The Kentucky Wildcats have agreed to a 3-years $250 million contract deal with New York Knicks over….
In truth, nobody knows what will happen come November when Mark Pope’s first Kentucky basketball team hits the hardwood.
Part of the fanfare that has surrounded the assembly of a brand-new coaching staff and roster in Lexington has been this unknown: What will the Wildcats look like when the pieces are finally settled in place?
For many Wildcats fans, this fall in Rupp Arena will mark their first experience watching a Pope-led basketball team.
But nearly a decade of data points exist to imply how the Wildcats are likely to play this season. Between his four seasons as the head coach at Utah Valley and five seasons leading BYU, Pope has an established basketball brand that includes an efficient, 3-point heavy offense that promotes floor-spacing and versatility.
And it’s not just Kentucky fans who have quickly gotten a crash course in Pope’s basketball philosophies.
Several top college basketball recruits have done their homework on Pope, and are also interested in how his principles will be applied at Kentucky.
Last weekend’s Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) session held just outside Indianapolis — part of the first live recruiting period of Pope’s UK tenure — brought together many of the top class of 2025 and 2026 high school players that Pope and the UK staff are starting to recruit.
