Watch: Mark Pope's Kentucky team gets special offseason visit from former AP College Coach of the Year

Kentucky men's basketball program has been guided by legendary coaches in the past and now Mark Pope's era is set to begin. With Pope finally completing the roster, the coach is now investing his time in sparking camaraderie among the roster by spending some time off of the hardwood.

Now with the roster starting to get comfortable with each other, the Wildcats witnessed a surprise visit from their former legendary head coach Tubby Smith. A video of Smith's visit was posted by Kentucky's X/Twitter handle, which quickly went viral.

Here is the video:

Smith was the AP College Coach of the Year in 2003 during his time at Kentucky (1997-2007). This was not his first spell with the program, as he was also an assistant coach from 1989 to 1991 under then head coach Rick Pitino. They built a winning roster together amidst all the NCAA probation and player defections at the time.

Smith subsequently replaced Pitino for the head coach position in 1997 when he transitioned to the NBA to join the Boston Celtics. Kentucky was the 1996 NCAA champion and 1997 runners-up. Smith had a tough job on his hands when he took over, but he helped the Wildcats become NCAA champions again following the "Tubbyball" play in 1998.

In 2024, Mark Pope has to instill that same winning culture among the roster and Smith's visit could not have come at a better time. A winning coach with Kentucky can teach the players a lot, and even Mark Pope.

Pope replaced John Calipari after he took the Arkansas head coach job. When Pope was being asked to follow Calipari's footsteps at Kentucky, he talked about retaining his own identity and style of play. As quoted by Kentucky Sports Radio's Jack Pilgrim, he said:

"He's one of the best to ever do it, went to four Final Fours in five years. ... You just have to coach you. I have to be me. I can't be Tubby, I can't be Coach P, I can't be Cal. ... I love getting to coach me."

What did Mark Pope say about facing Calipari's Arkansas?

John Calipari's departure to Arkansas saw many players leaving after or with him. Pope has since had to rework the roster and is looking forward to the matchup against Calipari's Arkansas next season.

He said:

"I've spent a lot of time with him [Calipari], and he's been so generous and gracious with me my whole career. I think he's that way to everybody, and he's one of the greatest ambassadors of the game. What he did here at Kentucky is super special, man. It really is incredible."

Mark Pope signed top prospects like Jaxson Robinson, Kerr Kriisa and Brandon Garrison and will be expected to continue the winning culture at the program. Can he lead them back to an NCAA title?