Letting Mark Stoops go was the right decision and it wasn’t easy for Mitch to do for reasons we will talk about
But I also do want to salute Stoops for a job well done for the majority of his time. He won more than anyone else here since Bear Bryant
For the first time since Mar. 21, 2024, Kentucky will play basketball vs. another team.
For the first time since Mar. 25, 2009, Kentucky will be coached by someone not named John Calipari.
For the first time since Mar. 22, 1985, Kentucky will be coached by a former Wildcat.
For the first time ever, Kentucky will be coached by Mark Pope.
It's gameday.
New Kentucky Men's Basketball Head Coach Mark Pope & Co. sealing the win over John Calipari's #1 ranked UMass squad in the 1996 National Semifinal:
This video shows what Kentucky basketball means to people.
A young boy named Axel, from southeastern Kentucky, was brought to tears when he was surprised with tickets for Reed Sheppard’s youth camp.
The Sheppard family caught wind of the video and they all recognized him and interacted him, giving him a special memory.
💙
I feel kinda bad for my negative reaction to the Mark Pope hire at first.
I think this dude LOVES UK with all his heart and will give everything he can to succeed here.
He runs a fun modern offense, is a great X’s and O’s coach, and overachieved at BYU despite the recruiting limitations of that school.
With UK’s resources he should do just fine. He wants to be here and is passionate about this state and this university. He may not have been the flashy hire but I am completely on board for this and will support our new coach through this process. We should all rally together as a fan base and get behind our guy.
#BBN
“Coach, you just don’t know what this means to all of us from Kentucky”
You’re damn right. I know it gets beat to death, I’ve beat it to death but it’s the 100% truth. A feeling every single time you put that jersey on, it’s bigger than you. I’m pumped for Mark Pope, let’s go!
@CoachMarkPope welcome home! As the longer tenured coach here I feel it is my responsibility to show you the ropes but knowing your history I’m looking forward to you showing me. Either way, let’s do this Together. #Kentuckybasketball#GoCats
Mark Pope runs an offense Kentucky fans will like, and he's Mark Pope, but this move seems very quick for a guy who would've been there later in the search
The video game offense:
https://t.co/AuloNtgYFo
I like the idea of hiring Mark Pope more than most people. He adores UK. He runs a modern offense built around shooting and creative sets (think McDermott/Hurley). He’s won fewer than 20 games just once in the last seven seasons despite never being a top-two job in the league and just finished with the same record as Kansas in his first season in the Big 12.