OK, so here’s what I was told by a couple sources about this Mark Pope-Pat Kelsey verbal altercation outside of Tay Kinney’s house at midnight a couple weeks ago in Atlanta.
Mark Pope and Kentucky had the midnight slot with Kinney, and Pat Kelsey and Louisville were bumped to 12:15 a.m.
Kelsey and his staff were sitting outside in the car waiting and they went in when Pope and Kentucky wasn’t there right before midnight.
Pope showed up moments later, called the agent and then got into it with Kelsey as he and the Louisville assistants walked out of the apartment a few minutes after midnight. Pope was heated, thinking Kelsey and his staff went in earlier than the allowed time of midnight.
A verbal altercation ensued, with both having some choice words for one another. Pope thought Kelsey broke the rules, and Kelsey took exception to that.
Pope and his assistants went in, met with Kinney, then walked back out as Kelsey and his staff were walking in. Pope tried to shake Kelsey’s hand immediately, but Kelsey was upset that Pope had made comments that he broke the rules by going into the house early.
After a short time, the two sides hugged it out.
It’s not exactly the level of disdain with former Kentucky coach John Calipari and Louisville coach Rick Pitino during their days, but at least it’s something to elevate the rivalry again.
Although both Pope and Kelsey downplayed anything between the pair when Field of 68 asked them about any altercation earlier this week.
“I love Mark,” Kelsey said earlier this week.
“I have a ton of respect for Pat,” Pope added.
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