When Mark Pope took over as Kentucky’s head coach in April 2024, he inherited one of the most unusual situations in program history: a roster with zero returning scholarship players.
Forced to start from scratch, Pope and his staff brought in 12 newcomers and pieced together a team that not only competed but exceeded expectations. The Wildcats went 24-12, notched a school-record eight wins over AP Top-15 opponents, and returned to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.
Heading into his second season, Pope doesn’t face the same wholesale rebuild. Kentucky brings back four key contributors — guards Collin Chandler and Otega Oweh, plus forwards Brandon Garrison and Trent Noah. Yet for Pope, the biggest lesson from last season has nothing to do with recruiting rankings or X’s and O’s.
It comes down to one thing: time.
“There’s no substitute for time”
Speaking in July, Pope was clear about what he considers the program’s most valuable resource.
“There’s no substitute for time,” he said. “There’s just no substitute for time.”
To put that belief into practice, Pope created a system of weekly 30-minute one-on-one sessions with every player. Off the court, these meetings help build relationships. On the court, he emphasizes slowing down the teaching process so that players absorb lessons instead of rushing through them.
At times, he even turns practice over to the players, letting them coach each other before the staff steps in.
“After they teach the team, then we can add or subtract,” Pope said. “And then you teach the team the same principle.”
Embracing the modern game
While many coaches bemoan the transfer portal and NIL era, Pope has leaned into it, calling it “the beauty” of modern college basketball. For him, the challenge is less about fighting change and more about maximizing opportunities.
Still, his philosophy circles back to the same central point: nothing replaces time spent together.
“There’s no substitute for time with our guys being together,” Pope said. “There’s no substitute for time with me being with the guys, individually and on the floor. And there’s no substitute for time with our assistants and staff being together.
“So that’s probably the No. 1 thing — being really intentional in scheduling out all of our time so we’re utilizing it to know each other best and understand each other.”
A year ago, Pope’s program was starting from scratch. Now, with continuity and experience on his side, he believes Kentucky’s most precious resource will help unlock even greater success.
