After Big Win, Mark Pope's Most Important Trip Wasn't to the Podium
Mark Pope is usually the last man standing at Rupp Arena. He’ll answer every question thrown his way, sign autographs until security flicks the lights, and hang out with the radio crew long after the mics go cold.
He’s even been known to buy ice cream for the lingering faithful. But after Kentucky’s 94-78 win over Oklahoma, Pope had somewhere far more important to be - and for once, basketball had to wait.
He made it quick at the podium. Thirty seconds, tops. A light-hearted joke, a heartfelt reason, and then he was gone.
“He’s going to give you way better answers than me,” Pope said, motioning to assistant coach Jason Hart. “My daughter lands in 23 minutes… It’s 22 minutes until Avery lands. I’m out, guys.”
That daughter, Avery, had just wrapped up a 15-month church mission. Back in September, she faced a health scare that shook the family.
But Pope, ever the optimist, said she came through it “as salty” as ever. And now she was coming home - and there was no stat line or postgame quote more important than that reunion.
For a coach who constantly preaches family and connection, this was more than a feel-good moment - it was a real-life example of the culture he’s building in Lexington. The win was big.
The press conference mattered. But nothing trumped that hug waiting at the airport.
Collin Chandler’s Breakout: “We Need Him”
While Pope was racing to reunite with his daughter, Jason Hart took the mic and turned the spotlight toward sophomore guard Collin Chandler - and rightfully so.
Chandler dropped 18 points against the Sooners, including a smooth 4-for-8 from beyond the arc. It wasn’t just the numbers, though - it was the confidence, the rhythm, the way he moved. According to Hart, it’s all starting to click.
“He’s a prime example of believing in Coach Pope’s system,” Hart said. “This is his second year back [from a two-year mission trip], he’s real comfortable.
He’s grown, he’s matured… I’m just happy the world gets to see Collin Chandler playing at a high level. We need him.”
That comfort Hart talked about? It’s showing up in Chandler’s legs - literally.
After two years away from the game, it takes time to get your wind, your bounce, your feel for the floor. Now, Chandler looks like a guy who’s not just caught up - he’s leading the charge.
A Stat Sheet Worth Smiling About
Kentucky’s offense was humming, but it wasn’t just the 94 points that had Hart grinning. It was the way they got there.
The Wildcats dished out 21 assists and coughed up just six turnovers - a stat line that would make any coach happy, but especially a former NBA point guard like Hart.
“I’m a point guard, so I keep those turnovers,” Hart said. “If we take care of the ball, it gives ourselves a chance to win… Those six turnovers are huge for us.”
Add in a 46% night from deep, and it’s easy to see why Kentucky looked so fluid. But even Hart knows those shooting nights come and go.
What doesn’t? Hustle.
Fight. Rebounding.
The gritty stuff that doesn’t always show up in box scores but defines who this team wants to be.
A Night That Meant More
Kentucky fans saw a lot to like on the court - Chandler’s breakout, the ball movement, the discipline. But they also saw something off it: a head coach who lives the values he talks about.
Mark Pope didn’t just coach his team to a big win. He showed them - and everyone watching - that family still comes first.
And that kind of leadership? It resonates far beyond the hardwood.