Mark please ignore our tougher fans who are not on board with you being the new UK coach. If you prove them wrong and start winning games they'll love you in the end. Truly hope you do great things coming back home to KY now as our leader. Without a doubt just from hearing you talk its easy to see you truly love our school, our history and the fans. You seem to have the passion to win and you actually want to be here and that will go such a long way. So ready for next season and am hoping for the best. Go Big Blue 💙💙💙

@Brandon-rq5ni

2 ай бұрын

He not gonna have us great might be like the tubby years. I hope I'm wrong but I had the same feeling about Billy G

@Plumbob_3

2 ай бұрын

He will be great!

@michaeljmobley

2 ай бұрын

I think the more folks hear how much Pope loves our program and is fully on board they will be happy. He just can't lose to mid-majors. haha

@GoatedAtNFS

2 ай бұрын

me personally his resume does not show his worthiness to be a coach of a storied program. I think this was a crapshoot by Mitch Barnhardt and if this goes south, he should be gone before Pope. Pope is in one of the worst situations possible where the fanbase is hungry for something to happen because we’re coming off an Oakland Michigan loss. All of college basketball is laughing at us right now calling it the next Georgetown or Indiana hopefully he proves me & everyone else wrong.

@michaeljmobley

2 ай бұрын

@@GoatedAtNFS Well let's just be frank about it. Pope was not our first choice. I'd say he was probably our 4th or 5th choice. Mitch probably called around to the top top guys like Hurley, Drew, Wright and they didn't want to come here. Pope loves UK, and knows our fans and I think he will relate to us. He is a fine coach. Young and not a superstar but he's getting a 5 year contract so it won't be like putting the program under if it doesn't work out. Paying a coach 10 million and then asking for all this NIL money to be handed out also hamstrings us. The game has changed. I say let's see what he can do.

Welcome back to BBN Coach Pope!! Won us a title in 96, now take us to a national title as a coach!

@huenelius4936

2 ай бұрын

He will

@nigeladams9609

2 ай бұрын

@@huenelius4936how he couldnt at BYU so what makes you think he gonna get right at UK Coach Cal will make another final four before Uk makes it to another elite 8

@parkervicich4331

2 ай бұрын

@@nigeladams9609 you’re comparing BYU’s budget, training, recruitment and status to UK. Cal had an amazing run with UK but as most stories go he began to fall off towards the end of his time there. Pope will have atleast 5x more reach to better players and resources at UK. He will do great things there for the program, just a different type of coach from Cal

@Plumbob_3

2 ай бұрын

BYU is quite different than UKs $$$, elite facilities, exposure, history, and fan engagement / enragement😂

@chuckroutionGB2022

2 ай бұрын

​@@parkervicich4331you must be smoking crack cal wants to give Barnhart a lesson cal makes a final 4 before KY makes a elite 8

I've been a life long UL fan...lived 15 miles outside of Louisville my entire life. Although I'm excited for coach Kesley, but I think Mark is the man for the job. I honestly think he will end up being a superb coach and public figure.

@ebhsports6251

2 ай бұрын

I think Pope is the best man for the job.

I was a punk ass 19 year old Kentucky fanboy in 1996. Mark Pope is my boy and gave me a hilarious memory. At 1995 Midnight madness the players had to cross the street from the Wildcat lodge to enter Memorial. Every other player had their headphones on doing their cocky too cool for school athlete strut and were giving polite high fives and enjoying themselves but nothing crazy. Pope on the other hand, comes flying out screaming, sprinting, hyping up the crowd, high fiving everyone, chest bumping, and he grabbed me under the arm pits and lifted me up like a ragdoll shaking me as hard as possible while screaming and having the time of his life! I was probably 6'3' 170 at the time..... not heavy by any means but that dude was incredibly strong. Congrats big guy! Show these non-believer millenial wildcat simps who think Kentucky basketball was incorportated in 2009 what's up!!!!!

@hdnw7537

2 ай бұрын

I was 9 at the time. Wish fans were still that way. Happy for pope

@tystarnes

2 ай бұрын

This is facts. Fan base, Cal, Mitch fought enough. Time for a change just hope we patient pressure can break or make diamonds in the rough.

