Yes, Mark Pope is the man for the job at Kentucky. He’s the shot in the arm this program needed as it turned the page on John Calipari’s run in Lexington. It’s the right voice who pushes the right buttons and has overwhelmingly exceeded early expectations with a roster he put together on short notice and no recruiting base.

The Wildcats are beating expectations and playing pretty ball in Year 1, but their new coach's link with the fan base is powering the vibes.

John Calipari made his triumphant return to Rupp Arena, defeating Kentucky 89-79. It was a painful loss for many Kentucky fans, who were hungry to exact revenge on Calipari for leaving the program after initially saying he was returning for the 2024-25 season.