UK’s Mark Pope hosts first weekly radio show for 2024-25 season. Here’s what the UK coach said.
Mark Pope took to the radio waves on Monday night for the first edition of the “Mark Pope Show,” alongside UK broadcaster Tom Leach.
Pope’s Wildcats are off to a sensational start in his first season at the helm in Lexington. UK is 5-0 on the season with a signature, neutral-site victory over Duke, and the Cats are ranked No. 8 in the nation in this week’s AP poll.
Pope touched on a variety of topics with Leach, other guests and listeners ahead of Kentucky’s next game on Tuesday night against Western Kentucky.
Here are the highlights from Pope’s first weekly radio show.
Mark Pope settles into weekly radio show routine
Pope’s first months on the job at Kentucky have been defined by his high-energy style, and that was on display again Monday night.
Seated next to Leach at Malone’s, Pope struck a gregarious tone on the radio while clad in a black UK letterman jacket. On the live stream of the radio show, Pope was shown signing items during the broadcast and communicating to in-person listeners.
This all took place at a table that was clad in blue and white UK pompoms, a Kentucky basketball, a UK jersey, a Kentucky basketball shoe and a large backdrop that featured the Kentucky school logo.
This certainly struck a different tone than the last UK basketball radio show that occurred in late March, when John Calipari spoke to Kentucky fans following another disappointing first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament.
Pope talks improvement despite undefeated start
Obviously, things have gone pretty well for Pope from an on-court perspective this season. His team is playing a fun, fast-paced style of basketball without a blemish in the loss column.
Kentucky has hit the 100-point mark in three of its five games, and the Wildcats are hitting 3-pointers at a historic clip for the program.
But, there are always improvements to be made.
On the radio show, Pope discussed some individual and team-wide improvements he’s targeting for the Cats.
“There’s not a lot that’s not on the do-better list right now. Which is the way it should be,” Pope joked. “We got exposed a couple times against Jackson State with our transition defense, especially second transition opportunities, kind of back-to-back transition opportunities.
We’d like to be better there.
We’re still working, and we will be all season long, on our defensive integrity and our communication on the defensive end.”
Additionally, Pope shared that before UK’s practice Monday, each player on the team was tasked with one “very specific thing” that they were to focus on improving.
“When you approach learning the game that way, it’s pretty effective,” Pope said. “It increases your development exponentially.”
Ex-Cat Ron Mercer calls in, talks with Mark Pope
Pope’s first radio show came with an unexpected, special guest.
Ex-Cat Ron Mercer — an All-America recruit and performer at Kentucky who won the 1996 NCAA title alongside Pope and made the 1997 national championship game with the Wildcats — called in to speak to his former teammate.
Mercer, who was selected with the No. 6 pick in the 1997 NBA draft, said that he sees a little bit of himself in both fifth-year UK guards Koby Brea and Jaxson Robinson.
“I like how he comes off the bench,” Mercer said of Brea, who is leading the nation in 3-point shooting percentage this season.
When discussing Brea, Mercer drew parallels
When discussing Brea, Mercer drew parallels to his coming off the bench while at UK at the behest of coach Rick Pitino.
A member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame, Mercer played in 432 NBA games across eight seasons in The Association. He was back in Lexington and Rupp Arena just a few weeks ago for an early-season UK game.
“I see a lot of similarities on this team where different guys are going to have opportunities to step up,” Mercer said, comparing this group of Wildcats to those he was a part of.
Mercer’s two UK squads went a combined 11-1 in the national postseason.
Former Kentucky basketball star Ron Mercer called in to speak with former UK teammate Mark Pope during Pope’s weekly radio show Monday night.
Former Kentucky basketball star Ron Mercer called in to speak with former UK teammate Mark Pope during Pope’s weekly radio show Monday night.
Mark Pope radio show schedule
In case you couldn’t tune in live Monday night — or catch a replay of the show on the Kentucky men’s basketball team’s Facebook page — there will be plenty more opportunities to listen to Pope on the radio this season.
Here are the future dates and show times for Pope’s weekly radio show. Times are tentative and subject to change.
▪ Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 7-8 p.m.
▪ Monday, Dec. 9 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, Dec. 16 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, Dec. 23 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, Dec. 30 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, Jan. 13 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, Jan. 20 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, Feb. 10 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, Feb. 17 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, Feb. 24 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, March 3 from 6 -7 p.m.
▪ Monday, March 10 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, March 17 from 6-7 p.m.
▪ Monday, March 24 from 6-7 p.m.
