What had been an unremarkable, even cordial relationship between Louisville men’s basketball coach Pat Kelsey and Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope — the two men at the center of arguably the most intense rivalry in their sport — has gotten some much-needed gas over the offseason.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced of a verbal altercation between Kelsey and Pope when both coaches went to meet with 2026 five-star recruit and Newport native Tay Kinney at his home. As the story goes, Pope was scheduled to meet with Kinney first, but was running late. Kelsey, who was already there waiting, decided to go in and on his way out of Kinney’s home, he crossed paths with Pope and the two reportedly exchanged words.

This week, Kelsey was able to have a little fun with a subject that

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