LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- He came to Rupp Arena on a Friday night not just to coach, but to testify.

And by the time it was over — after 40 minutes of pressure defense, player development, and something that looked suspiciously like a basketball revival in front of a blue-clad crowd of 19,906— Mark Pope sat behind the mic and preached a gospel not found in the scouting report.

“If 51 percent of us can care about this team,” he said, “that would be unprecedented.”

And he didn’t mean care like run-back-on-defense care. Or call-out-the-switches care. He meant it like wash-your-teammate’s-feet care. Like give up your shot so someone else can shine care.

“If we can do that,” he said, “we’re going to be a great team. But we’re also going to be a great example to the world.”

Now

See Full Page