Watch: Kenny Payne, Louisville Players Preview Kentucky

The Cardinals face the Wildcats in the annual Battle of the Bluegrass.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Rivalry week is finally here.

This year's iteration of the annual Battle of the Bluegrass might not have the luster and allure that so many previous editions have featured, but nonetheless, it's almost time for the Louisville and Kentucky men's basketball programs to do battle.

"I know what it means to this community, I know what it means to this state," head coach Kenny Payne said. "I've participated in it, coached against it, I've coached for it, I've been on all sides of it. Trying to get these guys to understand just how much is invested into this game emotionally, and help them understand really, this requires you to be 1,000 percent focused on the task at hand.

"At the end of the day, the stats won't matter. What we shoot, how we play up until this point, the only thing that matters is that you go out there and fight. At the end of it if you fight 40 minutes harder than they fight, you got a chance to win this game."

Just like Payne's first crack at head coach John Calipari and the Wildcats last season, experts and analytical models aren't liking Louisville's chances to pull off the upset. According to KenPom, the Cardinals are a 13-point underdog to Payne's former boss.

However, Payne believes his crew has a legitimate shot to pull out a victory.

"I know from the outside looking in, it looks like we don't have a chance. Well, we got a chance," Payne said. "We're gonna go out and fight to get that, and prove people wrong, and see what happens. If we believe it doesn't matter what nobody else does."

Prior to their matchup with the Wildcats, Payne, guard Skyy Clark and guard Tre White took time to meet with the media. They discussed the season up to this point, previewed the upcoming showdown vs. Kentucky, Payne's job status, and more.

Below are the videos from their press conference:

Head Coach Kenny Payne

Guard Skyy Clark and Guard Tre White

(Photo of Kenny Payne: Jordan Prather - USA TODAY Sports)

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