Louisville is coming off an exciting 77-72 road victory against Miami in their ACC opener on New Year’s Eve. This win extended their perfect record in ACC openers to 10-0 since joining the league in 2014-15. It also snapped Miami’s 17-game home winning streak. Jayda Curry and Merissah Russell played pivotal roles in this victory, with Curry leading the team with a season-high 19 points and Russell scoring 11-straight points in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Kiki Jefferson also reached a milestone in the game, surpassing 2,000 career points.
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Nayelis Cabello hails from Clermont, Florida, where she played for East Ridge High School under the guidance of head coach Mayra Cuebas. Cabello, a 6-0 setter, also shined on the club circuit for Top Select Volleyball Academy under coach German Del-Valle. Her impressive performances earned her All-American honors twice and she was a part of the AAU runner-up squad in 2023. Cabello’s talent was further recognized when she was named an MVP at the Under Armour Next Selection Camp in 2022.
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The Cardinals are coming into this game after a 12-day break since their loss to in-state rival Kentucky on December 21. On the other hand, Virginia has played twice since the holiday, winning against Morgan State but falling to Notre Dame in their most recent outing.
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In their last game before the holiday break, Kentucky dominated Louisville with a 95-76 win at the KFC Yum! Center. Super senior Antonio Reeves led the charge with an impressive 30-point performance. Freshman Reed Sheppard also had a standout game, contributing 11 points and 11 assists. Sheppard’s outstanding performance earned him the title of Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive time.
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Louisville had a promising start to the game, leading with 11:12 remaining in the first half. They even outscored Kentucky in the second half. However, it was the final minutes of the opening frame that made all the difference.
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Louisville Mens Basketball
Louisville Cardinals to Face Kentucky Wildcats in Highly-Anticipated Rivalry Showdown
Both teams are coming off impressive victories in their most recent outings. Louisville dominated Pepperdine with an 85-63 win, putting an end to their three-game losing streak. Kentucky, on the other hand, narrowly defeated North Carolina with an 87-83 victory in a top-25 neutral-site contest.
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The Cardinals will kick off their season with back-to-back games up north, first against Denver and then against Colorado. Last season, Louisville suffered a narrow 4-5 defeat against Denver in their opening game, but they found redemption in a convincing 12-5 victory over No. 25 ranked Colorado.
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Kentucky Football
Seven Wildcats Garner Multiple Honors from Phil Steele, Pro Football Focus, and USA Today
In addition to the All-America honors, several Wildcats were named to the Phil Steele All-SEC team. Running back Ray Davis, defensive lineman Deone Walker, kick returner Barion Brown, and offensive linemen Marques Cox and Eli Cox were all recognized for their outstanding performances this season. Linebacker D’Eryk Jackson also received recognition from Pro Football Focus as a member of the All-SEC first team.
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Leading the way for the Cardinals was Kiki Jefferson, who had an impressive game with 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists. This performance marked her seventh consecutive game scoring in double figures. Olivia Cochran also had a solid showing with 12 points and six rebounds, while Sydney Taylor contributed 13 points and three assists.
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Kentucky’s associate to the head coach, Bruiser Flint, believes that the coaching staff won’t need to go the extra mile to motivate the players for this game. Playing against North Carolina, along with participating in events like the CBS Sports Classic, is enough to get the team fired up.