On a recent episode of College Hoops Today with Jon Rothstein, Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope shared his thoughts on the season thus far and the journey of coaching his alma mater. With 11 games under his belt, Pope expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Wildcats. “I’m blessed,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do. Blessed to coach good young men who want to get better.”
A Team with Heart
Pope couldn’t help but praise the camaraderie within his squad. When asked about how the team has come together, he said, “The guys blow me away every day. They all want to be here and have a common goal.” He attributed the team’s early success to their character and work ethic. “We have the right guys, good guys. We are not perfect, we have so much growing to do... We have guys that show up every single day,” he added. You can see him balancing praise with work, it is a fascinating balance he walks.
Frustrations and Growth
Pope emphasized his commitment to improving the team’s shooting, especially from beyond the arc. Reflecting on their wins over Duke and Gonzaga despite lackluster shooting nights, he admitted, “I’m really frustrated we aren’t shooting more threes. You bring that up with the Duke and Gonzaga wins... we should be shooting the ball more. We are working on that, we are going to get there.” Despite the struggles, he praised his players’ resilience, saying, “It tells us two things: we have guys that are able to digest a lot of frustration and turn it into fight. We have guys that are in this for each other.”
Surreal Moments at Kentucky
Every day as Kentucky’s head coach feels like a dream for Pope. “Every day as the head coach of the University of Kentucky is surreal. Jon, I kid you not... There is only one person in this world that gets to have this job.” Reflecting on the team’s legacy, Pope mentioned the Kentucky Legends Project, a testament to the program’s storied history which you can read about here
A Return to Madison Square Garden
As Kentucky prepares for a marquee matchup at Madison Square Garden with Ohio State, Pope couldn’t hide his excitement. “As a kid who grew up in New York... I don’t care where you grow up, is there a better place in the world to play a basketball game?” He shared a humorous anecdote about his game-day attire: “Lee Ann, my wife, who is the director of all things here, made a deal. She said when we go to Seattle you can wear a quarter zip. When we go to Atlanta to play Duke, you can wear a quarter zip. But when we go to Madison Square Garden, you are not walking in there in a quarter zip.”
Building Rivalries and Honoring the Past
Pope also hinted at plans for a series with Rick Pitino’s St. John’s team. “We are trying everything... It’s a work in progress. My biggest thing is I gotta find a way to get Coach into Rupp next year... He is so iconic and deeply loved by BBN. We gotta get him back in the gym.” Sounds like they are still trying to work it out
SEC Dominance and Future Goals
Looking ahead, Pope acknowledged the strength of the SEC saying "It's going to be a bloodbath", with 13 of the top 16 teams ranked in the top 30 of the NET. However, Pope seems like he wants that challenge, “Come on, man. It is so awesome,” Pope said. “This league is just insanity right now. As an athlete and as a coach... you’d be sad if you were playing in another league. This is what you dream of.”
For Pope, Kentucky’s ceiling will depend on key improvements. “In a very, very specific sense, our movement off the ball and why and how and the reads we are making away from the ball is going to be the thing that dictates our season,” he explained. On defense, the team must improve “ball screen defense” and “switching 1 through 5.”
From gratitude to growth, Mark Pope’s reflections offer a window into the challenges and excitement of leading Kentucky basketball. For Big Blue Nation, the journey is just getting started.
You can listen to the full interview by clicking here