Mark Pope: Offering to pay for fans' gas for NCAA Tournament 'was not the smartest thing I've ever done'

Mark Pope made good on his promise to pay for Kentucky fan’s gas who traveled to Milwaukee to watch the Wildcats’ first game of the NCAA Tournament. The UK head coach hasn’t seen the bill, he revealed, but judging by how well BBN travels it probably wasn’t cheap.

“I’m on purpose not keeping count because I want to reduce my stress level before tournament play,” Pope revealed to KSR’s Tyler Thompson. “Yeah, that was not the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

The kind gesture was confirmed by KSR’s Matt Jones on Wednesday night, who revealed an email sent to him from a fan to a UK spokesperson regarding Pope’s earlier promise. The email noted that the fan must provide proof of ticket, and they would send the money through Venmo. Interestingly, one stiputation was that no one attending the trip could be within “recruiting age,” which is 9th-12th grade.

Kentucky coach Mark Pope on offering to pay for fans' gas money on the way to Milwaukee.

"I'm on purpose not keeping count because I want to reduce my stress level before tournament play. Yeah, that was not the smartest thing I've ever done." pic.twitter.com/rpk2OuPSwX

— Jacob Polacheck (@PolacheckKSR) March 20, 2025

Pope made the promise during his weekly call-in radio show. One fan living in Florida even called in asking if he could throw in a ticket on top of the gas fare. Pope said he’d try and hit the fan back, though he made no promise in that specific instance. He addressed the rest of BBN with the following statement.

“It’s only a seven-hour drive, so if you’re having trouble with gas money, hit me up. Let’s get all of BBN out there,” Pope said. “I’m not gonna tell you how to hit me up, because I’m nervous about how many people are about to hit me up.”

It appears that fans found out how to get into contact with the Ketucky coach, or his program’s spokespeople. They all likely trickled in after that. While it may not have been the best move Pope has made regarding his wallet, “It’s all in the family, baby,” he said during his radio show.

Pope recalled the time he bought the entire crowd ice cream who stayed after a game to listen to his postgame show. That price tag wasn’t cheap, either.

The following week, the voice of UK Athletics Tom Leach asked Pope to set the bill over or under $2,000. Pope didn’t hesitate when taking the over, and it would come as no surprise if this happens to become a similar story the Kentucky head coach in this instance as well.

As Pope stated, he seems happy to pay the flat-rate gas fare for some of the fans travelling up north for what fans are hoping is a successful two games in Milwaukee. It starts on Friday night against Troy, though it starts for fans at the gas pump — on their head coach’s dime.