After Kentucky’s stunning upset over Duke, one name is reverberating through the basketball world: Mark Pope. The Wildcats’ new head coach has taken college hoops by storm, and with just three games under his belt this season, he’s already rewritten expectations with a victory over the sixth-ranked Blue Devils in the State Farm Champions Classic. Many doubted that anyone could succeed John Calipari at a storied program like Kentucky, much less spark a rapid rise in the rankings in the very first month, but Pope has done just that.
Mark Pope can coach pretty damn well.
The Wildcats got a good one.
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) November 13, 2024
When Pope took the reins, Kentucky’s roster was bare—zero scholarship players remained. Yet in less than a year, he’s assembled a cohesive, motivated team that has already claimed a top-10 victory. Pope’s transformative impact is undeniable, and his meteoric rise to national attention is the talk of social media and beyond. Search “Mark Pope” on X, and you’ll see fans from across the nation, not just Big Blue Nation, marveling at his achievement.
FINAL: Kentucky 77, Duke 72
What a great win/moment for Mark Pope. Couldn't be happier for him and those fans.
They deserve this.
Obviously, Cooper Flagg is terrific. But he turned it over twice late and gave up the offensive rebound that sealed it. Rough final 15 seconds.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) November 13, 2024
The breakout star at the Champions Classic?
Mark Pope.
Took a Kentucky team that didn't return a single player from last season and beat Duke on a neutral floor.
The Cats' offense is beyond aesthetically pleasing. https://t.co/ROZ7lrti5I
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 13, 2024
How ‘bout dem Wildcats?!? #PopeIsHope #BBN #WeAreUK
— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) November 13, 2024
However, Pope is quick to redirect the spotlight onto his players and Kentucky’s fan base. “This is actually not about me at all,” he remarked in his post-game comments. “It’s about these boys, it’s about BBN … that’s what makes it special.”
But in truth, Pope’s remarkable journey is a testament to his coaching prowess. Not only did he rebuild a roster from scratch, but he also taught his players to come together and compete at a high level with remarkable speed. His tactical adjustments in Tuesday’s game against Duke demonstrated his skill even further. Despite trailing by nine points at halftime and facing a Duke team that seemed poised to run away with the game, Pope’s halftime adjustments turned the tide. Kentucky came out aggressive, forcing Duke into mistakes and steadily gaining control of the game. By the final minutes, Duke was outmatched, running out of steam as Kentucky surged.
This is the power of great coaching, and it’s clear that Mark Pope is making an unforgettable mark on Kentucky basketball and the college basketball landscape as a whole.
Are you saying we made a halftime adjustment…..? 🤔 https://t.co/5tixTdMHeL
— Landon (@LandonTackett3) November 13, 2024
