Does Kentucky basketball have ‘hope with Pope’? The rest of the SEC will have a say. AL.com
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This is an opinion column.
There’s only one conclusion to draw after more than 20,000 Kentucky basketball fans filled Rupp Arena on Masters Sunday to welcome former Kentucky basketball player Mark Pope home as the new Kentucky basketball coach.
Kentuckylovesbasketball.Donotstopthepresses.Donothangthebanner.
ThiswastruethedayKentuckyintroducedJohnCalipari,BillyGillispie,TubbySmith,RickPitino,EddieSutton,JoeB.HallandAdolphRupp,whichistheentirerosterofUKheadcoachessincetheSECplayeditsfirstseasonin1932-33.
Somethingsdon’tchange.WhileKentuckybasketballain’twhatitusedtobe–SouthCarolina(2017),Auburn(2019)andAlabama(2024)havebeentoaFinalFourmorerecentlyfromtheSEC–ain’tnothin’likeKentuckybasketballpassionnowhere.
TocallSunday’seventanintroductorypressconferenceisasinadequateastheWildcatshavebeenintheirvaledictoryNCAATournamentperformancessinceAuburnstoleapieceoftheirsoulinthe2019EliteEight.Inabrilliantbitofshowmanship,P
