LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville (6-4, 0-1 ACC) is set to face Kentucky (9-1, 0-0 SEC) on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 5:15 p.m. EST at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. Here’s how the Cardinals stack up against the Wildcats:

*Mobile users can scroll left and right on the tables below*

– ESPN Prediction: Per ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, Louisville has a 13.2 percent chance to win against Kentucky. The Cardinals have a BPI rating of 9.4 (60th overall), whereas the Wildcats have a BPI rating of 17.5 (11th overall).

– KenPom Prediction: Per KenPom.com, the Cardinals have a 15 percent chance to take down the Wildcats, with a projected final score of 83-72 in favor of UK. Louisville has an adjusted efficiency margin of +13.34 (59th overall), whereas Kentucky has an adjusted efficiency margin of +23.71 (10th overall).

– Torvik Prediction: Per BartTorvik.com, the Cards have a 16 percent chance to take down the Wildcats, with a projected final score of 84-73 in favor of UK. Louisville has a “Barthag” of .8175 (52nd overall), whereas Kentucky has a “Barthag” of .9279 (9th overall).

– Personal Prediction: Kentucky 86, Louisville 74.

(Photo of J’Vonne Hadley: Jamie Rhodes – Imagn Images)

You can follow Louisville Cardinals On SI for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram:

Facebook – @LouisvilleOnSI
Twitter/X – @LouisvilleOnSI
Instagram – @louisvilleonsi

You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter/X

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – As hard as it is to believe, 2024 will be coming to a close in just over three weeks.

It’s certainly been a triumphant year for chance and growth in the commonwealth, with several multi-million-dollar projects being funded across South Central Kentucky. Area senators gathered in Bowling Green Wednesday afternoon to discuss infrastructure and economic changes in the region, and the funding awarded to do so.

Discussion began with Sen. Robby Mills talking on the backlog of police officers waiting for training and how the new training center will help in mitigating the issue.

“The first is the new Western Kentucky Police Academy, the DOCJT Training Center in Madisonville. This is an issue that we’ve heard through state and local government multiple times about the lack of training facilities for police when they’re hired on. There’s about nine months to a year of waiting periods before a police officer, when he’s hired or she’s hired, can hit the streets by themselves.”

$50 million has been allocated for the training center, which is set to open in February of 2025.

Sen. Max Wise talked on traffic developments for Warren County, discussing the widening of US Highway 31 West from the Warren-Simpson County line and to Buchanon Park and from Park Avenue to Fairview Avenue.

“Many times, we point to Lexington, and I’ll say that because I lived in Lexington, that congestion there is probably some things that maybe should have been done years ago. That’s not what we want to see happen here in Warren County, so the improvements we’re looking to do there.”

$25.5 million total has been awarded for the widening of the highway.

Wise also discussed the $20 million allocated for the Anchor Project, a mental health and addiction recovery center being brought to Bowling Green in collaboration with LifeSkills.

“This was also a consortium of leaders in this entire region right here that wanted to step up and say, we can take this project and we can make this our own. We want to make sure for those re-entering the workforce, those that have a substance abuse disorder problem, that we can get them on the right track, we can get them the help they need, but also to make them productive citizens to go right as an easy transition right into the workforce.”

Even those just visiting the Corvette Capital for an education get to share in the spoils, as over $190 million total dollars was funded to Western Kentucky University from House Bill 6 over the biennium.

“That’s through four to five different tracks of money,” said Sen. David Givens. “WKU is such a vital part to this. It’s such a vital part in shaping not just Warren County, but South-Central Kentucky’s economic engine, education engine.”

Givens said he’s particularly excited about a $10 million portion of that funding being used to bring more technology to the university’s business and infrastructure classes.

Other area funding included $50 million to the Hardin-Warren County Loan Pool, with $20 million for the KY Transpark project, $8.8 million for the Three Springs Road extension, including a bridge over the Natcher Parkway, $8.5 million for a 21,000-square foot addition to SKyPAC, $6.9 million to improve connectivity to the Transpark, and just over $600 thousand to the Warren County Fiscal Court for the beautification of the Interstate 65 corridor.

Copyright 2024 WBKO. All rights reserved.

Kentucky Senate Democrats voted to retain their caucus leaders ahead of the 2025 legislative session. 

Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal, Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas and Senate Democratic Whip David Yates were reelected to their positions, a Senate Democratic Caucus press release said Thursday. 

“The Kentucky Senate Democrats are proud to have selected a strong, united team to guide us over the next biennium,” Neal, of Louisville, said in a statement. “Our caucus is committed to standing up for the values we share with our constituents and fighting for a brighter future for all Kentuckians.” 

The press release said the caucus leaders “will play a critical role in advancing the minority’s legislative agenda such as expanding economic opportunities throughout the state, improving public education, protecting access to healthcare, embracing diversity and addressing the day-to-day challenges facing Kentucky families.”

After the 2024 general election, Democrats continue to hold seven seats in the Senate, compared to the Republican supermajority of 31. 

Meanwhile, House Democratic Leadership changed as former Caucus Chair Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson lost her election in November and two leaders — former Floor Leader Derrick Graham and Democratic Whip Rachel Roberts — did not seek reelection. Last month, the caucus elected House Democratic Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson, House Democratic Caucus Chair Al Gentry and House Democratic Whip Lindsey Burke to their new roles. 

House Democrats hold 20 seats to the Republicans’ 80-seat supermajority. 

On the Republican side, the House and Senate caucuses named their leaders last month. In the Senate, Republicans elected Senate Republican Floor Leader Max Wise and Republican Caucus Chair Robby Mills to their positions. Senate President Robert Stivers, President Pro Tempore David Givens  and Majority Whip Mike Wilson were re-elected to their positions. 

House Republicans reelected their leaders: Speaker David Osborne, Speaker Pro Tempore David Meade, House Republican Floor Leader Steven Rudy, House Republican Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, House Republican Whip Jason Nemes.

Lawmakers reconvene in Frankfort on Tuesday, Jan. 7.