It's officially official. Mark Pope is the new head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.
On a spectacular Sunday inside a virtually sold-out Rupp Arena — 5,000 fans were denied entry to the event because Rupp was overcrowded — BBN announced one of the most beloved players in program history. I decided to meet him again.
It started with a great intro featuring players of all generations and went on to show not only his unique personality but also how he hopes this program will go in the future.
The fan base brought this club in to welcome a new head coach, but it's clear Pope is ready to build something special in Lexington.
Let's take a closer look at some of the takeaways from Sunday's press conference.
Recruitment
One of the big questions that came up today was regarding his ability to recruit at a high level. Because of the limitations at BYU, it's almost impossible to know how things will fare compared to a program like Kentucky.
But I think it's fair to say that if there was any evidence today, he would crush it.
Not only does he bring energy to the room, but he also has the resume to back it up when speaking to national recruits and parents.
Pope also mentioned the importance of adding to the mix of players, as we've seen from the likes of UCONN and Alabama over the past few seasons. Acquire the top five-star players in the country and combine them with multi-year players and transfers to get the best mold for your team in today's game.
Things will change, but I have full faith that this next squad should be able to fight right after today.
Fusion of old and new
John Calipari did great things for this program during his time at Lexington. He made Kentucky the “it” school. With the likes of Drake, LeBron James and Lil Wayne talking about the UK, some of the hype surrounding the show's past traditions seems to have been lost.
That will be fixed under Mark Pope.
Watch the intro as generations of athletes step off the bus, including 2012 National Champion Darius Miller.
It may take some time for the former California players to bounce back, but as long as Pope is at the helm, it's clear they will be welcomed back to Lexington with open arms.
The pope also said he wanted to restore certain things that were lost during the Calipari era (without directly mentioning Cal). One was playing in the Maui Invitational, which Kentucky hasn't played in since 2010 but often did in the '90s and 2000s.
Pope also emphasized the importance of the SEC Tournament, something Calipari has long said is not a fan.
“We’re here to win a banner in Nashville,” Pope said of the league tournament.
These are the types of things Kentucky fans have been craving, and it looks like they'll get it under Coach Pope.
Analytics-driven approach
One of the big frustrations over the past few seasons has been the lack of interest in digging deeper into the game's analytical numbers. It was revealed tonight that it will not be part of the upcoming program.
During his time at BYU, Pope thrived on an aggressive, high-tempo style of play that included shots from near the rim and behind the arch. Add that to the defensive mix he mentioned today and it was a breath of fresh air for BBN.
He also highlighted the need to allocate responsibility to NIL and transfer portals. Will this really be the role of a “GM”? That may be true, but it's clear he understands the importance of keeping it all secret early in his tenure.
It certainly helps if you think BYU's analytics guru Cody Fueger is likely to join the staff.
Don't close the door on Cal players.
The Calipari era is over, but there's still a chance some of his players from last season and 2024 recruits will remain with the Wildcats.
Some wondered if Pope would focus on filling out the roster with former BYU players and other transfers. But Pope said he remains in touch with players from last season and new players who were scheduled to join the program this offseason.
He also revealed that Kentucky has contacted nearly every player in the country who is currently in the transfer portal.
“We're talking to everyone on our current team, all the players that were being recruited, and just about everyone in the portal,” Pope said. “We're going to find players who are a good fit for the style of play here and who understand how great it is to play at the University of Kentucky.”
Kentucky appears to be keeping in-state product Travis Perry, and Pope is scheduled to have key talks with Big Z on Monday.
It's likely some Cal players will remain on next season's roster.
love for the program
Whether he's talking about expectations or starting Cats chants, it's clear that Mark Pope loves the University of Kentucky. He defines what it means to bleed blue.
Heck, he even said he would have walked from Provo to get this job.
From his family's reaction to his job offer to the passion he showed for each fan in line, it's clear this place has had a positive impact on his life. And now he's using this platform not only to win games, but to make a difference in the Bluegrass State.
It was a wonderful day.
Now, let's put this back together and make it work.
What was your biggest takeaway from Mark Pope's first press conference? Let us know in the comments!
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