LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Mark Pope has a problem. It’s not Louisville. It’s Louisville week.
It’s not the scouting report. It’s a summons.
Because at 4:30 Saturday afternoon, Kentucky’s head basketball coach is expected to check in for jury duty.
I would watch a whole movie about this, not going to lie.
Twelve Angry Men? Try 20,000 angry Cardinals. Or Wildcats. I haven’t worked out the plot just yet.
“Here’s the thing, guys. I’ve got an issue,” Pope told the Rupp Arena fans who stayed for his postgame radio show after Kentucky pounded Valparaiso 107-59 Friday night. “I actually got a notice that I’ve got to go do jury duty. So, it’s really true. I apparently have to call in starting (Saturday) every day at 4:30 p.m. to see if I get assigned to jury duty, which is semi-inconvenient, but I do love this Commonwealth and I love this state and I want to do my part, so we’ll see how this goes.”
It’s hard to get out of. I had jury duty while I was a Courier-Journal sports columnist. I was in the room all day waiting with former Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson. Wound up getting seated, then was pulled out as an alternate.
But seriously, what in the name of Fayette County is going on here? Who’s going to call the Kentucky basketball coach for jury duty the week they play Louisville? How many of Pat Kelsey’s relatives work in the clerk’s office?
Pope isn’t complaining. His big question: “Do they serve you lunch?”
No, they do not. But you do get paid $12.50 per day. So you’ve got that going for you.
Who wouldn’t want to be in that courtroom when the jury pool is questioned?
Judge: “Juror No. 1541, do you believe you can be impartial in assigning blame in a crime?”
Pope: “Depends on the crime. If it’s a block-charge thing, absolutely not.”
Attorney: “Do you understand the concept of reasonable doubt?”
Pope: “Yes. It’s what Louisville fans have every year before we beat them.”
Can you imagine, all 6-feet-10 of Mark Pope, sitting in the jury box? We’re not going to have photographers on the baseline for this game. We’re having sketch artists.
OK. I think the jury duty thing is out of my system. If it pleases the court, let’s talk basketball.
The big development for Kentucky on Friday was getting Pittsburgh transfer Jaland Lowe back for his Kentucky debut, and the offense ran like a car that had just gotten a tuneup. Lowe made things smoother, got into the paint, distributed. Six points, five assists, no turnovers, one happy head coach.
“He can get wherever he wants to go on the floor,” Pope said. “And that means a lot to us. That really has a huge function for our team. And he's, I thought he was terrific defensively. … He’s a difference maker. He’s going to be massively important for this team.”
For Kentucky, it was the most impressive performance since knocking off No. 1-ranked Purdue in its exhibition opener. And the Wildcats at near full-strength bodes well for their chances in the KFC Yum! Center.
It’s the first time the rivalry will feature two ranked teams since 2019. But it’s not a rivalry reborn. Let’s call it a rivalry re‑sworn in.
Pope’s wit makes him dangerous. His system makes him lethal. He rotates ten players, preaches selflessness, and coaches like he’s still sprinting for loose balls.
And let’s just say it: Pope is on trial every game anyway. In Kentucky, basketball isn’t recreation; it’s cross‑examination. It’s all closing arguments.
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey is Pope’s perfect foil: High‑energy, quotable and relentless. It took him a matter of months to turn Louisville from lifeless to ACC runner-up. The Cardinals have talent, an NBA-caliber freshman, and three-point shooters everywhere.
Louisville got big man Kasean Pryor back in time for Kentucky, and he’ll help some inside, but the bigger issue is getting forward J’Vonne Hadley back from concussion protocol. Louisville isn’t as athletic as Kentucky, but it is older.
You know your roster’s old when the NIL money goes straight into a 401(k).
Both coaches preach tempo. Both quote scripture, basketball or otherwise. And both know that in this rivalry, nobody gets acquitted. You just survive until the next appeal.
And nobody in this state can wait. Except for somebody in county government in Lexington. But give him (or her) a break. Who would figure when looking through all those dates that this game would be a concern on Nov. 11?
Tuesday night, second week of the season, 8 p.m.? That’s the real crime.
I’m sorry, your honor, on that I cannot remain impartial.
Words Pope might want to remember.
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