UVU’s Crazy First Two Days Of The Season Start At Kentucky Then Duke

As you may remember, Utah Valley decided to play Kentucky and Duke, not just in the same month or week but on back to back nights this fall.

For coach Mark Pope, it won’t be that big of a leap. He played ball at Kentucky when Rick Pitino was still a respected coach and UK did great things then.

We’d forgotten that he started at Washington and transferred to Kentucky - like most people he watched the legendary 1992 Duke-Kentucky game on TV but later helped the Wildcats with the 1996 title.

He has an interesting team - like Nevada, it’s almost entirely made up of transfers, including three from BYU, one from Utah, one from Oklahoma and one from Xavier.

For Utah Valley to upset Kentucky or Duke would be massive and historic and it’s highly unlikely. But keep in mind that this team has a lot of experience and for all of the talent in Lexington and Durham, there’s almost no experience. And that means they have a chance.

We will give you just one word to keep in mind until then: Vermont.