as the metrics, Haslametrics and KenPom believe it will be a coin flip at 51% and 48%. EvanMiya and BartTorvik are both at 31%, and ESPN gives the Wildcats a 23.1% of achieving victory at the Yum! Center.
Predictions: Haslametrics gives the Wildcats a .2 advantage, 78.4-78.2, but KenPom gives Louisville the edge, 83-82. BartTorvik and EvanMiya each project Louisville to win 84-78. Louisville has only beaten Kentucky three times since 2009 and has lost 6 of the last 7. I believe that trend continues, and Kentucky prevails 81-73.