The Louisville Cards and Kentucky Wildcats are headed to New Orleans for their historic Final Four matchup Saturday.It’s their first NCAA tournament meeting since 1984.The teams play annually during the regular season, and UK won their New Year’s Eve game 69-62.Cards’ coach Rick Pitino says his team has changed over the past three months."Oh, I think we’re healthier, I think certainly (forward) Chane Behanon didn’t play too long in that game. He’s been an intregal part of our team. I think (guard) Peyton Siva’s healthy, and we have matured like they have matured," Pitino said.Pitino says his players will have to quickly adjust to the fanfare associated with the Final Four and playing on a larger national stage.Kentucky coach John Calipari says he hasn’t changed his team’s preparation routine going into the game. He says an in-state rivalry might be fun for fans, but it has no meaning for the teams at this point in the season."It doesn’t matter, If you win or lose you’re going to feel the same, whether it’s a team you’ve played before or never seen in your life. A team that’s 12 miles from you or a team that’s a thousand miles from you," he said.U of L and UK will tip off shortly after 6:00pm Saturday.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
