TyTy Washington and Kentucky will play Western Kentucky, not Louisville, on Wednesday night. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Give John Calipari credit for making the best he could out of a bad situation after Louisville had to opt out of Wednesday’s game in Rupp Arena for COVID protocol issues. The game has not been canceled, just postponed, but there’s almost no chance the two rivals will play this year.
That eliminated the one marquee home non-conference game in Rupp Arena this season. That’s why Calipari talked to Ohio State, Gonzaga, Texas and Wisconsin about coming to Rupp Arena to play. None could.
Instead, Calipari did what I never thought he would — he worked out a way to get Western Kentucky to play at Kentucky Wednesday night at 6 on ESPN. It’s a game Western Kentucky coach Rick Stansbury has offered to play in years past with some social media jabs at UK. Calipari had never shown any inclination to play the in-state foe until now.
“We had a sold-out arena (for Louisville). We had to get someone in there,” Calipari said Monday night on his weekly radio show. “The other part is west Kentucky. We have to honor, have to respect, and have to bring light to that.”
He noted the same tornado that demolished Mayfield and Dawson Springs also hit Bowling Green
“My hope is this is a packed arena. There will be people mad because they bought tickets for Louisville, and they are Louisville fans. Cheer for Western Kentucky or give the tickets away,” Calipari said.
The Kentucky United Toy Drive, which was originally scheduled for the Louisville game, is still scheduled for Wednesday’s game. New, unwrapped toys in original packaging or $25 VISA or Mastercard gift cards will be collected and donated to families in western Kentucky in need following the tragic tornadoes last week. UK will accept donations at all entrances of Rupp Arena during the game. Free admission with a donation cannot be offered due to limited availability.
“There will be money given to west Kentucky from this game,” Calipari said.
The Kentucky coach said he was not exactly sure how much would be donated but he knew UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart would make sure that happened.
Calipari said even though he reached out to more high-profile teams, Western was the “best team for us to play” to help put a national spotlight on the tragedy in west Kentucky.
“They also have got a really good team and they just beat Louisville (Saturday),” Calipari said.
Calipari said he was worried UK might not find a replacement game after Louisville had to postpone.
“A bad situation just played out really good,” he said. “Now we have got to play a great basketball game.
“They just beat Louisville. They beat Mississippi by 25. You are talking about a team that is well coached, terrific players. A 7-5 kid (Jamarion Sharp) who leads the nation in blocked shots. It will be a hard game. They play a lot of zone.”
The Hilltoppers have four players averaging double figures led by senior forward Jairus Hamilton at 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Davion McKnight adds 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists per contest.
Against Louisville, fifth-year senior guard Camron Justice had 25 points. He averages 13.2 points per game. Josh Anderson adds 11 points and 4.6 rebounds while Sharp averages 8.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game.
The Hilltoppers lost to Minnesota, South Carolina and Memphis in an eight-day period and also lost at home to Buffalo. But Western followed that with a 71-48 win over Ole Miss, a 90-52 exhibition win over Centre College, and 82-72 victory over Louisville. Western beat Eastern Kentucky 85-80 the game before it lost to Buffalo.
The two teams have not played since UK beat Western in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. However, the last time the two teams played in Rupp Arena in the 2001-02 season opener Western won 64-52.
“They are a terrific team. They are as excited to play us. They know they are capable and can win this game,” Calipari said.
3 Responses
Ditto to Cal for pulling this off. I like this set up.
I agree. I think this was a perfect solution to the problem UL presented at the last minute.
It will be an interesting game. It’s too bad they don’t play more often.