@hdnw7537

2 ай бұрын

@@tystarnes I will admit I wasn't overly enthused with the hire. I wanted Chris Beard. But I do think it's solid nonetheless and hopefully fans will join me in eating some humble pie and supporting him. We can either choose to be supportive or miserable. I choose the former

Welcome home, Coach! It’s your turn to carry on the tradition of success you helped build as a player! I’m behind you 100%. Go Big Blue!

Welcome home Coach. We are so excited and ready for some Kentucky Basketball. It has been a long time since we experienced it. Go Cats and the best to one of our all time favorites players to wear the Big Blue. This is going to be fun.

Now we have a new Coach P in Lexington! Welcome home, coach!

“O.B….” Top Pitino assistant/Associate Coach Jim O’Brien. I love that story!!!

We love you mark let’s go!!

Welcome back and ignore anyone that says you shouldn’t be the coach! You got this!

@Brandon-rq5ni

2 ай бұрын

Lol I hope he does but I doubt it RIP Kentucky Basketball

@jcritter9295

2 ай бұрын

@@Brandon-rq5ni awe, damn man. Lol. Just stop and think about it. Think of all the times calipari missed on recruits. Ask yourself why is that. Well, it’s money. That will not be a problem. He will get guys. It’ll be ok. At least now, now we can have a guy that will coach. Actually coach. Not just flipping recruit and talk

@avalanche3084

2 ай бұрын

@@Brandon-rq5ni Loser mentality. Takes one to know I guess

@Casn521

2 ай бұрын

Yes ignore all those rational critical thinkers.. he isnt qualified for the job. Be may work but he isn't. Neither was Tubby. Failure. Neither was gillispie..failure. Pitino was. Legend. Cal was. Legend.

@avalanche3084

2 ай бұрын

@@Casn521 Lesrn English P-O-S

All I learned was He loves my team. I hope he does great things for my team. Respect Coach Cal and Thank him for what he did for my boys at UK. I get it why he left. Hope his love translates to success

Les go win Marky mark 🎉

Mark got a little swag

Mark pope extremely intelligent great at coaching ,if he gets the recruits uk will be hard to handle, a bonus popes teams shoot alot of 3s

@GeckoPixel

2 ай бұрын

Is that a bonus? More importantly, hows his defense? Does his players keep their eyes up, back to the baseline, and fill the gaps properly? If they do it will be an improvement over Cal.

@derekmiles9069

2 ай бұрын

@@GeckoPixel this season byu was 40 out of 362 Kentucky was 241

“I love it in my soul”. I’m in, all the way

Just watching that I like the guy and I’m a 1000% Duke fan.

You know even the most proven, they come with a gamble. With Pope, I feel this gamble is easy to define and mitigate. He is a man of high character who will conduct himself properly, and he is super smart! Great experience as a player, one who made the absolute most of what he had to work with. His risks can be mitigated if he is given a big assistant coaching budget, and Mitch makes sure he has great Athletic Department support and a monster NIL budget. Both the UK and the big boosters would all have to be 100% determined to optimally support him. Pope will come much cheaper and that should free up a lot of money to support him in these other critical areas. Don't forget, the UK did not have to pay a big buyout. I am confident that Mitch and Boosters are well aware of all of this! If it is Pope, I'm 100% behind him!!!

@huenelius4936

2 ай бұрын

Amen!

@clintonray1032

2 ай бұрын

Yes!

@nigeladams9609

2 ай бұрын

Pope resume is not sniffing Coach Cal Resume though

@steves.2867

2 ай бұрын

​@nigeladams9609 someone still has a woody for CCC i see..😂

Pope is another one of those solid role players who ascend to great coach status. Now he has the time and resources at his disposal. Watch out! Good on Coach Pope! Go Cats

Welcome home, Coach! Let's get it!!!!

Great hire bring back the big blue tradition

I'll bet Coach Pope gets us to sweet 16 real soon, which is much better than Calipari the past years. I'm all for a former player taking over. Go Big Blue!

