LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Mark Pope was hired in April to coach the University of Kentucky, there was naturally some skepticism. It’s a job where you must have thick skin, win immediately in the NCAA Tournament, and beat the University of Louisville annually.
Even accomplished Kentucky coaches have been ground up by super-sized expectations. John Calipari, who won the 2012 national championship and reached the 2015 Final Four, bolted from the pressure for an easier life in Arkansas.
Pope wasn’t the first choice to be the next Kentucky coach. However, he might turn out to be the right choice.
No. 4 Kentucky (10-1) is off to its best start in eight years after a 93-85 victory at Rupp Arena over in-state rival Louisville. It has already beaten Duke (8-2) and Gonzaga (7-2). The only stumble was at Clemson (9-2).
According to Pope, this team is just getting started.
“Our ceiling is so much higher than we are right now in terms of the way we execute and understanding why we are doing it,” he said “We have so much growth we can do.”
🎥 Highlights: Kentucky 93, Louisville 85
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 15, 2024
Lamont Butler – 33 PTS (10/10 FG, 6/6 3FG) | 6 AST | 3 REB
Otega Oweh – 17 PTS (7-11 FG) | 3 AST
Jaxson Robinson – 12 PTS | 8 REB | 2 STL
Andrew Carr – 10 PTS (4-7 FG) | 9 REB | 4 AST | 2 BLK
Koby Brea – 10 PTS pic.twitter.com/F6uE2LLU0w
The last time the Wildcats were 10-1 was the 2016-17 season. If they beat Ohio State (6-4) in New York City on Saturday, this will be their best start since the 2014-15 Final Four team. That squad had first-round draft picks Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Trey Lyles.
Pope’s first Kentucky team is different. Thanks to the transfer portal, this is the program’s oldest team in terms of experience. He’s using that veteran savvy to his advantage. No more Calipari kiddie corps. Pope has players who already know how to play at this level. That includes top scorers Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), Lamont Butler (San Diego State), Jaxson Robinson (BYU), and Koby Brea (Dayton).
Pope has also changed the way the team has played in recent seasons. Last season, Kentucky was No. 84 in the nation in three-point attempts (24.2). This season, it entered this week at No. 46 (28.0). This modern approach could pay off down the road. These changes also helped Pope get the job despite having few postseason accomplishments.
Kentucky tried to land a big name who would be ready to take over one of the most high-profile jobs in the sport. Scott Drew turned them down, and Wildcat fans longingly dreamed about other guys with championship pedigrees, such as Dan Hurley and Billy Donovan. Instead, Mitch Barnhart hired someone who has yet to win an NCAA Tournament game.
Mark Pope and his wife Lee Anne share a moment after Kentucky’s victory over Louisville. pic.twitter.com/wmfsgPsXbZ
— Michael Grant (@MichaelGrant_CJ) December 15, 2024
If Kentucky hired anyone else with Pope’s résumé, there might have been a pitchfork-wielding mob storming the campus. But this was Pope, a cherished member of the 1996 NCAA title team. He was always going to get the benefit of the doubt—at least for his first season. The great news for those fans is that Pope has already met or possibly exceeded expectations.
Of course, Pope’s first season will be defined by March. Calipari’s downfall was the fact that Kentucky has not reached the Sweet Sixteen since 2019. Can Pope get this team to the second weekend of the tournament? It’s tough to say now, but he’s off to a promising start.
