Pope’s debut season achieved perhaps the most crucial objective: Reuniting the fanbase.
When Mark Pope was named the new head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats a year ago, I was stunned. To be completely honest—I was let down.
I wasn’t around to witness him play in ‘96—I hadn’t even been born. But I grew up hearing the stories. My family spoke of how legendary that team was, how they dominated college basketball, and how Captain Mark Pope helped lead them to a national championship.
Still, when he was introduced as the new leader of this program, I wasn’t sure how to react. I wasn’t alone in that sentiment. The BBN was in turmoil. The frustration of the past five years had fractured the fanbase, and for many, this hire felt uninspiring—perhaps even like settling.
Then, things shifted. Within 24 hours, Mitch Barnhart went on Kentucky Sports Radio and assured us, “We’ve got our guy. Just trust him.” He emphasized that Pope understood the significance of the name on the jersey’s front.
At the time, it may have seemed like just another statement. But as the months passed, it became evident that it was entirely true.
Without delving too much into the previous regime—one that I deeply respect for the memories it gave me growing up—I have to acknowledge this: Somewhere along the way, the true essence of wearing that Kentucky jersey was lost. The fanbase was divided. The energy had changed. We were no longer a unified BBN.
Then, on the day of Mark Pope’s introductory press conference, something extraordinary happened. UK’s athletic department expected 5,000 to 6,000 fans. Instead, Rupp Arena filled with 24,000, with another 5,000 to 10,000 standing outside.
In under a day, the BBN was fully invested.
Pope stepped into an incredibly difficult situation—one that, frankly, only someone like him could have managed. He arrived a month after the transfer portal opened, with zero returning minutes from the previous roster. Yet, within weeks, he built a team.
And that team made history—becoming the first in NCAA history to reach the Sweet 16 without any returning minutes from the prior season.
This wasn’t a roster stacked with five-star prospects. It wasn’t filled with NBA-bound one-and-done players. It was a group of overlooked athletes who had played at multiple schools, never played together before, and had something to prove. They came from mid-majors, blue-collar programs, and schools where they played smaller roles. Some had NCAA Tournament experience, but none had been part of something this significant.
The only player Pope brought from BYU was Jaxson Robinson. Everyone else was new.
Yet, from the start, Pope did everything possible to embrace what this program represents. We saw it when Rick Pitino returned for Big Blue Madness. We saw it when Pope skipped a traditional entrance, choosing instead to emerge from the crowd—showing us he was truly one of us.
Then came the season, filled with thrilling highs and difficult lows.
We witnessed huge victories—Duke, Louisville, Tennessee (twice), and Florida. Kentucky tied the record for most top-15 wins in a single season.
We saw adversity—injuries piling up, inconsistency, frustrating losses, and moments where it felt like things might fall apart.
But through it all, something changed.
Because what makes the BBN special isn’t just championships—it’s the moments. It’s the memories that unite generations of fans.
For the first time in a long time, we had those moments again.
For me personally, this season felt different. I love covering this team. I love capturing moments through photography. But before this year, I had never covered a team beyond the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. That changed this year.
And it wasn’t just me.
I had family members who had stopped watching in recent years. But this season, they were attending 7, 8, 9, even 10 games. They joined me on road trips to watch Kentucky play—something I had been doing alone for years because others weren’t interested.
I brought family members to the SEC Tournament who hadn’t made the trip in years. And I know I wasn’t the only one. So many in the BBN felt that spark reignite this season.
Then there were the moments Coach Pope himself created—staying hours after games to sign every autograph, taking pictures with babies, ensuring every fan felt valued.
I’ll never forget sitting in my living room at 2 a.m. on a Saturday night, screaming with my brother as Kentucky overcame a 19-point deficit to defeat Gonzaga—without Lamont Butler.
That’s a brother who had lost interest in Kentucky basketball over the past few years.
Or the time my cousin and I went to the Champions Classic and saw Kentucky win—something they hadn’t done in years.
And they didn’t just win—they beat Duke in Pope’s first major game as head coach. The program had only beaten the Blue Devils once since 1999 and twice since 1979.
These are memories we’ll never forget. I know I’m not alone in that.
This team—a collection of transfers, underdogs, and underestimated players—earned the fanbase’s respect in a way few teams have.
They fought their way to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
They did something that hadn’t been done in six years—returning Kentucky to the Sweet 16.
And while the season ended painfully—falling in Indianapolis to a team they had beaten twice—it doesn’t diminish what this season represented.
This season wasn’t about wins or losses. It was about something greater.
It was about restoring unity within this program.
For years, the fanbase was divided. Pope—whether people initially believed in him or not—has brought us back together.
And now, Kentucky basketball is led by someone who cares about it as deeply as we do.
The future is bright.
Sure, there were tough losses—Arkansas, and that heartbreaking defeat in Indy to Tennessee wasn’t easy. But those moments pale in comparison to what was gained.
Because now, we stand together again.
The BBN is the greatest fanbase in the world. And now, it’s led by one of our own.
For the first time in a long time, the future doesn’t just look bright.
It feels right.
Thank you to this team, and thank you to Mark Pope!
