As Mark Pope prepares for his second season at the helm of Kentucky basketball, he’s taking a candid look back at year one — a campaign that brought both historic highs and frustrating near-misses. Despite guiding the Wildcats to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019 and tying an all-time record for most top-15 wins in a single season, Pope isn’t content. In his own words, the team “failed at our job” by not hanging a championship banner.
Pope recently spoke with Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR), outlining both the successes and the shortcomings of his debut season. One of the more surprising self-critiques he offered? Kentucky’s reluctance to fully embrace the 3-point shot. Entering the season with a goal of 30-35 attempts per game, the Wildcats ended up averaging only 25, despite being a top-30 team in 3-point efficiency.
“It was poor coaching,” Pope said with a mix of humor and seriousness, noting how those five extra attempts per game could’ve elevated the team to a different level. Injuries, roster construction, and the newness of the staff and system also played a role, but Pope accepted his share of the blame.
Still, Pope isn’t dwelling on the negative. Instead, he sees the experience as a springboard. “We have so much room to grow… We left so much on the table,” he said. The offseason focus is on fixing those missed opportunities and building even greater team chemistry — a trait he credits with holding the team together through adversity.
Pope also emphasized the importance of selflessness in a program like Kentucky’s, where NBA dreams are standard. He cited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as an example — someone who balanced personal development with team success to become the school’s first NBA MVP candidate.
Looking ahead, Pope is confident in the adjustments his staff has made and believes year two will reflect the lessons learned. “We think we have some answers for when things go wrong,” he said. “You learn, you grow, you get better — that’s what we’re going to do.”
As the Wildcats prepare for another run, Pope is focused not just on fixing Xs and Os, but on building a culture that blends ambition with unity. With that foundation, Kentucky hopes to move from Sweet 16 success to national championship contention.
