Mark Pope addresses fans after Senior Night win; looks ahead to next season’s roster

Pope discusses the seniors this year and what the roster will look like next year.

Following the Kentucky Wildcats’ dominant 95-64 victory over LSU on Senior Night, head coach Mark Pope took a moment to reflect on the season and address the Rupp Arena crowd one last time before the Wildcats shift their focus to postseason play.

“We are so sad that this is the last time that we get to do this with you in Rupp Arena this season,” Pope told the Kentucky faithful, recognizing the unwavering support from Big Blue Nation throughout the year.

Senior Night was an emotional evening as Kentucky honored six players: Ansley Almonor, Koby Brea, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, Jaxson Robinson, and Amari Williams. The Wildcats delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, sending off the seniors with a convincing win in their final home game.

While the season isn’t over yet, Pope also gave fans a glimpse into what’s ahead for Kentucky basketball, expressing excitement about next year’s roster during his Monday radio show.

“We have some really, really important pieces we’re excited to have back next year, that knows what we do,” Pope said. “Three incredibly talented rookies coming in so far…We’ll be really aggressive in the portal and bring in a couple of superstars.”

Very interesting.

With key returners, a strong freshman class, and an aggressive approach to the transfer portal, Pope is already laying the foundation for the future.

But for now, the Wildcats remain focused on closing out the regular season and preparing for a deep run in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.