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University of Louisville
KENTUCKY
Kentucky Tops Louisville, 61-49
December 16, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2006
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -Freshman Jodie Meeks scored a career-high 18 points and Ramel Bradley added 15 points and six rebounds to lead Kentucky to a 61-49 victory over instate rival Louisville on Saturday.
The win was Kentucky's third straight over the Cardinals (5-4), who shot just 27 percent from the field and were held to their lowest point total in nearly three years.
Louisville came in averaging 77.5 points a game, but struggled to find any rhythm against the quickly improving Wildcats (7-3), who have won three straight.
David Padgett led Louisville with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but had little help. The Cardinals were just 3-of-24 shots from 3-point range and went scoreless for nearly six minutes late in the second half.
Brandon Jenkins gave the Cardinals a 41-40 lead with 10:43 to play, but then Meeks took over. Meeks, whose previous season high was 13 points against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 17, knocked down consecutive 3-pointers, then made three free throws to put the Wildcats up 49-41.
The Cardinals got within 49-45 on a putback by Andre McGee with 3:59 to play - Louisville's first basket in nearly seven minutes - but Sheray Thomas hit a jumper to put the Wildcats up by six and Louisville would get no closer.
The matchup between Kentucky senior center Randolph Morris and Louisville freshman center Derrick Caracter never materialized. Both battled foul trouble and were non-factors. Morris finished with two points and three rebounds in 15 minutes, while Caracter went scoreless in eight minutes before fouling out.
While hard fought, the game showcased just how far one of the nation's high-profile rivalries has fallen in recent years. There were poor shots, missed layups, turnovers and no sense of rhythm. The teams combined for 25 turnovers, 42 fouls and 84 missed shots.
Kentucky's defense, however, allowed the Wildcats to beat a major rival for the second straight weekend following a 59-54 victory over Indiana. Kentucky swarmed Louisville freshmen guards Jerry Smith and Edgar Sosa - who combined for eight points on 3-of-14 shooting - and held their own in the post even with their best inside player on the bench.
The win wraps up a tough early season schedule for the Wildcats, who have played No. 1 UCLA, No. 3 North Carolina and Indiana. They play four straight games at Rupp Arena before beginning play in the Southeastern Conference in January.
Louisville, meanwhile, could finish its nonconference season without any wins over a significant opponent. The record is the Cardinals' worst after nine games under coach Rick Pitino since he took over the program six years ago. The 49 points were the lowest since they a 71-46 loss to TCU on Feb. 17, 2004.