@babystone6606

2 ай бұрын

Don’t count on it it’s goin to take like four years for him to build a team in the sec jus for them to have a shot for what one year lol 😅

Welcome home coach..now...Lets GOOOOOOO!!!!

In the 80's Eddie Sutton came to Kentucky from Arkansas which was a disaster. Now Cal left Kentucky for Arkansas who became a disaster in recent years. Ironic. Go Pope!

That’s our coach right there 👍

Welcome home coach! Can’t wait til you hanging some banners

@babystone6606

2 ай бұрын

Well hopefully you’re young because it won’t happen anytime Soon lol

Pope will succeed quickly, I think he will win National Championship within 5 years. Mitch hit a Grand Slam with this hire.

I trust you Mark. Welcome home sir. You've got the keys now. Call Rick and tell him you'll take that check 🤑

I’m all in on Mark Pope. He’ll have BIG BLUE NATION back on top

He has an inbounds play!!!

@duhhherrooo

2 ай бұрын

ikr!! Something that drives me nuts under Cal - game after game - season after season. I love this hire in coach Pope - and more importantly I'm very optimistic that he'll surprise many for the best! We have seen many outsiders making fun of us with this whole coach hiring carousel we've just been through, but I feel it deep in my heart that we'll win and keep winning, not to prove the naysayers wrong, because we ain't petty, but rather we're better than that because we always have our sight on winning - and winning bigly - championships! I'm 💯 on board. I wish he gets Rondo + Boogie, Ulis on board. That would be epic! LFG #BBN

Welcome home coach

I love Pope and I'll support him 100% but I think Barnhart has set him up for failure. Our fans will eat him alive!!! Good luck Mark. #BBN

@magic3383

2 ай бұрын

Comments like this are the problem. Delete this.

@justinmoran6097

2 ай бұрын

They already are. I will honestly be shocked if he signs that contract after tonight. Our fans are literally protesting this like just violated somebody’s civil rights. I’m not to happy myself with the hire but I’m not crying like a baby. I’m a Kentucky basketball. This is my home. I love my team. I will support my team. I will support pope if he is the guy but the majority of bbn disapprove and will go to extreme measures to show Mitch just how much they disapprove. I’m expecting something crazy to stem from this in the next 12ish hours. They talking about burning a couch on state street tomorrow in hopes of NOT HIRING HIM. It’s getting nuts.

@honda2246

2 ай бұрын

@@magic3383 scum kentucky fans are the problem bud why do think cal was ran out of kentucky

@bobbyosborne2375

2 ай бұрын

I feel sorry for mark. He doesn't deserve this. He's heading for a meat grinder. There were a LOT more proven coaches who could've taken over the program. Hell, give Rick a call and see what Mark does over the next 4 years. Let Rick retire out at UK and pick Mark up after the fact if he's proven by then.

@clintonray1032

2 ай бұрын

@justinmoran6097 Allot of our fans are idiots. If he can recruit well here, he'll do fine. I've always loved Pope. The guy bleeds blue like the rest of us and he runs an exciting offense that's fun to watch. #TeamPope #BBN

Welcome home Coach Pope.

There is hope with Pope!

Everytime I hear this guy talk I like him more. He bleeds blue.

oh man

Coach Pope The Hope ,will win at KY. Cats Cats Cats...🏀🏆

The Irony of watching this 2 weeks later...

He won me over with this interview lol 👏🏼🤞🏼

We haven't had a coach who genuinely loved the program since probably Joe B. It'll be a nice change of pace.

I don't think its the right hire. I hope he proves me wrong. I'll support him.

You think he liked his time at KY ?? Come on back Coach !! Lets Go !!

Can’t wait to shoot 3s and guard the occasional pick and roll

@swbeck1814

2 ай бұрын

Yes, it took Cal half a season to figure out pick and roll defense. Don't they pick and roll every other play in the NBA....and that was his ultimate goal...get 'em to the NBA!

hes gonna be a great coach for kentucky his team also shot 53% of there shots from 3 last year hes the change we need.BBN

@chuckroutionGB2022

2 ай бұрын

And never won 1 game in the NCAA tournament

Why? Guess they didn’t wanna keep hearing no

Welcome coach Pope you won us a title as a player win us a title as a coach us real fans got your back

We could have got pitino back for a 5 year redemption Tour and put a good ending on the pitino/ UK story. Barney blew it bigtime!

