On Wednesday night (November 2nd) the University of Kentucky Men's basketball team will finally take to the court for the first time against outside competition. You wouldn't have to go far outside campus doors however to find this nights competition. Despite being practically next door neighbors UK will take on Transylvania in an exhibition game for the first time in 100 years.
Even though these two teams haven't met since 1911 they seem to have 100 years worth of history packed into this short series, which is split evenly 7-7. For those of you who don't know, Transy and UK used to be one and the same. They were part of the same university until independence was declared in 1878 by the A&M College which jumped to the other side of town and became the University of Kentucky.
This is where the rivalry began, first with football then moving on to basketball as it became an established college sport. Back in the early going there were many, by today's standards, comical disagreements between the two which included eligibility issues and even "bloomer" issues. Yes, "bloomers". The women's team refused to play a game once due to this subject.
When games were played they routinely included fist fights often resulting in injury to some players. When fist fights are involved in a basketball game it is a sure sign of an intense rivalry. These teams wanted to go after each other so badly that in 1906 the UK and Transy teams met secretly at the local YMCA to play a game after Transylvania banned all athletics.
Even though this rivalry has cooled off in the 100 years since the last meeting it should be an interesting game none the less. I don't expect a 40 point blow out at the hands of Transy, as happened in 1903, or a fist fight but I do expect a good game out of them. It should fun seeing these two duke it out for the series lead if nothing else.
By: Scott Peercy
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