It wasn’t the final score or any single statistic that impressed Mark Pope most after Kentucky’s hard-fought exhibition against No. 1 Purdue. It was something less tangible, yet far more crucial to the foundation he’s building: togetherness.
“As much as we can just stay in this for each other,” Pope said thoughtfully postgame, “we have a chance to be a good team.”
A culture built on connection
For decades, Kentucky basketball has operated under the immense weight of external expectations. Pope, in his second season back at his alma mater, is intentionally flipping that script. The culture taking shape inside the Joe Craft Center is intensely competitive, yes, but it’s fundamentally relational. Trust, accountability, and mutual support are the cornerstones. You learn to depend on the guy next to you so much that you don't worry about anything.
Pope doesn't just want talented players; he wants servant leaders, players who embrace defending for their teammates, boxing out for someone else’s rebound, and communicating constantly. It’s a shift from individual ambition often seen in today's society to a collective purpose, reflecting Pope's belief that individual success flows from team success.
The 'next play' mentality
That collective spirit extends to handling adversity. Pope noted that his staff emphasized the phrase “next play” repeatedly during the Purdue game, a concept crucial for maintaining composure.
“We must have said next play 10 times in the huddle before we walked out on the floor,” Pope explained. “It's just really important... there's going to be mistakes in the game and... we just have to move on the next play.” He praised several players for doing just that, highlighting Kam Williams bouncing back from a bad shot to make a tough one later. Pope isn't coaching emotion out of his players; he's teaching them to channel it constructively by focusing forward. Assistant coach Alvin Brooks even has the team grading body language daily, reinforcing that energy and support are non-negotiable ways to serve the team.
Leading by example
This selflessness is already showing up. Pope praised Jaland Lowe for being “unbelievable on the bench,” actively coaching and encouraging teammates while recovering from injury. He highlighted Malachi Moreno’s growth, crediting his supportive family. The team celebrates defensive stops with the same energy as dunks, huddling tighter after mistakes. That’s not accidental; that’s intentional culture building.
Pope calls his desired style “wave after wave” basketball. It is a relentless energy, giving maximum effort style, with every player giving their all for the person next to them. It’s a demanding philosophy, rooted in the belief that true success comes when players genuinely love the grind, and more importantly, love doing it together. As Pope simply stated, “We’re going to be really successful if we can love each other... if we can care about this team.” For this new era of Kentucky basketball, that might just be the ultimate blueprint.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion