"Pretty healthy mental break": Mark Pope talks about Kentucky players' dedication that extends beyond basketball
Mark Pope-led Kentucky is coming off an eight-point victory, 93-85, against Louisville on Dec. 14 and will play against Ohio State on Saturday. It's been a busy schedule for the Wildcats and will only get more hectic as conference play approaches. Despite this, Kentucky has steered the ship towards a 10-1 start to the 2024-2025 season.
During a press conference on Thursday, coach Pope said that his players are juggling numerous commitments alongside basketball, including final exams. He sees this as a positive for his squad, providing them with a mental break from the sport.
"We're just trying to get through the finals right now," Mark Pope said. "One day at a time. All the things the finals requires, I think it's a pretty healthy mental break for our guys just to really focus on something else for a couple of days."
Pope then talked about how all of his players have different journeys, both on and off the court, but their vision remains the same.
"We have so many different guys on different pathways right now academically. We got a bunch of grad guys, a bunch of freshmen, and it's a really important part of the experience. You're here to do well and to do well in class. That's really important to us, it's an incredible opportunity to learn and grow."
A former Kentucky Wildcat himself, Pope is looking to instill a student-athlete mindset in his players, urging them to prioritize their studies as much as their sport. After a brief stint playing in the NBA, Pope is now the head coach of a powerhouse program, nearly two decades after his playing career — which could serve as an inspiration for the current crop of Wildcats.
Even with other priorities, veterans such as Lamont Butler and newbies like Collin Chandler have since given Kentucky a 10-1 record in the year. They'll look to chalk in their 11th victory on Saturday in Madison Square Garden.
Mark Pope preaches to his Wildcats that there is a life outside of basketball
Mark Pope is also hoping that his players are finding their footing in other facets of life besides basketball. Given his experience, Pope wants them to find success somewhere else as well.
"A great professional basketball career is 10 years," Mark Pope said. (0:40) "An insanely long professional basketball career is 20 years. You got a whole lot of life after that where you should be doing something great. We talk to our guys all the time about, if you live a great life, then playing in the NBA is like the 6th or 7th or 8th or 9th coolest thing you do in your life."
"Doing well in school and building networks and building relationships and gaining an education, it's about living a great life. So, our guys take it seriously."
With graduating standouts such as Butler, Koby Brea and Jaxson Robinson, we can see Pope's vision for his players come to fruition for how they will take on life post-playing career at Kentucky.