Mark Pope’s first year at the helm of Kentucky basketball was nothing short of encouraging. After nine years as a head coach at Utah Valley and BYU, the former Wildcat returned to Lexington in 2024 to replace John Calipari, who departed for Arkansas.
Pope wasted little time proving he belonged. In his debut season, he guided Kentucky to a 24-12 record, a 10-8 mark in SEC play, and a Sweet 16 appearance—the program’s first trip that deep into March Madness since 2019.
Now, entering the 2025-26 season, expectations are soaring. The Wildcats appear primed to make a serious run at the Final Four, and one college basketball analyst believes part of Pope’s quick success can be traced back to Calipari himself.
Why Calipari’s Struggles Helped Pope
Andrew Stefaniak of Kentucky Wildcats on SI argued that Calipari’s messy final years in Lexington created an opening that Pope has been able to capitalize on.
Rather than taking over a powerhouse still running at full steam—like Alabama football trying to replace Nick Saban with Kalen DeBoer—Pope inherited a program that had fallen below its own lofty standards.
That lowered pressure may have worked in Pope’s favor.
> “Calipari leaving the Kentucky program in a place where fans had forgotten what postseason success looked like might have helped Coach Pope build something special because he hasn’t been looking over his shoulder worried about his job,” Stefaniak explained.
Building Something New in Lexington
The circumstances allowed Pope to reestablish Kentucky’s identity without constantly being compared to a legendary predecessor. Instead of being judged against the peak Calipari years, he’s been praised for simply restoring excitement and postseason relevance.
With strong recruiting classes, player development, and renewed energy around the program, Pope now has Kentucky positioned as a dark-horse national championship contender.
The question is whether this momentum will carry over into March. If Pope continues on this trajectory, the 2025-26 season could be one of Kentucky’s most memorable in recent history.
