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We've got a pair of birthdays to celebrate on this Wednesday.   New Kentucky men's basketball head coach Mark Pope was born on this day -- September

Photo of Mark Pope (left) via Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio | Photo of Alvin Brooks III via Chet White, UK Athletics

KSR Basketball

Happy Birthday to Mark Pope and Alvin Brooks!

Remember when Jasper Johnson said he was "KY 'til I die" shortly after announcing his commitment to Kentucky? Mark Pope sure does...  During SEC

Mark Pope (left) and Marty McGee screenshot via SEC Nation

Mark Pope rocks a "KY 'Til I Die" shirt on SEC Nation set

New Kentucky head coach Mark Pope is making a significant push for one of the nation's top recruits.   Over the last couple of months, Pope and his

Caleb Wilson by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --

KSR Basketball Recruiting

Mark Pope and 3 Kentucky assistants visited 5-star Caleb Wilson this morning

Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey have been chummy with one another ever since taking over as coaches of the most bitter rivalry in college sports this

Louisville basketball coach Pat Kelsey, right, talks with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope at the 2024 Leadership Louisville Luncheon at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.  (© Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal & USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Louisville basketball coach Pat Kelsey, right, talks with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope at the 2024 Leadership Louisville Luncheon at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.

(© Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal & USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Pat Kelsey compares Kentucky roster to Noah's Ark: "He's got two of everything"

Let's just be honest and call it like it is: the Kentucky vs. Louisville basketball rivalry has stunk in recent years. The Cats lead the series 12-3

Photos:
(Pat Kelsey - Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK) 

(Mark Pope - Clare Grant/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey

Coaches believe Mark Pope will be more successful than Pat Kelsey in the next five years

Reed Sheppard is the blueprint for what happens when things go right as an in-state hooper deciding to stay home and play for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Mark Pope talks to Jeff Sheppard at his introductory press conference - Aaron Perkins, Kentucky Sports Radio

Jeff Sheppard pitches in-state talent on staying home to play at Kentucky

ESPN analyst and College GameDay co-host Seth Greenberg has been one of John Calipari's closest friends for nearly five decades. Not that Coach Cal

College Gameday, Rece Davis, LaPhonso Ellis, Seth Greenberg

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ESPN's Seth Greenberg calls Mark Pope 'perfect fit' for Kentucky

The Kentucky men’s basketball team is back on campus with the beginning of the fall semester beginning this week. Before classes start,

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Mark Pope, Kentucky basketball complete community outreach by helping build houses

What To Expect With Mark Pope's offense

Mark Pope has yet to coach a single game at Kentucky, but he knows exactly what the school's rivalry against Louisville means.   Pope brought his

Photo of Mark Pope by Chet White | UK Athletics

Mark Pope threw L's down in Hazard during team bonding retreat

Like Mark Pope, Goose Givens knows what it takes to win a national championship at Kentucky. The former NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player

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Goose Givens shares expectations entering Mark Pope's debut season at Kentucky

The Crafts are known as major donors around the bluegrass, including for the University of Kentucky. They've shown that generosity again earlier this

Joe and Kelly Craft

Joe, Kelly Craft pay $10.5 million for auction ham with Mark Pope, Oscar Tshiebwe, Vince Marrow watching on

How Good can Kentucky Be? Nick Roush and Andy Staples discuss | 07.19.24

The Mark Pope Era at Kentucky is set to begin this fall. The schedule is out and some big games await.   Kentucky has games on the docket with

KSR+ Basketball

The 5 Most Important Games of Mark Pope's First Season at Kentucky

Remember that night when the world flipped upside down, reports of Mitch Barnhart zeroing in on BYU's Mark Pope to replace Hall of Fame coach John

Mark Pope eats ice cream outside the Joe Craft Center

Mark Pope named third-best high-major coaching hire of 2024

It feels like the Wildcats just started the move-in process yesterday, all 12 newcomers arriving with their suitcases, golf clubs and PS5s ahead of

Mark Pope speaks at Kentucky Basketball's Club Blue NIL event - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

4-Point Play: What we learned about Kentucky during summer practice

College coaches do not view Kentucky as a top contender entering Mark Pope's debut season in Lexington, adding fuel to the fire for the Wildcats

Mark Pope speaks to his players during a practice - Photo by Tyler Ruth | UK Athletics

Coaches don't view Kentucky among top college basketball teams entering 2024-25

We're in for a late Tuesday night inside Rupp Arena, but that didn't stop the stars from showing up.   During La Familia's third-round matchup in The

Photos of Mark Pope (left) and Jasper Johnson by Daniel Hager | Kentucky Sports Radio

Mark Pope, Jasper Johnson among attendees for La Familia vs. Herd That in Rupp Arena

Mark Pope is going to Rupp Arena tonight. Are you?  The new head coach of Kentucky men's basketball has called on the Big Blue Nation to show up and

Photo of Mark Pope and La Familia via X/Twitter: @CoachMarkPope

Mark Pope wants the BBN to join him in Rupp Arena for tonight's TBT game

In previous years, one of Kentucky's biggest problems was running a "modern" offense that could be competitive against the teams that can match your

From what little we've seen, ball movement will be a big part of Kentucky's offense under Mark Pope

The bridging of two eras is currently underway in Lexington. With La Familia -- Kentucky's alumni team for this week's The Basketball Tournament --

Mark Pope's Summer Press Conference (Photo by KSR)

'I have hope in Pope.' La Familia players excited for Mark Pope era at Kentucky

Now that the Kentucky basketball roster has taken shape off the court, the pieces are really starting to fit together on the court, according to head

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Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

Mark Pope on initial impressions of Kentucky players: 'There have been very few surprises'

It doesn't take much time being around him to realize Mark Pope is -- well, different. He's goofy and passionate, but clean and calculated. Again,

Mark Pope, Ansley Almonor talk at Kentucky men's basketball practice

Mark Pope 'pumps a lot of confidence' into players: "He lifts us up"

On Friday, former Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith stopped in at Rupp Arena to watch a Wildcats practice. The former AP College Coach of the Year

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Tubby Smith: Kentucky basketball is 'bigger than anyone' who played, coached there

Mark Pope knows the importance of the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry because he lived it, playing in it twice and watching from the bench a third time

Pat Kelsey says it's impossible to hate Mark Pope: "He's a really good dude"

Mark Pope feels good in Kentucky Blue. After the Wildcats' sixth practice under the first-year UK head coach, Pope revealed how recruiting differs at

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Mark Pope: 'I'm a way handsomer guy with UK on my chest'

Mark Pope On Kentucky's First 6 Practices

Amid his renewed battle with cancer, legendary college basketball announcer and former head coach Dick Vitale has seen a massive outpouring of love

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