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Kentucky's Calipari against playing Louisville at neutral site

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Kentucky head coach John Calipari doesn't intend to continue his team's rivalry against Louisville this season at any venue other than the Cardinals' home arena at the KFC Yum! Center.

After Cardinals head coach Chris Mack expressed his desire to take on the Wildcats at a neutral site, Calipari said in a statement Friday that his team is prepared to journey to Louisville for the annual showdown whether fans attend or not.

"Chris and I have talked and he expressed his concerns," Calipari said, according to ESPN's Myron Medcalf. "While I understand the difficulty and the complications created by the pandemic, we are prepared to come to Louisville to play this season under the previously agreed upon terms, and we fully expect Louisville to honor the agreement with a return game to Rupp Arena next season."

Mack stated his concerns Wednesday with facing Kentucky in an arena with limited fans this season because of COVID-19. The Louisville coach believes playing at a neutral site is fair since Kentucky will likely host Louisville in front of a capacity crowd at Rupp Arena during the 2021-22 season.

"It is no one's fault we are in a pandemic. We cannot predict the future with this virus, whether that's this December or next December," Calipari said. "My hope is they are not trying to end this series because it is important for this state that we play."

Kentucky leads the overall series versus Louisville 37-16. Calipari owns an 11-2 record against the Cardinals.

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