Mark Pope feels obligated to former Kentucky players, coaches -- including John Calipari -- to succeed

Mark Pope has made it clear he understands the assignment of being Kentucky’s coach, to the point that he feels year one was a failure because the Cats didn’t win the national championship. As fans, those quotes are always nice to hear; however, the more we hear from Pope, the more we realize they’re not lip service.

During his interview on Kentucky Sports Radio, Pope said he feels obligated not only to fans to win it all, but also to his fellow former players and coaches. While talking about a meeting he had with Karl-Anthony Towns in New York on Tuesday, he slid in this remark about Towns’ coach and his predecessor, John Calipari.

“I was just with Karl-Anthony Towns yesterday in New York, and that’s what he expects out of this joint. That’s what all our former players, former coaches [expect]. You know what? That’s what Cal expects. I mean, Cal is down there at Arkansas, he’s like, ‘Don’t you ruin my program. Man, that’s the best program in all of basketball.'”

Whether that was a real conversation the two had or just Pope projecting his thoughts on Cal, we’ll never know (I have a feeling it’s the latter, but the former is certainly more fun). Calipari has spoken highly of Kentucky and his experiences in Lexington since leaving for Arkansas last year, even ahead of his charged return to Rupp Arena. The fact that he still holds a special place in his heart for Kentucky is proof of the impact the program has on its former coaches and players. That’s just one reason why Pope was sad to see Travis Perry transfer to Ole Miss.

“Here’s the thing, just like we’re talking about with TP, right? I am 30 years down the road, and I know what it feels like to walk back into Rupp Arena with your family and to let your children see this place that changed the trajectory of your life forever. And it means something.”

Pope said that’s something he and Towns discussed on Tuesday. One day before Towns and the New York Knicks started the Eastern Conference Finals, the franchise’s first appearance since 2000, Towns was thinking about his legacy as a Kentucky Wildcat.

“It was actually super — I don’t know if Karl’s gonna get mad at me, but I was with him yesterday, and that’s what he talked about. He’s actually so forward-thinking that he’s already thinking about legacy.

“And so he was talking about one day, when he brings his children back to Kentucky, and that they get to see — because the truth is that we all stop playing, and then the next guys become way cooler to our kids and then you get to walk back into the gym, and you get to see this relationship that our 30 years ago, played in Rupp, played in Kentucky jersey. You still feel and see how people embrace them. And you get to walk in with your children, and they get to feel that, and they get to see you in a light that they never actually saw you they did. And that’s a real thing, and I know that.”

Pope extended it further out, saying that he wants every former player and coach to have those moments in Rupp Arena.

“I mean, I got to play in the league as a bad player for a long time; I know what it’s like, and so I want every single coach, every single one, and every single player that ever played here to feel like this is their building, because they built it like we get to enjoy it right now. I get to be the head coach at Kentucky and join this because of what KAT and what Antoine [Walker] and what Tony [Delk] and what Kyle Macy, and what Joe B. [Hall], what all those guys built. That’s what I get to enjoy right now.”

Mark Pope’s interview on KSR

We’ll be rolling out highlights from Pope’s interview all day (week?) long, but you can listen to or watch it in its entirety below.

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