By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
DES MOINES — Tyler Ulis doesn’t know much about the Kentucky-Indiana series but remembers the last time the two border rivals met during the regular-season.
The Hoosiers sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving Indiana a 73-72 triumph over the Wildcats at Assembly Hall four years ago. Kentucky was ranked No. 1 at the time and the aftermath of fans storming court presented a safety issue for players and fans of both schools.
“I watched that game,” Ulis said following Kentucky’s 85-57 win over Stony Brook Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena. “Other than that, I don’t much about the rivalry.”
It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to avenge the loss that season. Kentucky defeated the Indiana 102-90 in the East Regional semifinals en route to the national championship in 2012, but the two teams haven’t played since. Although both schools have cut the cord on the series at least for now, the NCAA selection committee decided four years without a game between the rivals was long enough and put the two schools in the same bracket in hopes they would meet again.
“It’s kinda unfortunate that this game is being played early,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “This should be another round or two later. But, it is what it is, so both of us are going to have to play.”
Calipari, an admirer of Indiana coach Tom Crean, said the series came to a halt because of scheduling conflicts between the two programs.
“I didn’t want to play home and home,” the Kentucky coach said. “I told them we would play two years in Indianapolis. I didn’t want to go there (to Bloomington) and they didn’t want to come to us. So that ended the series.”
The two border rivals will face off for the first time in four years in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. Tipoff is set for 5:15 p.m. and will be televised on CBS.
Although Kentucky’s current players have never played against the Hoosiers in any setting, Ulis said the Wildcats are prepared for the task at hand.
“We have to come out hyped and pumped up because we can’t come out flat like we did (Thursday night),” Ulis said. “We need to prepare to play, because we know they’re going to come at us hard. We have to be ready to play.”
Ulis also is looking forward to a matchup with Indiana guard Yogi Ferrell, who led the Hoosiers with 20 points in a 99-74 win over Chattanooga Thursday night. Ulis compared Ferrell to other standout guards in the Southeastern Conference.
“I know he’s a great guard,” Ulis said. “He’s experienced and he’s been there four years. We have to come ready to play and I have to be ready defensively. It’s like going against Stefon Moody from Ole Miss. We have guards like that (in the Southeastern Conference) who can affect the game and score the ball, you have to lock in defensively and pay attention to detail.”
Like most of Kentucky’s roster, Indiana’s players have never participated in the rivalry, but are looking forward to the second-round showdown.
“It’s nothing I’ve been a part of, something I’ve only seen,” Indiana’s Thomas Bryant said.
Despite the hype, Calipari said the contest will be like any other tournament game for his squad.
“Every game you play in this tournament is like a rivalry game,” he said. “Everybody is going to play with high energy. They’re really, really good. Like (Thursday), they were really good.”
Keith Taylor is a columnist and senior sports writer who covers University of Kentucky athletics for KyForward.com