In a showdown that lived up to its storied history, Kentucky emerged victorious over Louisville in a hard-fought rivalry game. Head Coach Mark Pope expressed immense pride in his team’s effort, offering high praise for both the Wildcats and their opponent, after his first win as Kentucky head coach against Louisville.
“I’m incredibly proud of our guys,” Pope said in his opening remarks. “It was a classic rivalry game. Louisville, hats off to them. I mean, those guys are playing so hard right now and doing it shorthanded, and Pat is doing an unbelievable job coaching that group. They got a ton of fight, a ton of heart, leadership, and seniority. They had guys making big plays and making shots, which they haven’t done as much lately, and they should be super proud. And our guys just kept fighting and got the win. Couldn’t be happier for our guys.”
Lamont Butler’s Heroics
One standout in the game was Lamont Butler, who delivered an unforgettable performance despite facing physical challenges in the lead-up.
“First of all, I was joking with the guys after on the way off the floor,” Pope said. “Lamont’s agent called me and said, ‘OK, he’s only playing every 10 days and he’s taking the rest of the time off.’ Unbelievable credit to him. My goodness, what an incredible—I mean, Lamont Butler just gave us one of the all-time greatest performances in the history of this super special game. Like, of all time. The numbers back it up. The way he came into it backs it up.”
Despite a week of limited activity, Butler’s resilience shone through, thanks in part to the Kentucky performance team.
“Looking at my performance team side-eyed for the last 10 days,” Pope joked. “I’m telling you, this Brandon Wells is probably the best in the entire business. He’s incredible. And for Randy to have limited access but to be creative enough to keep Lamont in playing condition without him being able to set foot on his ankle for a week is really remarkable. … It’s a real credit to Lamont, his heart; it’s a real credit to Brandon and Randy. What an unbelievable team they were. So, hats off to those guys.”
Managing Minutes and Contributions
Butler’s impact extended beyond his scoring, opening up opportunities for teammates and necessitating adjustments when he wasn’t on the court. When asked about how the team handled those moments, Pope admitted it was a mixed bag.
“Well, the first time I checked him out, we turned it over in the backcourt for a layup—that wasn’t great,” Pope said with a laugh. “After that, I haven’t even looked at [Travis Perry’s] minutes. TP played 6 minutes and 42 seconds. They were probably like 17-second stints. Basically, he was great. He kind of kept it under control and was really solid defensively and had some makeup ability. The staff has worked really hard at figuring out rotation—who we can have in the game when Lamont is out right now. I thought our guys were great. It’s important. I mean, I’m not sure if our design is to have Lamont playing 32 every night. But he did it tonight, and the other eight worked.”
Chemistry On and Off the Court
Pope emphasized the importance of team chemistry, noting that much of what makes this team special happens off the court.
“I think it was when I saw the guys off the court, actually, more than on the court,” Pope said when asked when he knew this team would click. “We have a really good sense of the guys’ skill set on the court. Pope continues, "There were so many moments when our ceiling is so much higher than we are right now in terms of the way we execute and understanding why we are doing it. We have so much growth we can do." He also touched on the Eastern Kentucky mission trip where they helped flood victims by spending 10 hours a day building a house.
“There were a couple of moments during the summer where I saw guys going out of their way to really be together. Andrew Carr is like the dad of the team, and he has been incredible. And Lamont Butler takes care of each of these guys one by one. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard about someone having a tough time, and all of a sudden, Lamont shows up and he’s gone way out of his way to reroute that person’s day. … It’s very cool, good group.”
A Rivalry With Respect
Reflecting on the game’s intensity and the mutual respect between him and Louisville’s Pat Kelsey, Pope credited both programs for focusing on the essentials of competition.
“I think that you have two veteran groups that are pretty focused on the way they compete best,” Pope explained. “The way they give themselves the best chance to win is to be laser-focused on the job at hand and be super disciplined about not letting the emotion be a distracting factor. … I think both programs are probably in that space somewhere.”
Closing Moments and Player Development
Otega Oweh’s ability to perform in clutch moments drew praise from Pope, who shared an anecdote that highlighted Oweh’s focus.
“One of the great things about O is he is just in the moment,” Pope said. “He’s got a pretty great capacity for just being dialed into the moment and not spending a lot of time worrying about the consequences of what might happen or what just did happen. He’s present in class; he’s present on the court; he’s present in the closing minutes.”
Looking Back and Ahead
Pope’s own history with the rivalry added personal weight to the win.
“You get locked in the bus with Coach P for an hour and a half after a two-point loss against Louisville. I don’t wish that on any of you,” Pope joked, recalling his playing days. He also highlighted an initiative where former players wrote letters to current Wildcats, emphasizing the generational connection of Kentucky basketball.
“It is what Kentucky basketball is,” Pope said. “Generation after generation being connected and understanding what it means. Those letters … are really special to our guys.”
Kentucky’s performance in this rivalry game showcased not only the team’s talent but also its heart, resilience, and commitment to a tradition that transcends basketball. For Pope and his Wildcats, this victory is a testament to their growth and potential moving forward.