John Calipari: Kentucky vs. Louisville bigger than life or death

Just how serious is the Kentucky-Louisville basketball rivalry? Enough to make John Calipari say that it’s bigger than life or death.

Calipari was asked about the rivalry game ahead of Wednesday’s matchup between the teams.

“I’m happy when it’s over,” Calipari said, via CBS Sports. “Just get it done. Everybody makes it life or death and it’s not life or death. It’s worse than that.”

Not only is there the proximity of the two schools that makes the rivalry heated, but the big factor contributing to the intensity is the success of the programs. Calipari and Rick Pitino are two of the best college basketball coaches in history and routinely have their teams contending for national championships. Things are so contested between the programs that there was a controversy last year about whether or not Pitino flipped off some Wildcats fans.

Kentucky leads the all-time rivalry 34-15 and has won four in a row against the Cardinals.