It was ELECTRIC in Lexington.
The Mark Pope era started with a bang, with the Kentucky Wildcats starting the season 10-1 and ranking in the top five in the country.
Pope, the former Wildcat, has made it clear he wants to bring a different energy back to the program, and he has done so through the first 11 games.
Saturday was the first taste of the Kentucky/Louisville rivalry in the Mark Pope era, and it did NOT disappoint.
It was absolutely rocking from start to finish in Rupp Arena, and the game was everything fans wanted it to be: Competitive, chippy, heated, and exciting.
Even Louisville players chimed in about the atmosphere in Rupp Arena and proved that this rivalry is truly one of a kind.
Louisville’s Terrence Edwards talks about how fun this rivalry is and the great atmosphere at Rupp today.
Says he’s upset he won’t get to play it in again. pic.twitter.com/X5YQKCkhc8
— Zack Geoghegan (@ZGeogheganKSR) December 15, 2024
Louisville star Terrance Edwards had one of the best quotes of the night, saying, “That was the greatest atmosphere I’ve ever played in.”
No matter the fanbase, this was a perfect game for the new era of this rivalry, and I am sure it will be rocking next year at the KFC Yum Center in downtown Louisville.