Mark Pope’s history with Mississippi State is defined more by defeats than triumphs. Despite Kentucky’s impressive 18-game regular-season winning streak over the Bulldogs, Pope himself has a losing record against Mississippi State, both as a player and a coach. During his playing days at Kentucky, Pope went 1-2 against the Bulldogs, and as a coach, he’s 1-3 when facing Mississippi State’s Chris Jans—his former rival in the Western Athletic Conference.
Pope’s lone win over Mississippi State came in a standout game in Starkville on January 9, 1996, when Kentucky triumphed 74-56 over the No. 12-ranked Bulldogs. While Pope contributed with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and a block, he has struggled to recall many details of that game. However, he does remember the intensity of the match, the electric atmosphere in Humphrey Coliseum, and the fierce competition from players like Erick Dampier and Dontae Jones.
That victory, however, was followed by a painful loss in the SEC Tournament finals, where Mississippi State upset Kentucky 84-73, thanks to an explosive performance by Jones, who scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Pope reflects on the game with a mix of regret and appreciation for the unpredictability of college basketball. “He lost his mind, him and everybody else on the team,” Pope recalled, underscoring the lesson in resilience that such a loss brought.
As Kentucky faces off against Mississippi State again this weekend, Pope is hoping his team can learn from the losses they’ve encountered this season—most notably the recent defeat to Georgia. He believes that these challenging moments are crucial for growth, and that the Wildcats can turn these setbacks into motivation for a successful postseason run. Pope is confident that his team’s resilience and resolve will carry them through, with the upcoming game serving as a major test. “Let’s go roll it out and see what we can do,” Pope said, emphasizing his belief in his team’s ability to rise above adversity.
