Kentucky Prepares at Louisville's Freedom Hall, But Not for the Cardinals

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It will be difficult for Louisville to defend its home court against Kentucky on Monday night when the Wildcats take center stage at Freedom Hall.

That's not because Kentucky coach John Calipari's heralded recruiting class is one of the best in the country heading into this season, and there is a widespread opinion that this could be a down year for the Cardinals.

Louisville really won't have a say in Monday's result, as Kentucky meets North Carolina-Asheville at 7 p.m. ET, continuing its streak of games in the Wildcats' home away from home in Louisville, Ky.

And predictably, Cardinals fans aren't fond of a visit from their most hated rival.

Every other year—the one when Louisville hosts the red-blue rivalry—Kentucky gains a warmup in Louisville's home arena before the Cats and Cards square off in early January. They become familiar with the court, the rims, and shooting to Freedom Hall's dark backdrop in a game designed to cater to the mass of Kentucky fans living 70 miles west of Lexington.

However, attendance numbers at Freedom Hall have waned in recent seasons, not having topped 15,000 since 2004's last matchup against Indiana.

That will change soon if Kentucky coach John Calipari has a say.

Calipari joked this past offseason that notoriously red Freedom Hall should be draped in blue when the Wildcats visit—that he would pour some life back into a lost tradition.

Kentucky has played in Freedom Hall every season since 1958, most notably against Notre Dame from the 1960s through 1980, and then the neutral-site rivalry against Indiana through 2004. Since then, the prestige of the opposition has dropped. The Wildcats have played Iona, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Alabama-Birmingham, and Appalachian State since 2005.

By expressing his interest in a big-time game at Freedom Hall, Calipari is fanning the flames of an already white-hot rivalry. Louisville fans don't want Kentucky on their home court, but Kentucky feels entitled to play in Louisville, where much of its fanbase and alumni reside.

Calipari also added an open practice at 5:30 p.m. Sunday to showcase his team in a public walkthrough.

To make matters worse for Cardinals fans, Louisville moves out of Freedom Hall for the 2010 season and into a new downtown arena. Calipari said he wants to continue playing in Freedom Hall, meaning Louisville's home court since 1956 will sit dormant outside of concerts, livestock expositions, and Kentucky's annual contest.

Since officially renewing the rivalry in 1984, Kentucky has won 15 of 27 games, including three of the last five held in Freedom Hall. However, with former Wildcat coach Billy Gillispie in charge, Kentucky went through two of its most obscure years ever.

After two years under Gillispie, Calipari moved in as head coach. With a renewed passion, now every element of the rivalry is scrutinized—even the games that shouldn't matter. That's why Kentucky's Freedom Hall attendance should receive a spike thanks to Calipari's words, higher-quality opponent or not.

Expect North Carolina-Asheville's cheering section to loom larger, and redder, than ever.

Anything to add a blemish to the other's resume—before or after Louisville and Kentucky actually meet.

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