Incoming Louisville freshman Mikel Brown Jr. has one opponent circled on the schedule

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Mikel Brown Jr. — Mikel Brown (Photo by Overtime Elite)

Nothing matters more to Louisville basketball than trying to beat big brother.

Remember last year, when Cardinals forward Terrence Edwards Jr. said some of his teammates suited up to play for Louisville and new head coach Pat Kelsey just for the chance to play against Kentucky? Edwards and Co. got that opportunity in December, which resulted in a 93-85 loss to the Wildcats in Rupp Arena. Louisville was gifted a front-row seat to one of the greatest individual performances in the history of the rivalry, Lamont Butler going for 33 points without missing a single field goal attempt.

Going into the 2025-26 season, Kentucky is once again on the minds of Louisville players.

Krysten Peek, an NBA Draft analyst for Hoops HQ, spoke with incoming Cardinal freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. earlier this week at the U19 National Team Training Camp. She asked him if there was one game on the upcoming 2025-26 schedule he has circled.

“I think everybody knows which game that is,” Brown responded, which prompted Peek to ask for a specific answer. “Kentucky. Everybody has that game circled. November 11. And it’s after my brother’s birthday. It’s gonna be lit. The Yum! (Center) is gonna be jumping.”

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Mikel Brown Jr. already has one game circled on his calendar for next year…Kentucky. The Louisville guard breaks down his summer, USAB U19 trials and what to expect from the five-star guard next season. Full interview: https://t.co/VJy1W0FHYv pic.twitter.com/tPRHHsR4YB
— Krysten Peek (@krystenpeek) June 19, 2025

Louisville players might be eager to face Kentucky, but winning the actual game is a different story. UK is 14-3 against the Cards since the John Calipari era. Louisville’s last win came at home in December 2020; since then, Kentucky has won the last three matchups.

We should be in for a fun basketball game this year, though. Both teams are expected to be ranked among the preseason top 10, with Brown, a five-star recruit, pacing the way for UL. The Yum! Center will certainly be jumping, but hopefully with smiles only on the faces of the people wearing blue.