"It felt like a baptism for BBN": NCAAB insider could 'feel the difference' Mark Pope has brought for Kentucky
Kentucky's 77-72 victory over No. 6 Duke on Nov. 12 is seen by many as a huge win for the program against a national contender. For college basketball insider John Fanta, he sees it as something greater for Mark Pope and the Wildcats.
Kentucky relied on balanced scoring and a tough defensive performance in the second half to take down the Blue Devils, who were led by Class of 2024's No. 1 prospect Cooper Flagg. He didn't disappoint, scoring 26 points and 12 rebounds.
The Wildcats prevented Duke from getting easy shots, limiting them to 39% shooting from the field, and suffocated them from beyond the arc, holding them to 17% from downtown.
"It felt like a baptism for Big Blue Nation. It felt like their return to the national map in terms of a win," John Fanta said.
"They've supported their team for years. This felt different. They were running offense, Pope's got energy effects, and that whole starting five is upperclassmen."
Rob Dauster chimed in with his thoughts as well.
"Kentucky fans are always passionate, right? But there's a level of excitement, of happiness, of joy about what they're able to watch here. The win is great, right. I think that these Kentucky fans are so excited about the fact they get to root for a team that plays the way they want a team to play, right. Every one of those kids out there is fighting for, like, the Kentucky name, the Kentucky brand," Dauster said.
It was a huge win for Mark Pope, who had big shoes to fill following the departure of John Calipari as he went to Arkansas. He finished his stint at Kentucky with a 410-123 record, 12 NCAA Tournament appearances (13 if the 2020 edition wasn't canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic), and a national championship in 2012.
However, Kentucky became stagnant in tournament success as they failed to get past the second round from 2020 to 2024, indicating a change in leadership was needed. This seems to be what Pope is bringing back to Kentucky.
What's next for Mark Pope and the Wildcats
Mark Pope is off to a strong start following the win over Duke, having Kentucky begin the year with a 3-0 record. They've beaten Wright State, Bucknell and Duke by 74 points combined, showcasing how strong they are on both sides of the ball.
Koby Brea is a player worthy to note, especially as a player averaging the most points while coming off the bench with 15.3 points per game on 75% shooting from downtown.
Otega Oweh comes next with 15.3 points and 4.7 rebounds and Andrew Carr follows with 13 points and 3.3 rebounds. Amari Williams rounds out the players scoring in double-digits with 11.7 while grabbing 11.7 boards.
Kentucky will now focus on their next matchup, hosting Lipscomb at the Rupp Arena on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. ET.