Mark Pope is preparing for his first postseason as Kentucky’s head coach, and he believes his time playing for Rick Pitino in the 1990s has helped him get ready for this moment. Despite his success in the regular season, Pope has yet to secure an NCAA Tournament win as a head coach. In nine seasons at Utah Valley and BYU, he earned two tournament bids (2021, 2024), but his teams suffered early exits. In conference tournaments, he holds a modest 8-9 record across three different leagues.
When Pope was named Kentucky’s head coach, one of the biggest concerns was whether he could win when it mattered most. The regular season success was evident—Kentucky tied the all-time record for most top-15 wins in a season with eight—but now, the pressure shifts to postseason play.
Looking back at his playing days, Pope remembers the pressure Pitino faced leading up to Kentucky’s 1996 national championship. Pitino had been at Kentucky for several years and had already led the team to a Final Four, but fans were getting impatient for a title. That season, Kentucky was ranked No. 1 or No. 2 all year, and the expectation was clear: win it all.
Kentucky defeated UMass in the Final Four, setting up a championship game against Syracuse. Pope vividly recalls the moment leading up to that game, expecting Pitino to deliver an intense, emotional speech. Instead, Pitino took a calm approach.
“We’re sitting there eating breakfast, and all of a sudden Coach just leans back. He’s like, ‘Oh, we put in the film,’” Pope recalled. That was it—no fiery speech, no dramatic moment. The preparation had already been done. Pitino’s philosophy was simple: treat every game like it’s the biggest game. That mindset allowed Kentucky to stay composed under pressure and ultimately win the championship.
Pope hopes to instill that same approach in his Kentucky team. He wants his players to treat every game—whether it’s a non-conference matchup or an SEC Tournament battle—as equally important. By normalizing high-pressure moments, they can approach win-or-go-home situations with confidence.
As Kentucky enters the postseason, Pope believes his team is ready. The lessons he learned from Pitino still resonate, and he hopes they will help him guide the Wildcats to success when it matters most.
