Mark Pope visits Washington, D.C. to get to the bottom of college basketball's pressing issues

Mark Pope is taking matters into his own hands as he fights for a 40-game regular season in college basketball, traveling to chat with decision-makers in Washington, D.C. — whatever it takes. If the hoops overlords won’t take his push seriously, maybe the politicians will?

Kidding (kind of).

Pope has certainly been outspoken about expanding the schedule — he brought it up twice during the season — but there’s a lot more to worry about at this point in basketball and college athletics overall. Between NIL, revenue sharing and the transfer portal, the foundation of the sport and its identity has changed and continues to evolve by the day. The House vs. NCAA settlement will alter the future of the games we know and love forever.

With those changes on the horizon, Pope made the trip to D.C. to ‘discuss college basketball issues,’ as Kentucky Congressman and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer wrote on Wednesday while welcoming the UK men’s basketball coach to his Congressional office.

“Honored to welcome (University of Kentucky) Coach Mark Pope to my Congressional office to discuss college (basketball) issues,” Comer said. “Coach Pope is doing great work for (Big Blue Nation).”

Honored to welcome @universityofky Coach Mark Pope to my Congressional office to discuss college 🏀 issues. Coach Pope is doing great work for #BigBlueNation #BBN pic.twitter.com/l2LzM9Ita0

— James Comer (@JamesComer) April 9, 2025

In all seriousness, you can bet the 40-game schedule came up — just as it did in late February, Pope lumping together that topic with other pressing issues in the sport.

“It should be a 40-game season, especially with all the change and the turnover and the lack of continuity of teams, and also with revenue sharing and everything else,” Pope said at the time. “It doesn’t make any sense that we’re at a 31-game season. It makes no sense. I’m a massive advocate — maybe the only one in the world — but we need to expand the season to 40 games. Even for the guys that go on to be pros, it gives them a better sense.”

Is Josh Kattus with Mark Pope?

Speaking of the White House, Pope isn’t the only representative from UK Athletics doing their part — apparently Kentucky tight end Josh Kattus is there with him.

Kattus, a senior out of Cincinnati, shared a photo today from D.C. with a behind-the-scenes look at the White House from the top steps, clearly not in the area as a tourist.

Do we think they flew in together? Did anyone else from Lexington join them? What do we think is discussed in a flight conversation between Mark Pope and Josh Kattus? Spring football or portal chaos?

These are things we need to know.