Mark Pope loves John Calipari, but understands his job is to beat Arkansas: "There will be so much emotion in the gym."

Where does Mark Pope stand on the boo vs. cheer debate currently tearing Big Blue Nation apart as Kentucky prepares for John Calipari‘s return to Rupp Arena? He understands both sides and the wide range of emotions that come with a homecoming of this magnitude. On one end, Calipari became a Hall of Fame coach in Lexington while leading the Wildcats to four Final Fours and a national championship. On the other, he’s now the head coach of a conference rival desperately looking to return to Fayetteville with a win.

His accolades are undoubtedly worth celebrating, but the current situation is not. That is why Pope is staying on the fence as fans decide to do what they feel is best when Kentucky tips off against Arkansas late Saturday evening.

Personally, he loves John Calipari, someone who has been very good to him over the years with the two maintaining a solid relationship even after the coaching carousel spun out of control last offseason.

“Hey, listen, we have been blessed at the University of Kentucky to have some of the greatest coaches to ever coach the game of basketball. Certainly, Cal is one of those,” Pope said Wednesday. “He’s a Hall of Fame coach in his 15-year tenure. What he accomplished at the University of Kentucky was incredible. He, in some ways, he revolutionized the game of college basketball.

“He’s left a legacy that probably won’t be ever reproduced in the same way that he did it. As a member of BBN and a huge fan of Kentucky basketball, my whole heart is here. I love Cal, I love Cal for what he did for Kentucky basketball, and on a very personal level, he’s been — to Lee Anne and I so good as a mentor and a friend.”

Pope understands, however, his job is to win every game with BBN specifically circling this game on the calendar the minute it was announced. Only one side can come away victorious and the Kentucky head coach is doing whatever it takes to ensure it’s the guys in blue and white.

“It’s a little bit of a complicated relationship right now because he’s coaching the other team, so that always makes it complicated,” he continued. “But I know that — I know BBN, man. I just know our fan base. I know there will be so much emotion because we care so much, there will be so much emotion in the gym on Saturday.”

No matter what happens Saturday, Pope knows there will be a day Coach Cal will return to Lexington and have his jersey displayed in the rafters of Rupp Arena. An ovation will come and it will be well-deserved.

The current head coach will be right there cheering for the former when that day arrives.

“As time goes on and circumstances change, there’s gonna be a time when Cal walks back into this arena and he is gonna feel all of the love that BBN possibly has to offer, because that’s what we do with our family,” Pope said. “We’ll see Saturday. Saturday is gonna be — it’s also a competition, right? It’s just going to be what it is, but I have a ton of love for Cal and I’m grateful for what he did here at Kentucky. I’m grateful that I get to be here and enjoy some of the fruits of his incredible labors here.

“I was super appreciative of him and I know everybody in BBN feels the same way — even though I also know everybody in BBN wants to win this game on Saturday.”