Kentucky basketball has finished its summer work on the court, but Mark Pope is making it clear that preparing the Wildcats for the 2026-27 season involves much more than practices, shooting drills and conditioning.
The Wildcats traveled to Eastern Kentucky on Friday for their annual team retreat, continuing a tradition Pope has established since arriving in Lexington.
Instead of spending the entire day focused on basketball, Kentucky’s players and staff spent part of the trip giving back to the community in Hazard. The team helped build a gazebo for the Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) Cancer Center, taking part in construction and landscaping work despite the hot and humid conditions.
The experience provided the Wildcats with a chance to step away from the basketball court and connect with the people of Eastern Kentucky.
Local fan Ray Combs took to social media to praise the team after seeing the players and coaches working on the project.
“I just want to take a moment to brag on the @KentuckyMBB team and the hard work they have done today building a gazebo for the UK Cancer Center here at Hazard ARH. It’s hot, it’s humid, and these fellas haven’t stopped, neither has @CoachMarkPope.”
Pope also gave fans a glimpse of the experience through an Instagram Live. At one point, an ARH Cancer Center staff member took control of the phone and spoke with several Kentucky players.
Milan Momcilovic provided one of the lighter moments of the day while showing off his developing Kentucky accent.
Franck “The Tank” Kepnang also joined the conversation and had plenty of appreciation for the volunteers helping with the project.
“They’re the GOATs,” Kepnang said. “I’m just listening to what they’re telling me. They just tell me what to do, and I just do it.”
Pope himself created another funny moment when he appeared unsure of how to end the Instagram Live and eventually needed help from assistant coach Mikhail McLean.
After completing the community service project, the Wildcats headed to Red River Gorge for a kayaking trip.
The annual retreat has become an important part of Pope’s program since he took over at Kentucky.
During his first season, the Wildcats traveled to Hazard and helped build homes for families affected by flooding. The team also participated in a community cookout and spent time at the lake.
Last season, Kentucky returned to Eastern Kentucky and visited Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge, where players enjoyed activities including hiking, ziplining and riding the skylift.
This year’s trip continues that tradition while giving Kentucky’s new-look roster another opportunity to develop relationships away from the demands of basketball.
That could be particularly important for the Wildcats heading into the 2026-27 season. With several new faces on the roster, developing chemistry and trust will be just as important as improving individual skills.
Pope has spent the summer building his team on the court. Now, experiences like this are giving his players a chance to build something different: genuine relationships with one another.
And that might ultimately become one of Kentucky’s biggest advantages when the games finally begin.
