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Pat Kelsey praises Mark Pope and calls Kentucky the best version in a decade

ByDrew Holbrook|
Dec 11, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey questions a call during the first half against the UTEP Miners at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images
Dec 11, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey questions a call during the first half against the UTEP Miners at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Mark Pope's case for national Coach of the Year is picking up even more steam, and it’s not just media voices making the call. After CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein highlighted Pope’s impressive start with Kentucky, a surprising endorsement came from Pat Kelsey, the head coach of in-state rival Louisville. We discussed Finkelstein's full comments here if you'd like to read more.

Kelsey, whose Cardinals face the Wildcats tomorrow, didn’t hold back his praise. He called this version of Kentucky the best Kentucky team in the last 10 years, which is saying quite a bite. Kelsey also discussed who he thinks should be coach of the year, saying if he had a Coach of the Year ballot today, Mark Pope would be his coach of the year. High praise indeed, especially coming from a rival coach in the lead-up to their heated matchup Saturday.

Yesterday, Finkelstein pointed to Pope’s early-season achievements, including victories over Duke and Gonzaga, as the foundation for his candidacy. He highlighted Kentucky’s impressive offensive ranking (ninth nationally) and their defensive improvement (24th), as well as Pope’s ability to navigate a roster without clear preseason roles. He and his staff literally built the entire roster in just a couple months, they had Travis Perry and Walker Horn.

But while Kelsey’s remarks are flattering, they may not sit well with Louisville fans hoping for a feisty rivalry game. Kelsey’s tendency to lean into humorous, off-the-cuff remarks—like calling his wife “hot” in press conferences, you can hear the full quote by clicking here—adds to his likability but can dilute the hatred just a little bit.

Louisville faithful might even prefer Kelsey to channel some competitive edge rather than give Pope additional accolades before a game that will test both teams.

As Kentucky prepares to take on Louisville, Pope’s Wildcats will look to prove why their coach is receiving such glowing reviews. What say you BBN is Pope the coach of the year so far?

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