Mark Pope looks to veterans and being himself as he adapts to coaching Kentucky after John Calipari
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Mark Pope looks to veterans and being himself as he adapts to coaching Kentucky after John Calipari

Associated Press  

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Meeting one challenge of playing for the Kentucky Wildcats gave Mark Pope a blueprint for the taller task of coaching them after John Calipari. “I’m just as much a member of BBN as anyone, and he’s a Hall of Fame coach,” said Pope, a member of Kentucky’s 1996 NCAA title team led by Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. “One of the things that you learn really early on, and I’ve had great mentors in this game, is you just have to coach you,” added Pope, who has talked with Calipari. It would be disingenuous, and my guys wouldn’t believe if I actually tried to take on that persona.” Coaching changes generally require taking the seasoned route to replenish the roster, and Pope definitely had no other choice to fill the canyon-sized hole that followed Calipari’s stunning departure for Arkansas in early April.

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Pope Sets Stage for Wildcat Legacy with Experienced Roster
2 months ago

Pope Sets Stage for Wildcat Legacy with Experienced Roster

Associated Press  

Mark Pope begins a new era for No. 23 Kentucky as he follows Calipari with a seasoned first roster. The Wildcats have brought in a number of experienced players to build a competitive team. Pope promises perimeter shooting and BYU ranked third nationally in 3-pointers per game last season. The Wildcats open SEC play against No. 21 Florida on Jan. …

Will Mark Pope or John Calipari have a better 2024-25 season? Kentucky mailbag
6 months, 4 weeks ago

Will Mark Pope or John Calipari have a better 2024-25 season? Kentucky mailbag

New York Times  

We put out a call for national college basketball mailbag questions a couple of weeks back, and so many of you wanted to know about Kentucky, Mark Pope and John Calipari, we figured it made sense to just pull out those questions and answers separately. He secured the top two in-state recruits, both of them four-star prospects — reaffirming Travis …

Mark Pope introduced as Kentucky’s coach, affirms expectation that ‘We are here to win banners’
8 months, 1 week ago

Mark Pope introduced as Kentucky’s coach, affirms expectation that ‘We are here to win banners’

Associated Press  

LEXINGTON, Ky. — One of the last players to exit a bus full of Kentucky greats on the Rupp Arena floor, Mark Pope held the 1996 NCAA championship trophy aloft and basked in the cheers during his introduction as the Wildcats’ new men’s basketball coach. We are here to win banners.” Pope’s introduction came two days after Kentucky hired him …

Kentucky hires BYU’s Mark Pope as men’s basketball coach to replace John Calipari
8 months, 1 week ago

Kentucky hires BYU’s Mark Pope as men’s basketball coach to replace John Calipari

Associated Press  

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Initially off the radar among Kentucky’s coaching targets, Mark Pope is now entrusted with maintaining the program’s gold standard. Kentucky hired the BYU coach to guide its men’s basketball program, bringing home a captain of the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship team to succeed John Calipari. Saint John’s coach Rick Pitino, a Hall of Famer who led Kentucky …

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