La Familia's win over The Ville continues Kentucky Basketball's feel-good summer

On March 21, roughly four months ago, Kentucky Basketball was at a low. The Cats had just lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, cutting what fans believed could have been a special postseason run short. John Calipari’s future in Lexington hung in the balance, leaving a weary fanbase in the worst kind of limbo.

Fast forward to last night, July 30, when former Kentucky Basketball greats threw Ls Down all over Freedom Hall as they defeated Louisville’s alumni team to advance to the semifinals of The Basketball Tournament. The current Cats cheered them on from a nearby suite, quickly learning the rituals of one of college basketball’s biggest — and recently, most lopsided — rivalries. It was the latest feel-good moment in what has been a summer of healing for the Big Blue Nation, a respite from years of division, and a reminder that just because there’s been a changing of the guard at the top, the Kentucky Basketball program endures.

We’ve unpacked the week in which John Calipari left Kentucky for Arkansas and Mark Pope was named his successor plenty already, and probably will be for years to come. It was that intense. When Mitch Barnhart came on KSR the morning the hire went public, he said Pope was the perfect person to bring the fanbase back together after the tense final years of the Calipari Era.

“This is our time to not bicker. We’ve been bickering for a while about what we should do, not do. It’s time to say, this is our guy. He’s one of ours. And it is time to roll in, get behind this guy, and let’s go win something together, and let’s make sure that we have a heartbeat of what’s on the front of that jersey the right way.”

The winning part remains to be seen, but so far, Pope has nailed the rest of the assignment. His introductory press conference was one for the ages, a unique blend of nostalgia for Kentucky’s dynasty in the 1990s and excitement for a fresh start. Since then, Pope has hit all the right notes, quickly assembling an impressive staff and roster. Boosters are all in, giving him the resources the program needs to remain elite. He’s yet to land his first 2025 or 2026 commit, but there’s positive buzz there too, especially regarding the state’s top two players, Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno.

The mood around the program is also different. The Joe Craft Center is not part of the renovations to Memorial Coliseum, but it might seem like it when you hear how much things have changed. Every coach has a unique style. Pope manages to be both boundlessly energetic and calm. Excited, but patient. Above all, approachable and eager to bring others — whether it be players, staff, fans, or even media — along with him.

Connecting with fans and building excitement through press conferences and social media is easy. Time will tell when it comes to the play on the floor and recruiting. However, one of the more complicated unknowns of the Pope era thus far has been how the players from the last 15 years would handle the end of the Cal era. When Calipari first left for Arkansas, some of his former players immediately reaffirmed their loyalty to him, as though they had to choose either coach or school. That attitude softened as the months passed, starting with John Wall embracing Pope at a recruiting event and inviting him on his podcast. Having the first superstar of the Cal era reach out to Pope was huge but there’s been no bigger olive branch than what’s happened with The Basketball Tournament this summer.

Kentucky’s alumni team was formed in February under the name “La Familia,” the nickname for the Calipari brotherhood. The fact that Calipari was no longer Kentucky’s coach when La Familia was still announcing his former players as members was a little awkward. Looking back, it was a blessing in disguise.

Seeing is Believing

When Calipari’s former players arrived on campus to begin training for TBT, Pope welcomed them with open arms. La Familia and the current Kentucky team held joint practices, with both sides doling out praise to one another and Pope. Kentucky smartly paired former and current players in a video series so they could talk about their experiences. The new Cats attended each La Familia game at Rupp Arena and had a suite last night at Freedom Hall. Otega Oweh threw Ls Down on Instagram when La Familia left the court following the win and spit-fueled fight.

That’s exactly what the former Cats wanted. In the postgame press conference, Willie Cauley-Stein and Nate Sestina told reporters it was important to show the new guys — most of whom had no clue they’d be wearing Kentucky blue six months ago — what the rivalry is and what it means. Consider it their gift to the new generation.

“This game right here that we just played was the reason why I decided to come play,” Cauley-Stein said.

“It is red versus blue, but really, it’s a Kentucky state,” Sestina said shortly after being spit on by former Louisville forward Chinanu Onuaku. “It’s UK. It’s one of those things that Coach Pope has done a good job of, bringing them here, they can see what it means. It’s a Monday night at 9 p.m. and there are 13,000 people here. Like, this is unbelievable.”

It worked. As a Kentucky kid, freshman Trent Noah knew all about the rivalry growing up and he was excited to see his new teammates experience it for the first time.

“I definitely think that they were in shock a little bit,” Noah said of his teammates’ reactions to La Familia’s win. “That’s just what Kentucky basketball is.”

“It was crazy,” Former BYU star Jaxson Robinson said. “Makes me excited to play any game, to be honest with you.“

“Just to be around that kind of environment and see how hectic and passionate our fans are in that rivalry — and we’re competitors, we want to be a part of that,” Koby Brea said.

Rekindled love with BBN

This summer has been equally important when it comes to the former players’ relationship with the program. Calipari’s departure aside, a lot of them haven’t been around the program much since leaving Lexington, especially since their careers moved overseas. Playing in front of Kentucky fans in Rupp Arena again has rekindled their love for BBN, just one reason La Familia plans to run it back next summer.

“Honestly, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” Andrew Harrison said on Sunday. “I haven’t been here in eight years. You come back here and you get a lot of love. Just memories. I’m just happy being here. You realize how much fun you had when you were here. You don’t really appreciate it when you’re here and you come back and really get a chance to appreciate it.”

“It’s love,” James Young, who hit the Elam Ender vs. Herd That, said. “It feels so amazing, I haven’t felt this way in a minute. Having my guys come and pick me up, bringing us together, I can’t explain this feeling, for real. It’s always a blessing to come back here and feel the love from everybody. This is a great atmosphere to be around. Everybody is having a good time together, I’m having a good time.”

La Familia’s run continues vs. Carmen’s Crew in the TBT semifinals on Friday night (9 p.m., FS1). The former Cats are now the betting favorite to win the tournament and its grand prize of $1 million, but even if their final win was last night at Freedom Hall, they’ve given the program and fans something even better: more bragging rights over Louisville and the reassurance that once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.