The Battle of the Bluegrass is already turning up the heat, days before No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats and No. 11 Louisville Cardinals face off.
Following Louisville’s win over Jackson State on Thursday, Cardinals forward Kasean Pryor made his feelings known in a pointed comment to the media.
“We’ll see you guys on Tuesday. After a win. F*** them,” Pryor said as he exited the press room, sending a clear message to his cross-state rivals.
Kentucky, meanwhile, had little trouble in their own Friday night matchup, crushing Valparaiso 107-59. When asked about Pryor’s comments, the Wildcats had varied reactions.
Brandon Garrison, who had a fiery exchange in last year’s rivalry game, acknowledged he heard the comments but emphasized the importance of staying composed.
“Yeah, I did,” Garrison said. “But we ain’t paying much mind. They just over there talking, doing what they do. We all have to keep our heads, because I was one of them who kinda lost mine last year. So learning from that.”
Freshman center Malachi Moreno, a Kentucky native, took a more diplomatic approach, stressing the team’s focus on preparation over distractions.
“We don’t pay attention to outside noise…we’re just keeping everything in-house and prepping to be ready for Tuesday,” Moreno said.
Guard Jaland Lowe, however, mirrored the competitive energy of Pryor’s remark.
“I mean, that’s cool. They’re gonna talk. It’s a rivalry—you want that,” Lowe said. “By all means, they can chirp. We’ll save our chirping for during and after the game, when we win. That’s it.”
The Wildcats and Cardinals will tip off at the KFC Yum! Center on Tuesday night in one of the most anticipated matchups of the rivalry in recent years.
