On November 10, 2017, a game that was supposed to be a routine warm-up for Kentucky turned into a dramatic showdown that left Rupp Arena stunned—and gave Big Blue Nation a first glimpse of a future superstar.
Mark Pope, now Kentucky’s head coach, was on the opposite sideline that night as head coach of Utah Valley. A proud former Wildcat himself, Pope brought a fearless, underestimated squad into Rupp to face a Kentucky team stacked with blue-chip freshmen—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Knox, and Hamidou Diallo—under the legendary John Calipari.
It was supposed to be a “buy game,” one of those early-season tune-ups where the bigger program flexes its muscles. But Pope’s Wolverines came ready to punch.
After Kentucky grabbed a modest 23-18 lead with 6:24 left in the first half, thanks to a pair of cool free throws by Gilgeous-Alexander, Utah Valley flipped the script. The Wolverines ripped off a stunning 16-2 run that sent them into halftime leading 34-25. Rupp fell silent. Pope was locked in—pacing, coaching, and smelling blood.
For a brief moment, an upset felt real.
But Kentucky’s talent finally responded. Diallo led the charge with 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting. And while it didn’t dominate headlines, SGA’s performance was pure poise: 13 points, 4 assists, 4 steals in 36 composed minutes. Quietly brilliant.
Kentucky reclaimed the lead just minutes into the second half and never looked back. Utah Valley didn’t fold, but the Cats’ depth wore them down. Kentucky held on for a 73-63 win, but it was far from easy.
Pope’s squad had six players in double figures, led by Kenneth Ogbe and Jake Toolson. Despite shooting just 5-for-18 from deep, their disciplined offense and bruising defense pushed Kentucky to the edge.
Looking back, that game is more than just a near-upset—it was a preview of destiny.
Mark Pope is now back in Lexington, this time with “Kentucky” across his chest once again. SGA? He’s an NBA All-Star, MVP candidate, and one of the league’s most complete players—exactly what he showed flashes of on that night in 2017.
Pope didn’t leave Rupp Arena with a win that night. But he left with something just as valuable: respect. And maybe, just maybe, that was the moment Mitch Barnhart began to see him as Kentucky’s coach-in-waiting.
