(RNN) – Kentucky and Louisville. When you combine the Final Four and an in-state rivalry, it's bound to boil over. Even at dialysis clinics.
A clash began this week in a waiting room when a 68-year-old UK supporter showed a 71-year-old Cardinals fan he thought the Wildcats were No. 1… with his middle finger. "The Louisville Slugger" responded by punching "The Kentucky Kid."
Such is life in one of the fiercest rivalries in all of college basketball. The teams will face off Saturday, with a spot in the national championship game on the line.
This year's squads could not appear more different on the surface. The Wildcats are a team full of stars headed for the NBA, while the Cardinals don't have one guy on the draft radar.
But look at the styles of play and you start to find similarities. Both teams are built around unselfish play, don't rely on one guy to hit the big shots and play lockdown defense.
Kentucky enters as heavy favorites to win this game and beat whoever else makes it to the final game. Meanwhile, Louisville has kept moving on against "better" teams through the Big East and NCAA tournaments on its way to an eight-game win streak.
No matter who wins, the Bluegrass State can stake its claim as the best place for basketball, with a chance to add another NCAA banner at its state colleges.
Kentucky owns a 29-14 advantage in the rivalry all-time. However, Louisville took perhaps the most important match-up between the two in 1983, when the Cardinals downed the Wildcats 80-68 in the Elite Eight.
Coach John Calipari is 3-0 against Louisville since taking over at Kentucky. Cardinals coach Rick Pitino is 4-7, but he posted a 6-2 mark at the helm of the Wildcats from 1989-1997.
It will be a rubber game between the two coaches - they have an 8-8 record facing each other.
Kentucky Wildcats (1) vs. Louisville Cardinals (4) - 6:09 p.m. EDT Saturday:
Wildcats fans and NBA teams hoping for the No. 1 pick in the draft collectively held their breath when Anthony Davis crashed to the floor holding his knee during the Baylor game.
An injury to the AP Player of the Year could have changed the outcome of the tourney, but he hopped off the bench minutes later and finished the game.
The Wildcats were regarded as the best team going into March and have gotten even better during the tournament. Sophomore Terrence Jones has been a big reason why, with his tough, consistent play through their four games.
Louisville has not had a consistent scorer for the entire season, but Chane Behanan may be emerging as that guy. Better late than never.
The freshman has averaged 14 points per game on 64 percent shooting since the tournament began. He may also be asked to take on Davis on defense and prevent Kentucky from getting too many second chances on missed baskets.
Pitino said people at Kentucky would "have a nervous breakdown" if the Cardinals won. His team will have to pull off another upset to prove it.
Ohio State Buckeyes (2) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (2) – 8:49 p.m. Saturday:
This game features two of the best big men in college basketball: Thomas Robinson of the Jayhawks and Jared Sullinger of the Buckeyes.
Kansas defeated Ohio State 78-67 earlier this season in a game Sullinger did not play in. It should be interesting to see how the two play against one another, and it could be the start of a long rivalry that advances in the NBA.
Robinson looks like the more complete player; he is a better perimeter shooter and rebounder. However, it is tough to find a better inside scorer than Sullinger in the NCAA this year.
Ohio State also has another weapon in the low post in Deshaun Thomas. The junior has stepped up in the four tournament games and will make Kansas wary of double-teaming, although they may not need to with 7'0" Jeff Withey defending the basket (3.5 blocks per game).
Guard Tyshawn Taylor of the Jayhawks finally broke out of his tourney slump against North Carolina with 22 points, but he still has not hit one 3-pointer (0 for 17). Ohio State's William Buford has not played well either, shooting less than 30 percent through four games.
With the frontcourts canceling each other out, the battle between the standout guards could prove the difference in the game.
Copyright 2012 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
Here birdie birdie birdie... (Source: Megan Robertson/flickr)
Bring on the Cats! (Source: Kevin Coles/flickr)
