Mark Pope is set to begin his 3rd year as a head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats where he won the national championship in 1996 as a player. St. John’s HC Rick Pitino served as the head coach for Pope at Kentucky. So, Pope has always shown a lot of admiration for the college basketball legend.
Pope appeared on CBS Sports’ ‘Inside College Basketball’ episode with Jon Rothstein. College basketball insider asked the Kentucky head coach about Kentucky’s 78-66 win against Rick Pitino’s St. John’s on December 20, 2025.
“Well, at Kentucky, we’re never short for drama, and so there’s always a massive buildup to every game. But the most important thing was that our team played well and that we played together and that we had a chance to kind of see the pieces that we had on the floor,” Pope answered (5:39).
“It was special for me to compete against coach, and to do it here as a head coach at the University of Kentucky, and most importantly, come away with a win. But anytime you compete against great coaches, it matters. Anytime you compete in great venues, it matters. In a high-profile game, it matters. And then there’s just that little exercise of being able to do it against someone that I admire so much and love so much,” he expressed.
He also said that he would love a home-and-home series with Rick Pitino and St. John’s in order to bring back his coach to Kentucky.
Pitino spent eight years with the Wildcats winning 219 games and losing only 50.
Mark Pope wishes to celebrate Rick Pitino’s legacy at Kentucky
Rothstein asked how it would go if Pitino brings St. John’s to Rupp Arena to play the Wildcats. Pope shared that he would love to celebrate the Kentucky legend.
“He contributed so much. His run here was legendary and it wasn’t easy, and it was trying and there was a lot of pressure and there were some setbacks. But ultimately he got the job done, and he’ll forever be cherished and beloved by the Kentucky faithful,” Pope said (7:18).
Pope also said that he was happy for his mentor when he was hired as St. John’s HC. He thinks Pitino still has a “ton left in the tank” and St. John’s will continue to play really well.
Pitino has revived the once-floundering program in the past three seasons. The Red Storm have produced back-to-back 30-win teams in the last two seasons, reaching the NCAA Tournament in consecutive years for the first time since a three-year run ended in 2000.
Read more:
Mark Pope Lists Biggest Frustrations With Kentucky Squad Months After Early NCAA Tournament Exit
Milan Momcilovic Reveals Mark Pope’s One Demand That Can Affect Sharpshooter’s Efficiency
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