Louisville at Kentucky.

An argument can be made, Saturday’s High Noon hoedown in Rupp Arena looms as (too) much about personalities John Calipari and Rick Pitino as it is about players and the game.

Your conclusions to questions on what to watch for:

• Officiating. Which coach will impose his will to best effect?

• Can Pitino do his brilliance, dictate game pace, and level of physical play?

• Will Terrence Jones show up? Will Peyton Siva stand up?

• Can Marquis Teague keep poise against pressure, push, snatch and grab from UofL deep guard corps?

• Who wins the rebound statistic?

• Which team shoots best – 3s and free throws?

• The coaches. Kids (all ages) watch how they handle disdain for each other. See body language, post-game spin.

2011, A LOOK BACK …

A few favorite story lines from 2011.

1. Kentucky conquered Tennessee. On Senior Day, wide receiver Matt Roark earned a place in Wildcat football history as a quarterback.

2. Shocker of the Year? Morehead State’s defeat of Louisville in first round of the NCAA Tournament.

3. Bellarmine and Pikeville College men’s basketball teams won national championships.

4. About-Face. Western Kentucky football. From two wins in 2010 to a 7-5, and one minute short of a bowl game. Best turn-around tale for 2011, Willie Taggart and his Hilltoppers.

5. Murray State, 13-0 and ranked No. 22. The Racers have won 36 times in last 44 games, 81.8 per cent.

6. Three Kings in the East. J.J. Jude at Johnson Central High made it a triple. Kentucky’s rushing king, 8,543 yards joins Belfry coach Philip Haywood who is prep king of football coaches (350 wins). They join Wayland’s King Kelly Coleman, all-time basketball scorer, 4,337 points.

7. Rockcastle County High won the girls Sweet 16. The Lady Rockets won all 36 games played in Kentucky, losing only at Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

8. Dale Mueller coached Fort Thomas Highlands to a 5A state title and unbeaten season again. Ten championships on his resume`. Quarterback Patrick Towles marched the Bluebirds to a state crown, was elected Mr. Football, will play SEC football at flagship university. Life is good.

9. Break up the Rocks! Louisville Trinity (14-0) coasted to another 6-A championship. Somebody decided the Shamrocks were national champions. State co-coach of the year Bob Beatty was reluctant to embrace the idea, but it made a nice newspaper headline for Player Mom’s scrapbook.

10. Shelvin Mack. Lexington native led Butler to a second NCAA title game last spring.

11. Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball Anthony Hickey (Christian County) is averaging 10 points and four assists at LSU (8-3).

12. The Jimmer. Brigham Young’s Jimmer Fredette, the white kid from New York who was too slow and couldn’t jump, but won the Wooden Award anyway, along with the Naismith Award and Adolph Rupp Trophy.

Mack, Hickey and Fredette are latest evidence to make us ask: How do recruiters at power schools (too) often miss top talent under their noses?

13. It’s A Wonderful Life Dept. Ex-UK punter Tim Masthay helped Green Bay win Super Bowl 45 in February, earning a bonus check for $83,000 (before taxes). The Pack may be headed back to Super Bowl 46 and the red-headed kid from Murray will be too. Life is good.

14. Part way through Kentucky’s 2010-11 hoops season, a UK fan lamented, “I fear it’s going to be a long season for us Cat Fans. We’re so spoiled by decades of UK excellence that being patient has long ceased to be one of our virtues. Yet those of us with even a modicum of patience must surely know that the hard driving Calipari, who has an unmatched knack for recruiting, will have a superior big man in next season’s lineup.”

15. Josh Harrellson declined John Calipari’s invitation to leave UK. Blue collar man began 2010 as owner of MVP trophy from the Louisville game, became virtual centerpiece in Kentucky’s Final Four team. By late autumn, Harrellson was a virtual millionaire having signed with the New York Knicks. Life is good.

16. Randall Cobb left Kentucky and became a star for a defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay. Cobb and the Packers won their first 14 games in 2011.

17. December 6, 2011 Chicago Cub Ron Santo was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Santo died in December, 2010.

18. Whatever Happened To Dept. Lamar Dawson, Kentucky Mr. Football 2010 played in eight games for Southern Cal (10-2). The linebacker from Danville had 25 tackles, 15 solos. Best game? Six tackles, four solo against UCLA.

19. Coach Billy Kennedy left Murray State for Texas A&M; Brandon Knight left college for the NBA; Ex-UK receiver Stevie Johnson should have left his mouth shut in Buffalo; and 1991 Kentucky Derby winner Strike the Gold left in December.

20. Bill Gatton, board of trustee member at University of Kentucky opposed building a new arena and installing luxury suites in Rupp Arena. Suites “would be a mistake,” Gatton said. “Would mean fewer seats for core fans. Luxury boxes are horrible a distraction from basketball, and those who want them, let them join country clubs for socializing.”

21. News Break. A college coach moved his lips and truth came out. Charlie Strong said he was committed to University Louisville football, not going anywhere.

22. Best nominee for man-of-the-year in Kentucky sports: UK president Dr. Eli Capilouto won’t be, but should be a shoo-in. Better hurry before Lexington’s jockacracy gets him wised up.

23. Grand memories of a grand old horse.

24. Above all things, Health. Yours, mine.