CARDINALS

U of L-IU series in the works?

Jeff Greer

Louisville Courier Journal

Dec 9, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head caoch Tom Crean coaches against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Cardinals defeated the Hoosiers 94-74. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

After Louisville's 94-74 win over Indiana at Madison Square Garden back in December, Rick Pitino told a story.

Before that meeting on Dec. 9, Pitino said, he and Indiana coach Tom Crean talked about starting up an annual rivalry game. During his radio show on Monday, Pitino hinted at the advancement of that idea, saying Louisville and Indiana are working on a three-year series that would have games in Indianapolis, Bloomington and Louisville.

"We are negotiating to play Indiana next year in Lucas Oil Stadium, where we split 35,000 tickets each," Pitino said. "If we can't get Lucas Oil on the date, we'll go to (Bankers Life Fieldhouse) and split 10,500 tickets or whatever. It'll be half going around behind our bench and half at mid-section, going around their bench."

Pitino had mentioned the Lucas Oil idea back in December. If the series is finalized -- the discussions have been progressing as if this is happening -- the teams will play the first game in Indianapolis, the second in Bloomington at IU and the third in Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center.

That game would be in addition to Louisville's nonconference matchups next season against Kentucky and Memphis and the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.