Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky coach John Calipari is making it clear that if Kentucky and Louisville don’t play basketball this season it will be because the Cardinals don’t honor the existing contract that calls for the game to be played at the YUM Center in Louisville.
Calipari said again Tuesday that we “have date and time” for the game unless Louisville decides it does not want to play — something coach Chris Mack indicated was possible last week because fans may not be able to attend and then probably would be able to attend next season when the game is in Lexington.
Calipari said he’s already got a backup plan in mind for another game if Louisville bails on the contract.
“I’m not going to tell you what they’re thinking or what they’re doing,” Cal said. “I just know the terms of the contract. We go there and they come here next year.
“Does anybody really know what this virus is going to do? What if we’re in next year and we’re in the same boat? Then we’ve got them at home with no fans. We don’t know. This virus is running us. We are not running this virus. You’d have to talk to them. My hope is we are playing the game this year, but we are not going to wait (on Louisville to fill the schedule).”
Calipari said the game is good for the state and should be played but if not UK has options.
“We have people … people want to play us and beat Kentucky,” he said. “I think that game is good for our state. I am running Kentucky’s program. I am not telling any other program what they should or shouldn’t do.”
