![Kentucky head coach Mark Pope argues a call during the first half of a NCAA mens basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, February 14, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_94,w_2556,h_1437/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/198/01khh5g4bengw2nrdmsp.jpg "Kentucky head coach Mark Pope argues a call during the first half of a NCAA mens basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, February 14, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
For the last decade, Jeff Goodman wasn't exactly a beloved name around Kentucky basketball. He and John Calipari had a long, well-documented history of disliking each other.
But Goodman and Mark Pope? They are actually incredibly close.
Because of that relationship, we are starting to hear a lot more of Goodman's honest, unfiltered takes on the Wildcats. And if you listened to The Field of 68 podcast after the Florida game, you heard something that should give every Kentucky fan a massive shot of hope.
The Field of 68 praises the Cats
It is rare to get national praise after a nine-point loss, but Goodman walked away from the O'Dome thoroughly impressed with Kentucky's fight.
"I thought Kentucky could get run out of the gym," Goodman admitted. "Kentucky, to be honest, made a huge impression on me. Coming in playing the hottest team in America and not folding said something to me... when the adversity hits against a really good team, this team has kind of flipped their mentality. Like we've seen it over the last month."
He didn't stop there. He actually raised the ceiling for what this team can accomplish in March.
"I think Kentucky could really be a Sweet 16 team, maybe Elite 8," Goodman said. "All of a sudden the bracket can break in a way... If the constant with this team is they play hard all the time, it'll give them a good chance to go far in the NCAA tournament."
Co-host Dalen Cuff immediately echoed that sentiment, pointing out that Kentucky's effort is exactly what makes them dangerous. "That is the essence of competition, are you going to fight? That should be table stakes, and it's not; it's not in any sport... and now they've come together as a group. That stuff matters."
Florida is a loss you can live with, unlike Vanderbilt
All of that massive praise came from a game where Kentucky basically handed Florida the win with careless turnovers and the refs' missed calls.
If you take away that brutal 32-17 start, Kentucky actually outscored Florida the rest of the way. Those are the kinds of statistics you look at and say, man, we had them. We just have to limit the early mistakes.
In a strange way, it is a loss you can live with because the effort was undeniably there. The mistakes hurt, and you obviously can't dig a hole like that all the time, but it gives you real hope that this team can finally figure it out.
The path to the Elite 8
To hear national media say this team has a shot at an Elite 8 is crazy. Think back two months ago. Did you honestly think this roster would be in that conversation?
It is a fabulous job by Mark Pope's staff and these players to buy in on the fly, deal with extreme adversity, and push back. No, they aren't the most talented team in the country, even if they probably should be when spending $22 million on a roster.
But if they can get better efficiency from their two ball-dominant players (Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen), then this team can genuinely do something special.
Jeff Goodman is right.