The intensity of the rivalry is captivated by the proximity of the two schools and the commonwealth of Kentucky's interest in college sports.

Much like the Iron Bowl, the Kentucky–Louisville rivalry is all the more intense because the two schools have consistently been among the nation's elite men's basketball teams for most of the last 50 years.

Both schools also sit in the top ten of men's basketball teams that have had athletes to be picked in the first round of the NBA draft.

The rivalry was fueled when Rick Pitino was hired as Louisville's head men's basketball coach in 2001.

[4] In six tournament meetings as of 2014, Kentucky leads the series four games to two with their most recent win coming in the 2014 sweet sixteen 74–69.

The teams met in the 2012 Final Four, and Kentucky defeated Louisville with a score of 69–61 en route to the national title.