Today’s the big day! It’s the much awaited matchup between UK and out-of-state rival UC. Rival? Huh? Lexington and Cincinnati are close, about 85 miles apart, but the two teams have only played 36 times in their history, the last being 15 years ago. ESPN labels this game the “The Rivalry That Isn’t.” Considering how often the teams play, that means even more is riding on this game, as the winner will get bragging rights for who knows how long and both the team and the fans knowing they’ll never live it down if they’re sent packing.

Here are some interesting quotes from the ESPN article:

The Rivalry That Isn’t begins on the cultural level. Cincinnatians have long regarded Kentucky with cosmopolitan disdain, looking down on their country cousins to the south. Hillbilly stereotypes are the popular pejoratives.

Northern Kentucky got Cincy’s airport but also some of its blight. Although native Kentuckian Larry Flynt started his Hustler porn empire in Cincy, the city subsequently booted all strip clubs out of town. Today you have to go to Covington or Newport, Ky., to find a lap dance.

Kentuckians have generally responded to Cincinnati’s smugness with the only weapon at their disposal — hoops superiority.

The Rivalry That Isn’t gains further spice from the programs’ starkly different philosophies. Cincinnati is an uptight town with an anything-goes basketball program. The state of Kentucky was built on vices — whiskey, tobacco and thoroughbred wagering — but cherishes its uptight basketball program.

Some of you may have heard of another UK/UC matchup, one that along with Dean Smith’s Four Corners offense, contributed to the introduction of the shot clock. In 1983, Kentucky faced off against UC in Cincinnati before a national audience on ESPN. UK was ranked #2 at the time, while UC wasn’t having a very good year. Tony Yates, the Cincinnati coach, decided that his team was completely outmatched and decided to stall nearly the entire game, hoping to get lucky and pull out a win. At halftime, the score was 11-7 in favor of Kentucky. Final score? Kentucky 24, Cincinnati 11. I hear it was one of the most uncomfortable games to watch of all-time.

This year’s match up will definitely be higher scoring. If UK plays as bad as they did against EKU, we’re in trouble. UC’s strength could dominate us. I hate to say it, but we need Sparks. He has to be on his game, hitting those outside shots for us to stand a chance. Rando also needs to turn it, and the big men inside need to throw their weight around and own the paint. I’m extremely nervous and hope we can pull it out. Hopefully you’ll see another post tonight with lots of explamation points and shouts of joy…