All articles tagged with #mark pope
Kentucky men's basketball is reportedly planning an “epic” overseas preseason tour, with a destination not yet decided. Coach Mark Pope said an external group has invited the Wildcats on a trip that could boost team chemistry after three years since their last summer excursion, though no location has been finalized and it will not be Italy.
The Southeastern Conference publicly reprimanded Kentucky men's basketball coach Mark Pope and fined him $25,000 for postgame conduct and criticism of officiating after the Feb. 21 game at Auburn, citing violations of sportsmanship and the league's public-criticism rules.
Kentucky fell 75-74 to Auburn, suffering a third straight loss as Otega Oweh poured in a career-high 29 points. A late controversial foul on Collin Chandler with 14 seconds left helped Auburn seal the win, while Kentucky’s frontcourt watched a decisive sequence. Mark Pope’s postgame hallway rant criticizing officiating drew headlines, adding to a tense week for UK as four regular-season games remain and an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament hangs in the balance.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope was furious after the Wildcats' 75-74 loss to Auburn, criticizing the late call on Collin Chandler and suggesting the moment felt personal. At the podium he avoided direct ref critiques, but outside the media room he unleashed a hallway rant about not giving power to officials or fans. Pope also praised Otega Oweh (career-high 29) and Auburn players for their impact, stressed that Kentucky will bounce back, and noted a Tuesday night matchup at South Carolina as the next challenge.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope calls for the NCAA to use the Tournament Selection Committee as a last‑stand lever to address the growing trend of players who sign NBA contracts returning to college, arguing the NCAA has the power to decide what games count toward the NCAA Tournament and urging a public stand to restore a measure of sanity in college basketball.
Kentucky erased a 17-point deficit to beat No. 24 Tennessee 80-78 in Knoxville, extending UK’s streak of road wins against the Vols to four years. After the buzzer, a benches-clearing scuffle broke out involving Otega Oweh and Jaylen Carey, with teammates defending one another; Mark Pope sprinted in to break up the skirmish. Back in the locker room, Pope was drenched with water in a celebratory Gatorade shower captured on social media.
Kentucky faces St. John’s in the CBS Sports Classic, featuring a matchup between former coach Rick Pitino and his former player and current UK coach Mark Pope, with both teams aiming for Final Four potential. The game also highlights potential return of Jayden Quaintence and Kentucky's recent strong performance against Indiana.
Collin Chandler's impressive dunk during Kentucky's 77-51 win over Nicholls caught the attention of coach Mark Pope, who expressed curiosity about his reaction and praised Chandler's natural position as a shooting guard, highlighting the significance of Denzel Aberdeen's return to the lineup.
Kentucky's basketball team, under coach Mark Pope, achieved an impressive victory over No. 1 Purdue in an exhibition game, emphasizing themes of sacrifice, unity, and purpose-driven play, with Pope inspiring his team through a sermon-like speech about care, humility, and brotherhood.
Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope is preparing for a highly anticipated Big Blue Madness event with potential surprises, including special guests, alumni appearances, and unique fan experiences, aiming to make it a memorable start to the season.
Kentucky Wildcats are considered one of the biggest winners in college basketball's transfer portal cycle for 2025, having added top-tier talent including five top-60 transfers, which significantly bolsters their roster for the upcoming season under coach Mark Pope.
Otega Oweh, Kentucky's top player, has decided to withdraw from the 2025 NBA Draft and return for his senior season, bolstering Kentucky’s roster and making them a strong contender in college basketball next year.
The Kentucky Wildcats faced unexpected challenges in their return to Rupp Arena, narrowly defeating the Colgate Raiders 78-67. Despite a strong 17-0 start, Kentucky struggled with shooting and energy, allowing Colgate to close the gap significantly by halftime. The Wildcats eventually regained control with a late 12-0 run, led by Koby Brea's 17 points. Coach Mark Pope acknowledged the team's energy issues and emphasized the importance of learning from such games. Injuries to key players Lamont Butler and Kerr Kriisa also impacted Kentucky's performance.
Kentucky Wildcats' head coach Mark Pope provided an update on starting point guard Lamont Butler's ankle injury, describing him as 'day-to-day' with optimism for his return against Colgate or Louisville. Butler, who missed the game against Gonzaga, is eager to return, but has not yet participated in practice. The team managed to win without him, but his return is crucial, especially with Kerr Kriisa out indefinitely.
The Kentucky Wildcats, under coach Mark Pope, achieved a remarkable comeback victory against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who were highly ranked in various polls. Trailing by 16 at halftime, Kentucky rallied to secure one of their best regular-season wins in decades. Vinny Hardy discusses this significant win in a new episode of Bleav in Kentucky, available on multiple platforms.