4-Point Play: La Familia's best rivalry moments vs. The Ville

We all know what Monday means, the rivalry between Kentucky and Louisville returning to Freedom Hall when La Familia takes on The Ville in The Basketball Tournament. It’s a chance to see all-time favorites for both fanbases take the floor again in a win-or-go-home battle for a spot in the TBT Final Four. It simply doesn’t get more nostalgic than Eric Bledsoe, Willie Cauley-Stein and the Harrison Twins vs. Russ Smith, Peyton Siva and Montrezl Harrell.

That matchup takes place on Monday in Louisville with tickets on sale now (and going fast). Buy those now if you haven’t yet.

Until then, why don’t we take a trip down memory lane and relive some of La Familia’s best moments against The Ville during their playing days in college? There are certainly plenty, especially considering La Familia’s roster is a combined 17-2 against Louisville over the years.

“He’ll kick your ass after the game.”

There may have been better games and individual performances, but in terms of moments encapsulating the bitter rivalry between the Cats and Cards, it’s hard to find one more impactful than the first minute of John Calipari’s coaching debut against Louisville as Kentucky’s head coach.

Eric Bledsoe got caught on a hard screen from Samardo Samuels seconds into the game, followed by some serious jawing with Reginald Delk, the nephew of Kentucky legend Tony Delk. As Bledsoe and Delk went back and forth, Coach Cal jumped in to speak his piece, caught on camera warning the Louisville guard that his freshman out of Birmingham, AL wasn’t the guy to mess with.

“He’ll kick your ass after the game is over!” Calipari said, clear as day.

Bledsoe described it as his favorite Rupp Arena memory ahead of The Basketball Tournament, “when I got kicked out probably two minutes into the game — more like 30 seconds.” He didn’t actually get ejected, only pulled for a quick cool-down period before ultimately playing 30 minutes, scoring 12 points with four assists and two steals in the 71-62 win.

Then came the loose ball on the other end, DeMarcus Cousins diving to the floor for a tussle with Jared Swopshire, leading to a well-executed forearm to the cheek. Pushing, shoving, technicals — the whole nine yards. There were six fouls and three techs assessed in the first minute of the game with the score sitting at 0-0. That game set the tone for the rivalry under Coach Cal.

“Everybody knows the history between Louisville and Kentucky,” Bledsoe said ahead of the TBT quarterfinal. “We’re just going to come in — you know it’s going to be a dogfight. We’ll just play hard and see the outcome.”

The start of Aaron Harrison’s run

No season featured more La Familia and The Ville standouts than 2013-14, eight total participants in the regular season matchup — a 73-66 win for the Wildcats — followed by seven in the Sweet 16 battle in March after Chane Behanan was kicked off the team that December. Aaron and Andrew Harrison, Willie Cauley-Stein and James Young suited up for Kentucky while Russ Smith, Montrezl Harrell and Chris Jones did so for Louisville.

The stakes were massive, as well. An Elite Eight was also on the line, but the two sides were just two years removed from the Cats’ win over the Cards in the Final Four, Rick Pitino’s squad desperate for revenge.

And then Aaron Harrison happened.

Down 68-67, Julius Randle found Harrison in the left corner for the dagger with 39 seconds to go before ultimately closing out the 74-69 victory. The icing on the cake? Russ Smith missing an open dunk at the buzzer as Kentucky celebrates a trip to the national quarterfinals on the other end.

You all know the rest of that story, Harrison hitting two more game-winners against Michigan and Wisconsin, respectively, en route to the championship game. An all-time run for the Wildcats and Harrison specifically, starting with that upset rivalry win.

Willie Cauley-Stein’s slam and staredown on Montrezl Harrell

The Harrisons and Cauley-Stein were back, as were Harrell and Jones to stick with the La Familia and The Ville theme. This time, though, Kentucky was ranked No. 1 nationally and undefeated, steamrolling through the competition with one of the most talented rosters in college basketball history. Louisville had put together an undefeated start to the year, as well, sitting at 11-0 and No. 4 overall entering the Battle for the Bluegrass.

Cauley-Stein in particular was emerging as one of the most dominant defenders and rim-runners in the sport, finishing as a Consensus First Team All-American and the National Defensive Player of the Year. And among many iconic WCS moments throughout his career and that season in particular, one of his best came in that matchup against the Cards.

With Louisville hoping to inbound the ball to Montrezl Harrell, Cauley-Stein tipped it back to begin a race down the court, only to watch Harrell throw himself to the floor like a Looney Tunes character. As the Louisville forward rolls into the cameramen, the Kentucky star snatches the ball and throws down a vicious slam, followed by a staredown piercing through Harrell’s forehead.

When you think of Willie Cauley-Stein, you think of this play.

“It’ll be cool to step back between those lines and play hard against one another again like that,” Cauley-Stein said ahead of the matchup.

Agreed, Willie. Agreed.

Tyler Ulis becomes the Card Killer

Speaking of legendary moments, how about La Familia head coach Tyler Ulis having his in the same game? The gritty point guard was already a fan favorite, but his support reached an all-time high in that same Louisville game back on December 27, 2014.

It was the day he became the Card Killer, dropping a team-high 14 points off the bench to go with two assists and a rebound in the 58-50 win at the Yum! Center. As productive as he was on the box score, it was the elbow he took from Chris Jones leading to the iconic bloody eye shot — Ulis’ favorite memory as a Wildcat.

“It’s not so much getting hit in the eye, obviously. That wasn’t a good feeling. But that was the game fans accepted me as a player and knew I belonged,” Ulis said. “I had 12 points in the second half or something like that. That felt great for me, it was a rivalry game and that’s when I felt like I was accepted. … I love that (Card Killer) nickname.”

We will give you one guess what the Card Killer's favorite college moment is 😼@tulis3 x @WildcatWednesday pic.twitter.com/R5zxcQo0Zn

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) August 4, 2021

He made it clear shortly after The Ville’s win on Wednesday he’s excited to return to the city that helped catapult him into superstardom in blue and white.

“Heading to the Ville on Monday, let’s make it BLUE #CardinalKiller,” Ulis posted on Instagram.

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A post shared by Tyler Ulis (@tulis3)

He then reposted a story emphasizing what this rivalry matchup means to him.

“Lol y’all keep tagging me like my nickname ain’t the cardinal killer,” Ulis said.

This one is personal. Time to keep Ulis’ undefeated coaching streak alive with a win in enemy territory.