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

Remember when Jasper Johnson said he was “KY ’til I die” shortly after announcing his commitment to Kentucky? Mark Pope sure does…

During SEC Nation on Saturday morning, Pope joined the set to chat with Marty McGee while rocking a white shirt with the same phrase Johnson said once he made his pledge to the Wildcats. Kentucky’s new head coach isn’t technically allowed to talk about unsigned commits, but it doesn’t say anything about wearing a shirt of something that same unsigned commit said a couple of days earlier.

“We had a fun week. It’s the Kentucky way,” Pope told McGee. “We’re really fortunate. Right now we’re recruiting guys who understand Kentucky and want to wear this jersey and know what KY ’til I die means and it’s pretty cool man. I love it.”

Pope then screamed to the big crowd of UK fans in the back “That’s why we Kentucky ’til we die!”

This is the good stuff.

Mark Pope rocked a "KY 'Til I Die" shirt on the SEC Nation set 😻

Sounds familiar…pic.twitter.com/9WUftKLoRJ

— KSR (@KSRonX) September 7, 2024

As most know by now, Johnson committed to Kentucky on Thursday at Woodford County High School in Versailles, KY. Born in Lexington and raised in a Kentucky family, landing the five-star shooting guard was huge for Pope and the program’s recruiting momentum. Johnson chose the Wildcats over Alabama and North Carolina — two schools that had the clear upper hand once Pope was initially hired.

“There is nowhere in the world like Kentucky basketball,” Pope added. “It’s different. It’s just different.”