Mark Pope isn’t just coaching basketball in Lexington - he’s embracing the full weight of what it means to lead Kentucky’s program. And on Tuesday afternoon, fresh off a win over Bellarmine, Pope reminded everyone that he doesn’t just understand the fan base - he gets them.
After the Wildcats wrapped up their final pre-Christmas game, Pope used his postgame radio show with Tom Leach to deliver something more than analysis or soundbites. He delivered a little holiday magic.
First, fans still lingering in Rupp Arena were greeted by Pope’s three daughters - affectionately known as the “Pope girls” - who handed out commemorative books celebrating Pope’s first season at the helm. That alone would’ve been a thoughtful touch. But Pope wasn’t done.
Next came T-shirts - not just any shirts, but ones with $100 cash gift certificates attached. A surprise, sure. But more than that, a gesture of appreciation from a coach who understands the relationship between Kentucky basketball and its fans runs deeper than wins and losses.
And still, Pope had one more move up his sleeve.
“For anybody who needs to get something signed for Christmas or for another reason, the players are waiting in Suite C,” Pope told the crowd. “They’re going to sit and sign until you guys are done.”
No time limits. No cut-off.
Just players, pens, and a sea of Big Blue faithful. “As our players’ Christmas gift to you,” Pope added, “our guys understand what this means.”
This wasn’t the first time Pope has gone out of his way to connect with the BBN. Last season, after needing to cut a postgame show short, he bought ice cream for every fan in attendance.
Later, he handed out gas cards to fans traveling to the NCAA Tournament. These aren’t publicity stunts - they’re part of a pattern.
Pope isn’t just building a program; he’s building a relationship.
And while Tuesday’s win was business on the court, the postgame was all heart. Players stuck around to sign autographs and take photos, long after the final buzzer. It was an authentic moment of connection between team and community - the kind of thing that doesn’t show up in the box score but matters just as much.
Off the court, Pope was candid about what the upcoming holiday break means to him personally. “I think the break is important for us and is really good for us right now,” he said.
“Mostly not so much for the guys, but mostly for Lee Anne. Lee Anne is so fed up with me right now, and I just need to be better - I need to do a better job as a husband for a couple of days.
I’m going to crush it. It’s going to be amazing.”
That kind of honesty - part self-deprecating, part endearing - is classic Pope. He’s not just talking Xs and Os; he’s opening a window into the human side of coaching.
And make no mistake, there’s been plenty of coaching going on, too. Pope acknowledged the emotional toll the past few weeks have taken on his squad. But he’s proud of the way they’ve responded.
“I’m really proud of this group in the sense of how they responded over the last three weeks,” he said. “We got better and we reoriented some things and kinda found some new mentality.”
With a few days off before the SEC opener at Alabama on Jan. 3, Pope sees a chance to reset - not just physically, but mentally.
“I think we have enough of a base that’s going to filter through our guys over the course of the next 10 days,” he said. “We get to really, really get some work done on the practice floor and try to find and embrace what we have.
We have a little vision of what we can be in the short time, and I think we are excited about it.”
That’s the mindset of a coach who’s building something - not just a team, but a culture.
And if Tuesday was any indication, he’s doing it with heart, humor, and a whole lot of holiday spirit.