Mark Pope reveals Rupp Arena ice cream bill total after picking up postgame tab

As famous as Rupp Arena is for basketball — locals will say it’s just as famous for its ice cream.

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope was able to combine both of them for fans who stayed late after Kentucky defeated Georgia State 105-79 on Black Friday by buying those who joined Pope in the lower arena for his postgame radio show.

Black Friday discounts didn’t translate to the dairy aisle, apparently. That round of Taylor Belle’s Ice Cream wasn’t cheap, according to Pope.

During Monday’s Mark Pope Show, the voice of UK Athletics Tom Leach asked Pope to set the bill over or under $2,000.

“Yeah, we’ll go with the over on that one,” Pope joked, via KSR’s Jack Pilgrim. “Guys, I thought Rupp was going to give me a little discount on the ice cream. They did not! But it was worth it. It was worth it.”

Each cone of soft serve costs roughly seven dollars, and many fans have been eager to ask Pope questions during his postgame radio show.

Pope let his generosity get the better of him, but it appears to have been a pre-planned sweet treat for BBN following the blowout win.

“The word on the street is, here in Rupp Arena, we have the best ice cream in the world,” Pope said to the remaining crowd. “So, Mrs. Lee Anne dropped her credit card off at the ice cream stand right up here, so it’s on me tonight. Go help yourselves. Get some ice cream on the way out. Enjoy it, and thank you guys for coming here.”

The next time fans would see their Wildcats in action wouldn’t be so sweet, however. Kentucky was upset 70-66 by Clemson on Tuesday and face a rocky road this weekend in Seattle against Gonzaga.

This presents the real possibility that Kentucky can return to Rupp Arena with two losses on its resume after starting the season 7-0. Upcoming matchups against Louisville and Ohio State will be the final tests for Kentucky before beginning SEC play starting in January.