Who is Mark Pope??

@honda2246

2 ай бұрын

he won a title with kentucky in 96 under pitino with reed shepherds dad and is a great offensive coach thats who he is bud

Well hopefully with the money saved on coaching, we can open up NIL money... surely he isn't making more than 4 mil. Open our NIL money to be the largest in the league. Buy the lack of recruiting.

@indigomarine91

2 ай бұрын

Buying their team.. we are going down the louisville route now. Kentucky will lose SOOOO MANY fans now..

@brandon2107

2 ай бұрын

@@indigomarine91 Everyone buys their team now. Have you been living under a rock?

@indigomarine91

2 ай бұрын

@@brandon2107 uk did dodge 34 million in a buyout AND paying 11 million a year for one of those other coaches.Uk will probably have the highest NIL deals to get those players in.

@Davidmaccc

2 ай бұрын

@@indigomarine91Ky had so many bandwagons since cal! This is a good thing

@BrandonGavin_EDC

2 ай бұрын

5.5 million a year

Did we even talk to Bruce Pearl!?

@bruceyoung4769

2 ай бұрын

Why… ?

@danielcundiff290

2 ай бұрын

Dude Pearl bites the big one

@kellydoyle7833

2 ай бұрын

Bruce Pearl is 64 years old.

Wasnt my first wasnt even in my top 5 oh well is wat it is hopefully hell prove me wrong but i doubt it

I don’t think it’s fair Mark Pope to take this Kentucky job right now. Mitch Barnhart should be ashamed of himself. I hope this work out for Mark Pope but it’s not fair to him.

Fire mitch

Wow, can't hire a coach with a final 4 or championship, so just hire one who played in one. Even as a Big 12 fan I don't think this was direction Kentucky needed to go.

Jesus Christ lord help us

@user-po5uc8te7f

2 ай бұрын

well, he is Mormon. Not sure that's the answer to your prayer though.

He definitely is under qualified to be the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. Wait until Kentucky has a losing season and the fans come for his head. Helping win a NCAA championship back in the day isn’t going to save his job. He won’t been able to handle the pressure.

@kellydoyle7833

2 ай бұрын

What are you suggesting? .....something like 9-16, one NCAA tournament win in five years? He may not have a first 5 years like Cal, but I bet he doesn't have a last 5 years like Cal, either.

@thedavid3737

2 ай бұрын

@@kellydoyle7833 if he goes 9-16 I’ll be very surprised. There’s already recruits backing out of their commitments. No one wants to come play for a coach that has a mediocre record.

Mitch has g2g

Muss would have been better lol

Get on your knees and beg Cal to come back! Beg for mercy!

@Brandon-rq5ni

2 ай бұрын

The hell with cal he was a better recruiter than a coach. Plus it was a b**** move how he left

@bigpapa.B

2 ай бұрын

@@Brandon-rq5ni what do you mean. He was essentially fired...thrown out! He's gonna torture UK next year. Beg for him to come back!

Pope is a good guy and has overachieved at his past jobs big time and this has nothing to do with him at all when I say this but Mitch Barnhart is the main issue at UK he’s a cheapskate and a weasel and him penny pinching in NiL and on basketball facilities is why UK isn’t looked at like it once was .

The fire cal collective are now firing Pope. You’re stuck in the 80’s people. If you haven’t noticed we have been told NO this week more times than we have in program history. They don’t have to be at UK with NIL to get recruits. If that team had played UConn we lose by 30. Marks team was ranked in the 60’s on Ken Pom for defense. They at least practice it obviously. Cal admitted they had not practiced defense until the season started. Rupp isn’t walking thru the door and neither is Pitino.

@user-io4sr7vg1v

2 ай бұрын

UCONN didn't practice defense until the season started either. Their summer/offseason was all offense.

