Kentucky guard Marquis Teague fends off a steal attempt by Louisville's Gorgui Dieng in the Wildcat's 69-61 victory in the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Top seeded Kentucky pulled off a 69-61 victory over the fourth seeded Louisville in the national semifinals in the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. This is the first time that both teams ever faced each other in the Final Four. Both Louisville and Kentucky made Final Four appearances in 1975, but they didn't face each other that year. Louisville barely lost to UCLA by a 75-74 score. UCLA went on to beat Kentucky in the championship game 92-85. Even though that this is the first year that Louisville and Kentucky faced each other in the Final Four, they have faced each other in NCAA tournament play in the past. Louisville played Kentucky en route to the Final Four in 1959. Louisville beat Kentucky in the regional that year. On March 26, 1983, both Louisville and Kentucky played each other in the Mideast Regional Final. That game was dubbed the "Dream Game" because Louisville and Kentucky hadn't played each other for years, whether it be in the tournament or a regular season game. Louisville fans for years were yearning for a regular season matchup against Kentucky on a yearly basis. They had their chance when both the Cards and the Cats faced each other in the Mideast regional to earn a berth to the Final Four that year. The "Dream Game" resulted in a yearly matchup with Kentucky beginning in December 1983. In that game Louisville beat Kentucky in overtime 80-68, which resulted in a Final Four trip for Louisville.
The Kentucky and Louisville faithful flocked once again to see this game in the New Orleans Superdome. Even though to many Kentucky and Louisville fans, this was another one of those intrastate rivalries, this was just another game to both the Louisville and the Kentucky teams as they were playing to advance to Monday's championship game. Louisville played more aggressively in this game vs. the game they played in Rupp Arena on New Year's Eve. In the matchup between the Cats and the Cardinals in December, Kentucky was dominant on the boards. In Saturday's matchup, Louisville got several more second-chance opportunities when playing Saturday. At one point in the first half, Kentucky held a 18-8 lead. Louisville chipped away at that and at the half Kentucky led Louisville 35-28. Louisville was led by Russ Smith and Chane Behanan. The Wildcats were led by precocious freshman Anthony Davis with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
To read the results of the game, click on the above post from the New York Times.com. Tonight Kentucky will face the winner of the Kansas vs. Ohio State semifinal matchup.
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