Mark Pope is bursting with excitement as he prepares to lead Kentucky basketball into the NCAA Tournament for the first time as head coach. However, his enthusiasm may have gotten the best of him when he made a lighthearted offer to Big Blue Nation that quickly backfired.
During his coaching show, Pope playfully told Kentucky fans, “If anybody is having trouble with gas money, hit me up.” His intention was to rally the fanbase and encourage them to travel to Milwaukee, where Kentucky will face Troy in the first round.
But March Madness is no joke for Big Blue Nation. Almost immediately, fans began reaching out with requests for gas money.
Respect for Troy
“That was probably not my best decision,” Pope later admitted with a laugh. “Offering gas money to Milwaukee—this isn’t going to end well.”
Respect for Troy
Despite his playful side, Pope was all business when discussing Kentucky’s first-round opponent, the Troy Trojans.
“They’re a strong team. They just won their conference championship. They have a great guard—conference player of the year—who controls the game for them,” Pope said, making it clear that he isn’t taking Troy lightly.
His respect is well-founded. Led by their star guard, the Trojans have momentum on their side, and Kentucky knows they can’t afford to overlook them.
Possible Showdown With Calipari
Adding to the intrigue, Pope may have an even bigger challenge ahead. If Kentucky advances, they could face John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks in the second round.
When asked about the potential matchup, Pope couldn’t resist bringing up his former mentor, Rick Pitino, now at St. John’s.
“I think Coach P wants all the smoke,” Pope joked, referring to the possibility of an Arkansas-St. John’s showdown if both teams advance.
It’s an exciting storyline. Pope, a former Wildcat, is eager to prove himself in his first season at the helm, while Calipari—who made a surprising move to Arkansas—is looking to reaffirm his status as a top-tier coach after leading Kentucky to a national title in 2012.
Big Blue Nation’s Hopes Rest on Pope
Pope’s humor has clearly endeared him to the Kentucky faithful, but he understands that the real test lies ahead. Despite an injury-riddled season, the Wildcats continue to fight—and they’ll need to keep battling to make a deep tournament run.
The question remains: Can Pope lead Kentucky to a strong showing in his debut season? If he keeps making jokes about gas money, he might just have the entire state of Kentucky making the trip to Milwaukee to cheer them on.
One thing is certain—Pope has shown he can handle the pressure with both humor and humility. Now, he’ll need to back it up on the court.
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