There has been a lot of criticism for Mark Pope and Kentucky this season. The Wildcats have been underwhelming, to say the least. Every time they have looked good and found some momentum and form, they have lost it in the very next game, almost always.
Kentucky is fifth in the SEC with a 5-3 conference record and 14-7 overall record. They recently suffered an embarrassing defeat against Vanderbilt. After the loss, Kentucky’s $22 million investment in the squad seems a little futile. Some fans have even started to reminisce about their last coach, John Calipari.
Calipari has come forward in his successor’s support. Calipari has been extremely vocal lately about the different issues in college basketball. He sent out a message in support of high school student-athletes, as teams signed pro players from the G League. So when it came to defending Mark Pope, John Calipari said:
“They (Kentucky) are playing great. Mark Pope’s doing a great job. He is. You don’t look for them to struggle and for him to get them going, he’s the right guy for that job.”
On Saturday, January 31, Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks will take on Pope’s Kentucky, a team Calipari previously coached for 15 years. The Razorbacks have had a contrasting season to Kentucky so far. They are kind of on a roll. It will be an entertaining matchup between the two teams.
Fans React to John Calipari Defending Mark Pope
The majority of fans online made fun of what Calipari said about Pope.
“Oh he’s loving this. I’m sure of it,” one fan said.
“I know trolling when I see it,” another joked.
“He said the same thing when Payne got the Louisville job,” another remembered.
“What he gonna say we need to get rid of him? He’s just being a good guy! BBN loves you Cal!” another commented.
“You saw the score of that Vandy game, right coach?” one fan wondered.
“Cal had his time there so he wishes Mark pope the best at Kentucky. He wasn’t being sarcastic,” one fan affirmed.
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