Kentucky’s Brandon Garrison (10) is congratulated by head coach Mark Pope, left, and Andrew Carr, right, after making a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats won the first meeting over Pat Kelsey’s Louisville Cardinals, but both college basketball coaches are inspiring hope.

On the eve of the first time Mark Pope would coach his college alma mater against its intrastate archrival, the new Kentucky head man decided to do a little historical research. Along with his wife, Lee Anne,

The Kentucky Wildcats were able to take down the Louisville Cardinals in the first matchup of the Mark Pope vs. Pat Kelsey era. Despite nearly leading wire-to-wire, Kentucky had to battle for 40 minutes to pull out the victory,