Mark Pope is a man of the people. We know this. He’s stuck around for hours following games at Rupp Arena, signing every autograph and taking every picture until every member of Big Blue Nation left satisfied.

While still building UK basketball's 2025 recruiting class, Mark Pope and his staff have kept tabs on 2026. These 10 players have offers from Kentucky

Good morning, folks! We’re in for a busy day in the world of Kentucky basketball. First, we’ll hear from men’s head coach Mark Pope this afternoon as he prepares for Saturday’s highly-anticipated showdown against John Calipari‘s Arkansas Razorbacks.

Unlike Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr was unable to take the floor against the Commodores on Saturday afternoon. A back injury prevented the fifth year senior from practicing for multiple weeks, and on Saturday, Pope made the decision to keep him out for the game.

Contrast that success with Calipari’s first Arkansas team, which needed six tries to notch its first SEC win of the year, and Kentucky fans figure to have plenty of ammunition Saturday. The Razorbacks are just 12-8 overall, and their 1-6 start to SEC play has them looking like a long shot for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Five things you need to know from No. 12 Kentucky’s gut-check 78-73 win at No. 8 Tennessee in SEC men’s basketball: 1. Mark Pope, slayer of rivals. There is a school of thought that one of a college head coach’s primary jobs is beating the teams his/her fan base dislike the most.

Mark Pope and the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats have been dealt another blow ahead of their game against No. 8 Tennessee tonight, with Lamont Butler ruled out due to a shoulder injury.

For Kentucky, the game before The Game was a tough one on paper — a Tuesday night road contest against Rick Barnes' Tennessee Vols, who were ranked No. 1 in the country just a few weeks ago and listed as 10.

How should ex-Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari be honored Saturday in his return to Rupp Arena? Vote before our poll closes Friday at noon.

Where are Mark Pope's Kentucky Wildcats in new AP Top 25 basketball poll and USA TODAY Coaches Poll ahead of their SEC game against Tennessee?

Louisville rivalry better than Rick Pitino. Although he is currently the St. John’s head coach, Pitino has remained interested in UK and UofL. Mainly through social media, where Pitino has once again expressed excitement about the two program’s futures.