Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Mark Pope is entering Year 3 with the program. It’s not going very well.
Pope, who was previously the head coach at BYU, went 24–12 in Year 1, reaching the Sweet 16. The Wildcats then went 22-14 in Year 2, losing in the second round. Those are solid years, but not to Kentucky’s standard.
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The offseason has become more important than ever for college basketball programs, thanks to the transfer portal. Teams can essentially rebuild their entire roster in one offseason. Pope has landed some solid players at Kentucky this offseason, but he’s swung and missed on the big-time players.
Tuesday night, Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 recruit in the country, committed to Kansas over Kentucky. It was another swing and miss for Pope and Kentucky. Wildcats fans aren’t very used to this – and they don’t like it.
Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope reacts against the Santa Clara Broncos during the first half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images© Jeff Curry-Imagn Images.
While Pope is entering Year 3, some Kentucky fans have decided that they have given up hope for the program under its current head coach.
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Big Blue Nation is sounding off on Pope and the job that he has done.
Kentucky fans sound off on Mark Pope’s performance
“There’s absolutely nothing Mark Pope can do to make me want him here,” one fan wrote in a message board post on On3.
Another wrote: “Why was he even hired?”
“My favorite team is making national headlines for all the wrong reasons. He never should have gotten this job,” one fan added.
“Should have kept Coach Calipari,” one shared.
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Calipari, who was pushed out after more than a decade, is having more recruiting success at Arkansas than Pope is at Kentucky.
Kentucky fans are fed up, that’s clear.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Apr 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
