Mark Pope’s growing beard has become one of the most talked-about topics around Kentucky basketball this offseason, but according to sophomore center Malachi Moreno, the Wildcats head coach may have borrowed the idea from someone else.
That someone? Moreno himself.
Speaking with reporters during summer workouts, Moreno jokingly claimed that Pope copied his look after seeing the Kentucky big man begin growing out his facial hair following the season.
“Next time you all see him, make sure you let him know that he got the beard from me,” Moreno said with a smile. “Because I started growing mine out after the season was over, and I think he just saw how mine was looking, and he’s like, ‘You know what? I want to try that.'”
While the comment was clearly made in fun, Pope’s new appearance has become a running joke among players and fans alike. Some around the program have even started referring to him as “Dark Pope” because of the tougher, more intense demeanor he has shown this offseason.
Moreno believes there may be some truth to that perception.
“I think he’s come in with a little different demeanor,” Moreno explained. “He’s just holding us to the highest standard of what Kentucky is, and I think now that he’s doing that, he’s got the dark side now.”
The timing of Pope’s new look has certainly been memorable. Since growing out the beard, Kentucky has enjoyed a massive offseason that included the return of key players, the addition of highly regarded transfer Milan Momcilovic, and the commitment of elite recruit Ryan Hampton.
As a result, many fans are beginning to wonder if the beard has become a lucky charm.
Moreno, however, doesn’t expect Pope to take the transformation much further. Despite the coach’s facial hair experiment, he doubts Kentucky’s head coach will ever return to the longer hairstyles seen on some players.
“Probably not,” Moreno said. “If you go back and look at his NBA pictures, it was crisp, but I don’t think he’d grow it back out.”
Meanwhile, fellow Wildcat Reece Potter made it clear he won’t be joining the beard movement anytime soon. Potter joked that his facial hair grows in patchy and red, making it a look he would rather avoid.
“I can’t grow out one — it’s so bad,” Potter laughed. “I get like a ginger beard and it’s patchy. It’s just not good.”
Still, Potter is fully on board with Pope keeping his beard. In fact, he believes the Kentucky coach should take things to an entirely different level.
“I think he’s rocking it,” Potter said. “When you do something fresh, do something new, and it’s working, you gotta stick with it.”
Then came his most entertaining suggestion.
Potter joked that Pope should continue growing the beard until it resembles Santa Claus, complete with a dramatic entrance at Big Blue Madness.
“Could you imagine Coach Mark Pope coming into Rupp Arena with a big white beard?” Potter said. “Christmas in October. Lights, a huge tree, presents everywhere. I think that would be incredible.”
The idea quickly drew laughs, but it also highlighted the relaxed atmosphere surrounding Kentucky’s summer workouts. Players are having fun, chemistry appears strong, and there is growing excitement about what this roster could accomplish in the upcoming season.
Whether Pope keeps the beard through opening night remains a mystery. As Potter jokingly noted, the final decision may belong to Pope’s wife.
For now, though, the beard remains intact—and if Kentucky’s offseason success continues, fans may not want him to shave it anytime soon.
