For Coach Mark Pope, leading Kentucky Basketball is about more than winning on the court. It’s about belonging off the court too. This season, that connection with Big Blue Nation takes center stage through two meaningful initiatives: a new, free FanFest for Big Blue Madness and a lifesaving appeal to join the National Marrow Donor Program.
Big Blue Madness: Open to everyone
Big Blue Madness remains one of the hottest tickets in college basketball. Seats sell out within minutes, leaving many fans on the outside looking in. To change that, Pope introduced a new FanFest event open to everyone, no ticket required.
Running from noon to 4:30 p.m. on the day of Big Blue Madness, the event invites all fans to meet players, take photos, and celebrate together. “It’s just an opportunity for us to reach out and actually touch and hug every single member of Big Blue Nation,” Pope said.
A call to action to save lives
Beyond the fun, Pope shared something deeply personal: a passionate plea to join the “Be The Match” donor registry. He explained how a simple cheek swab, taking less than a minute, could add someone to a national list of potential bone marrow donors—and possibly save a life.
He even shared a story of a former team manager who donated marrow to a young girl after getting that call. “He saved her life,” Pope said, his voice filled with emotion.
Kentucky, he noted, ranks No. 1 nationally in both cancer incidence and mortality. “There’s no community that rallies like this Commonwealth,” Pope said. “You literally could have the chance to save a life.”
For Pope’s program, the biggest victories clearly extend far beyond the court. Get ready for a great, fun, exciting, and meaningful weekend from Rupp Arena as Kentucky turns the page to the 2025-2026 season.
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