LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – This was Louisville’s “we’re back” moment. Back in the national rankings. Back in the national conversation. Back in front of a sellout crowd at home.

But if you’re Louisville, you can do all those things — and until you’ve beaten Kentucky, it doesn’t matter.

Now, it matters.

Louisville 95, Kentucky 88.

This was a night when the rivalry returned. It was the first meeting in six years where both teams were ranked. The largest crowd in the KFC Yum! Center in nine seasons — 22,586. Donovan Mitchell manned the left sideline. He was on the last Louisville team that beat a good Kentucky team.

We’re not going to talk about the seven of eight free throws Louisville missed to finish the game. That’s for another column.

This was Louisville’s night — its first win in th

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