Mark Pope looks to veterans and being himself as he adapts to coaching Kentucky after John Calipari

Syndication: The Courier-Journal

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Meeting one challenge of playing for the Kentucky Wildcats gave Mark Pope a blueprint for the taller task of coaching them after John Calipari.

At the very least that has meant pursuing a different path toward reaching the high bar of expectations of following the Hall of Famer, whose freshman-laden squads won a lot of games and the 2012 national championship in 15 seasons. Next spring will answer how well it’s going for Pope at his alma mater, but the players he has quickly assembled from scratch through the transfer portal demonstrates that roster-building is certainly within reach for the 6-foot-11 first-year coach. Especially in building with experience as opposed to his predecessor.

“I’m just as much a member of BBN (Big Blue Nation) as anyone, and he’s a Hall of Fame coach,” said Pope, a member of Kentucky’s 1996 NCAA title team led by Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. Pope received a five-year contract through 2029 that averages $5.5 million per season after going 110-52 in five seasons at BYU with two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Just minutes before, the new coach used his first news conference since being introduced in April to glance left at a blue-tinted wall of title-winners including Adolph Rupp, Pitino and Calipari — all Naismith Memorial Hall of Famers — along with Joe B. Hall and Tubby Smith while noting the tradition they’ve continued. It’s one he aims to maintain his way — no small matter in an era dominated by the portal and name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsement options.

“One of the things that you learn really early on, and I’ve had great mentors in this game, is you just have to coach you,” added Pope, who has talked with Calipari. “I have to be me. I can’t be coach (Rick) Pitino, you know? I can’t be Tubby. I can’t be Cal. It would be disingenuous, and my guys wouldn’t believe if I actually tried to take on that persona.”

Coaching changes generally require taking the…

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Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-26 00:05:36

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