The stars of the highly anticipated film of The Hunger Games say they instantly connected over being from Kentucky: Jennifer Lawrence, who plays heroine Katniss, is from Louisville, and Josh Hutcherson, who plays her ally Peeta, hails from Union. But they did unearth one huge difference.

"It was like an instant bonding factor, being from the same place," Hutcherson said. "The only difference is she's a Cardinals fan, and I'm a UK fan. I'm the real Kentucky fan."

Told that her co-star had outed her as a University of Louisville fan, Lawrence responded, "I'm proud to be outed — I'm out!"

Maybe when she's not busy making and promoting movies, Lawrence can lend the stands at Louisville games some Hollywood glamour à la Kentucky's movie-star cheerleader, Ashley Judd. Lawrence says she admires the Ashland-raised actress, though maybe not for her choice in basketball teams.

It's a big weekend for the actors and their teams: The Hunger Games opens nationwide Friday. Louisville plays Michigan State in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday. Kentucky plays Indiana on Friday. If the Cats and Cards survive the weekend, they will meet in the Final Four.

That outcome would dictate who has bragging rights when Lawrence and Hutcherson reunite to work on Catching Fire, the next chapter of the Hunger Games trilogy.

Rich Copley: (859) 231-3217. Twitter: @copiousnotes. Blog: copiousnotes.bloginky.com.