Louisville @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 29, 2018 ) Kentucky 71, Louisville 58

Fourth-ranked Louisville and its stifling defense travel some 75 miles down Interstate 64 to face No. 19 Kentucky in the 53rd renewal of the Bluegrass State rivalry Saturday. The Wildcats have won six of the past seven meetings after a 71-58 victory last season and five straight at Rupp Arena, but Kentucky's latest crop of freshmen is about to take its hardest test against Louisville's experienced group.

The Cardinals are third nationally in field goal defense at 35 percent - 40.7 inside the 3-point line and 26.7 outside it - and have held their last five opponents to 21.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. "This is a really good basketball team,'' Wildcats coach John Calipari told reporters about Louisville. "They really guard and give you tough looks. It will be a hard game for us. We're still trying to figure it out.'' Kentucky is no slouch on defense as it allows 61.2 points per game but enters on a two-game losing streak with losses in Las Vegas to Utah 69-66 on Dec. 18 and to No. 2 Ohio State 71-65 on Dec. 21. The Cardinals are led by junior forward Jordan Nwora, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year who averages 21.2 points and has led the team in scoring in every game this season.

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, CBS

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (11-1): The Cardinals boast plenty of scoring depth behind Nwora starting with senior center Steven Enoch, who averages 11.1 and 7.3 rebounds. Senior forward Dwayne Sutton averages nine points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds after matching a season high with 15 in a 70-46 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 18. Senior guard Ryan McMahon contributes 9.8 points per game while Nwora, who needs 10 points to become the 69th player in school history to reach 1,000, averages 7.5 boards.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (8-3): Sophomore guard Ashton Hagans paces a balanced attack with 13.9 points and his 7.3 assists are sixth nationally. Junior forward Nick Richards averages 11.9 points and is a force down low with team highs of 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Senior forward Nate Sestina averages 7.6 points and six rebounds after scoring 17 against Ohio State with a career-high five 3-pointers.

TIP-INS

1. The Wildcats have only lost three straight once under Calipari - a four-game slide in February 2018.

2. Louisville has won 161 straight games when holding its opponent to fewer than 50 points.

3. Kentucky leads the series 36-16 and is 10-2 under Calipari.

PREDICTION: Louisville 66, Kentucky 62