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Kentucky HC Mark Pope reveals getting warnings from former teammates before becoming John Calipari’s successor: “Don’t mess it up"

Days after Baylor's Scott Drew and defending champion coach Dan Hurley turned down Kentucky, Mark Pope was named John Calipari's successor on April 12. Even though he was not on the program's radar, the former Wildcats player's hiring was well-received by the fans.

As Pope stepped out of the charter bus that carried him and other former Kentucky names, he was cheered by more than 15,000 fans before his first press conference as the new coach.

However, a few of his former teammates gave Pope a reality check, warning him to take note of his responsibility.

"My former teammates were like, 'Don't mess it up, man ... Don't mess it up,'" Pope said in an exclusive interview with ESPN's Myron Medcalf released on Tuesday.

John Calipari exited Kentucky as the winningest active coach in college basketball. He left the program for 15 years, guiding them to an NCAA title and four Final Four trips.

Succeeding Coach Cal's success is Pope’s big assignment. But he showed great potential when he coached the BYU Cougars for five seasons, leading them to a 110-52 (67.9%) record and multiple NCAA tourneys.

Moreover, Pope has said that he "loves" the immense pressure to succeed in a program like Kentucky.

"The expectations at Kentucky are higher than anywhere else," Pope said. "That's the standard and that's the history of Kentucky. If you don't hang a banner, then you haven't had a successful season. And I love that."

Kentucky's early appreciation for Pope came due to his past ties with the school. He was the team captain for the Wildcats' 1996 NCAA championship roster. Pope was also one of coach Rick Pitino's most cherished players.

"Every little thing that I would say, he would back it up to the team," Pitino said in the exclusive. "He just had that quality of loyalty and leadership that made a team great. I've coached very few Mark Popes in my life."

Mark Pope and John Calipari will face each other in February

Pope and Calipari's connection to Lexington will make for one of the biggest clashes college basketball will witness this season. The Arkansas Razorbacks, who Calipari joined a day after leaving Wildcats, will play in Rupp Arena on Feb. 1, 2025.

While it will be their matchup with the respective programs, Mark Pope and John Calipari are in the same boat. Kentucky did not have a returning scholarship player this summer, forcing Pope to bring together a roster off the transfer portal and high school recruitment. On the other hand, only one starter returned for Calipari from the previous Arkansas roster.

However, four players followed John Calipari to Arkansas from Kentucky, easing his task of establishing a connection with his players.

Also Read: Duke vs Kentucky Projected Starting Lineup and Depth Chart for Nov. 12 | College Basketball Season 2024-25

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