The University of Kentucky showed up and showed out for one of its own on Sunday.
At the school’s press conference to introduce Mark Pope as the next Wildcats head basketball coach, fans packed out Rupp Arena like it was game day.
As Jack Pilgrim of Kentucky Sports Radio reports: “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
UK hired Pope from BYU after parting ways with John Calipari who spent the last 15 seasons in Lexington. As the Cougars head coach, Pope led Brigham Young to 20-win campaigns in all but one of his five years with the university — reaching two NCAA Tournaments.
Pope played his college ball at Kentucky after transferring over from Washington back in the ’90s. In his three seasons with the Cats (one redshirt), he served as a key role player and won a national championship under Rick Pitino in 1996.
I’ve never seen anything like this. pic.twitter.com/tyBIfWm0xk
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) April 14, 2024
He would later be drafted in the second round of the ’96 NBA Draft where he played played for the Pacers, Bucks and Nuggets.
Now Pope returns home as the man set to lead UK basketball back to March success following some disappointing early exits in recent years.