"I think it's good for the game when the teams with great tradition are good.”
Mark Pope said that knowing full well what it meant, the kind that knows exactly what this rivalry means. For the first time in a long time, Kentucky vs. Louisville isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s about relevance.
A heavyweight bout reborn
Both programs enter the season ranked inside the preseason top 15. Both have second year head coaches who want to be great. Mark Pope has deep, emotional ties to Kentucky, and Kelsey is intent on turning Louisville back into a relevant national program.