Mark Pope hints at 'one or two' big nonconference scheduling additions for Kentucky

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope does not plan on riding with training wheels during his first year at the program. During an appearance on “College Hoops Today with Jon Rothstein,” Pope teased a couple of massive non-conference matchups in his debut campaign.

“We’re working on one or two that we hope we’ll get at,” Pope said. “It’s Kentucky. The schedule is unbelievable. So, it’s going to be really fun.”

Kentucky already has numerous strong non-conference opponents scheduled in the 2024-25 season. The ‘Cats will face off against Duke in the Champions Classic, Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic and Gonzaga.

Additionally, Pope and Co. will square off against Lousiville in the two programs’ annual rivalry game. Kentucky will also play in the SEC/ACC Challenge but does not know its opponent yet. When Rothstein attempted to inquire further about the potential non-conference games, Pope shut him down.

“Jon, I’ve been the head coach at the University of Kentucky for almost four weeks. I would like to make it to Week 5. Please don’t make me say something I’m not supposed to say,” Pope said.

Kentucky with a potential face off against Rick Pitino?

Despite Pope’s refusal to expand on other non-conference foes, there are certainly signs one of them could be St. John’s. Pope has been outspoken about his hopes to face off against his former head coach Rick Pitino, who is now the St. John’s head coach.

“I’m dying to try and beat Coach, man,” Pope said. “It’s gonna happen. We’ve just got to work through all those little pieces that get complicated. I just think so much about the basketball world would be right with Coach having at least one more chance to walk back into this building and let Big Blue Nation show how grateful they are for him and how much they love him.”

Pitino was the head coach at Kentucky from 1989-97 and led the ‘Cats to the 1996 national title. Pope was a team captain that year and is ready to show Pitino what he’s learned since then. No matter who Kentucky faces next season, Mark Pope is happy to be along for the ride.

“If you’re a little bit of an adrenaline junkie and you love this game and college basketball coaching, then it’s heaven,” Pope said. “You’re gonna hear this from me until you just get sick of it, but this is basketball heaven. It just is.

“It’s almost unthinkable to think that you get an opportunity to come here to the University of Kentucky and take a swing at it. It’s exhausting and draining and exhilarating and overwhelming and the list is endless. And, it’s also like family and home.”