@timcecil4579

2 ай бұрын

@@user-io4sr7vg1v with kids that were there 3 years or 4 years. Big difference

@user-io4sr7vg1v

2 ай бұрын

@@timcecil4579 Seems like goalpost moving. I think their team just choked and the truth is they aren't as good as people say they are. Especially this season with Reed and Dillingham. I would be truly surprised if either of them last 6 years in the NBA.

@timcecil4579

2 ай бұрын

@@user-io4sr7vg1vwe haven’t been Thst good since 2019. One and done wasn’t going to work and he wasn’t going to change at Kentucky.

FIRE MITCH!!!! We are becoming Louisville now!!! Uuugghhh!!!!!!!

@bobbyyoung4243

2 ай бұрын

You been us since the scandal, don't flatter yourself 😂 see you in rupp. GO CARDS

@honda2246

2 ай бұрын

your a joke

@PineappaPres14

2 ай бұрын

@@bobbyyoung4243To be fair Kentucky and Louisville isn’t even a rivalry anymore they own y’all in everything honestly

@bobbyyoung4243

2 ай бұрын

@PineappaPres14 okay keep that same energy 🤣

@bobbyyoung4243

2 ай бұрын

@@PineappaPres14 everything???? 🤣

Kentucky Fans are absolutely. Mad as hell right now This is not a grand slam hire. I would have chosen Tommy Loyd from Arizona

@Byapptonly

2 ай бұрын

He hired?

@scottcollins6361

2 ай бұрын

I agree. Lloyd was my #1. But we are gonna be fine under Pope.

@devildoc4257

2 ай бұрын

Glad your not in charge of hiring.

Stories like this break my heart that Pitino did all this scumbag stuff.

Way to go Kentucky awesome hire NOT hell should of just hired Billy G back. The end of Kentucky basketball as we know it. It's a shame a damn shame

Dude can coach just make sure he can get the recruits or else those crazy bbn fans will run him out of there

Bringing in pitino to cut a 2 minute promo to put Pope over and lend him credibility is crazy. I cringed When pope dropped “Marcus camby” and got NO POP. Wish him the best but the track record for Nostalgia hires is iceberg COLD.

Now I’m Arkansas fan I left from being ky fan

Pope goes the weasel

Horrible hire. Rick Pitino‘s endorsement is so outdated. I’m guessing that Rick Pitino thinks that this guy will be able to red shirt freshman. Whenever you are basically saying that he’s won a national championship at the school and understands what basketball means to WHATEVER state… you didn’t get the guy that you wanted and you missed by a mile. That plus you ran off a great coach/recruiter. Here goes another 20 years of Kentucky not winning shit.

This is terrible. Mark Pope is a terrible hire. I'm done with UK basketball.

@iluvber247

2 ай бұрын

See ya. You were never a fan at all then.

@bigtsshackfestival9563

2 ай бұрын

lol. What an absolute geek. That story was brutal but he could be a great coach. He knows the game much better than Cal.

@nigeladams9609

2 ай бұрын

@@bigtsshackfestival9563cant wait until Coach Cal plays uk next year

@bigtsshackfestival9563

2 ай бұрын

@@nigeladams9609 yea everyone gonna be watching that. I mean right now arky looks like they got the home run I mean X’s and O’s don’t mean he’s gonna even be a great coach by any means. I think the biggest thing for arky is cal getting the right mix of assistants and really coaches with a massive chip on his shoulder , that will make them very dangerous This hope dude has never won a tourney game as a coach. Great players can still be shitty coaches. I’m a Bama fan and am just thrilled beyond belief. Losing Nate O would have been worse than Saban retiring because at least Saban didn’t go some where else and already accomplished his greatest achievements with Bama. I think Nate O has many champs coming where ever he is.

Your wrong we’re not going to do anything but go down

@calvinarmitage9199

7 күн бұрын

Where have we been the last four years?

Are you kidding me you let John caliper go out the door for mark pope I don’t have anything against mark pope he just don’t have the coaching or the Right thing look at BYU what has he done there Mitch Barnyard sound like you need to be fired Now I hope you loose so many ky fans that cried to get rid of caliper and look and watch what’s going to happened fire Mitch

What a terrible hire

Downgrade. Recruiting just got harder