Mark Pope is like a "son" to Coach P
When Rick Pitino speaks about Kentucky basketball, it carries weight. The Hall of Fame coach led the Wildcats to a national title, mentored countless players, and shaped part of the program’s identity. Now at St. John’s, Pitino is preparing to face his former player turned head coach, Mark Pope, in the upcoming CBS Sports Classic.
Appearing on Jon Rothstein’s podcast, Pitino didn’t hold back his admiration. “I think anytime you play Kentucky, what I’ve always called the Roman Empire of college basketball, you know you’re going to go against great talent. Certainly, Mark Pope is one of the bright young coaches in the game, and really has a great offensive mind.”
For Pope, the matchup is personal. Pitino isn’t just a coaching legend; he’s a mentor. “Coach Pitino is really personal to me,” Pope said. “He is a coach that is also on the Mount Rushmore of Kentucky basketball coaches... He changed the way that I see the world, and he changed the way that I walk into a room.”
Of course, Pope couldn’t resist adding a playful jab about their sideline reunion and his suit game.
Pitino, meanwhile, hyped up his own St. John’s roster, even comparing them favorably to some of his greatest squads. “If you take the talent on this year’s team and you match it with last year’s team, it’s pretty similar, except we’re a little better offensively,” Pitino said. He went on to note that parts of his roster could stack up with his 1997 or 2013 teams, though he admitted nothing could touch the legendary 1996 Kentucky team.
That level of praise only fuels intrigue. A master coach against his former player. The Roman Empire versus the rising Red Storm. History, respect, and competitive fire will all collide on a national stage.