UK, WKU Face Off At Rupp Arena

WKU coach Rick Stansbury instructs his team during a recent game. (Photo by WKU Athletics)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 20 Kentucky will host Western Kentucky on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Rupp Arena in place of the originally scheduled rivalry game vs. Louisville. The game will remain on ESPN.

UK’s basketball game against U of L was postponed Monday morning due to positive COVID-19 results within the Cardinals program. Officials from Kentucky and Louisville will monitor opportunities in which the teams can reschedule the annual rivalry game.

With an open date, Kentucky and Western Kentucky will meet for the first time since the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

“We have now dealt with COVID-related issues the last two scheduled games. I am very appreciative of the University of North Carolina and Western Kentucky University for working with us quickly to complete our schedule,” said UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart. “I know our fans were looking forward to the game with our intrastate rival. In lieu of that game, Western Kentucky and the University of Kentucky will come together to provide some relief for our state as we work through the tragedy of the last couple of weeks in Western Kentucky.”

Said UK coach John Calipari, whose 8-2 Cats are coming off a blowout win over North Carolina in Las Vegas, “We were all disappointed to learn we won’t be able to play Louisville on Wednesday, but I am thrilled we were able to come together quickly and put this game together for everyone in this state. I want to thank Western Kentucky for working with us on short notice. Not only will this be a great test for our team, but we will be able to provide aid to the Western Kentucky region and lift the spirits of some special people who really need it.”

Added WKU athletics director Todd Stewart, “We really appreciate the cooperation from Mitch Barnhart and Coach Calipari in working with us so quickly in scheduling this game. I know our fans will be excited about playing Kentucky, and our program always looks for challenging opportunities on a national stage. Most importantly, playing this game will result in providing relief to those who have been impacted the most from the devastating tornadoes in our region.”

WKU coach Rick Stansbury commented, “We want to extend our appreciation to Coach Calipari and Kentucky for their willingness to play this game. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness about what our state is going through right now and continue to build support for those in western Kentucky affected by the recent tornadoes, including the people of Bowling Green. I know Cal and Kentucky didn’t have to do this, but it speaks volumes about their willingness to help the state of Kentucky.”

Western Kentucky is 8-4 this season and has won three straight games after defeating the Cardinals on Saturday in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hilltoppers routed Ole Miss 71-48 in Atlanta at the Holiday Hoopsgiving on Dec. 11, then beat Louisville 82-72 in Diddle Arena on Saturday.

WKU is also 4-1 against the SEC in the last four years, with a victory over a SEC foe each of the last four seasons.

The Hilltoppers have four players averaging double figures, led by senior forward Jairus Hamilton with 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Davion McKnight is adding 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists per contest. In the win vs. the Cardinals on Saturday, graduate guard Camron Justice scored 25 points.

WKU head coach Rick Stansbury – a longtime former head coach at Mississippi State – is 144-117 in his career against the SEC, including a 4-13 record against Kentucky.

Wednesday’s matchup will mark just the seventh all-time meeting between the two schools. UK leads the series 4-2, but the series is tied 1-1 in Lexington. The Wildcats won the last matchup, 81-66, in Louisville in Kentucky’s first game of the 2012 NCAA Tournament run that culminated in the school’s eighth national championship. The last time UK and WKU met in Rupp Arena, the Hilltoppers knocked off the Wildcats 64-52 in the 2001-02 season opener.

UK Athletics is working on a charitable component from the game that will provide support for those who were affected by the Dec. 11 tornadoes.

The Kentucky United Toy Drive, which was originally scheduled for the Louisville game, is still scheduled for Wednesday’s game vs. WKU. New, unwrapped toys in original packaging or $25 VISA or Mastercard gift cards will be collected and donated to families in Western Kentucky in need following the tragic tornadoes last week. The UK Police Department is working with UK Athletics on collection and distribution of the donated items.

UK will accept donations at all entrances of Rupp Arena during the game. Free admission with a donation cannot be offered due to limited availability.

The toy donation is in conjunction with the "Kentucky United for Tornado Relief" telethon that UK Athletics, WLEX-TV and JMI Sports hosted earlier this week. With donations still being accepted online, nearly $4.5 million had been raised through Kentucky United. All proceeds are going directly to the American Red Cross to benefit Western Kentucky victims.

Donations to Kentucky United can continue to be made at redcross.org/donate/cm/wlextv-pub.html/ (site will be active through the end of the month) or by mailing a check to: American Red Cross, Attn: Kentucky Tornadoes, 1450 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511.

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Tickets and parking permits for the original Wednesday game vs. Louisville will now be valid for the replacement game vs. Western Kentucky. Ticket holders do not need to take further action. Mobile ticket management features, including the ability to post tickets for resale, will be available to ticket holders through their My UK Account, the UK Athletics app, and Ticketmaster. Students may access their mobile tickets through their My UK Athletics Student Account.

UK ticket holders will receive communication via email if additional changes are made to Kentucky's schedule throughout the season. Given the current unknowns related to postponed games getting rescheduled or canceled games getting replaced, UK Athletics appreciates the continued support, flexibility and understanding of its ticket holders. If circumstances change during the season and games are canceled and not rescheduled, UK Athletics will evaluate credit and refund options for the ticket portion of payment at the conclusion of the season.