PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 21: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts to a call during the first half of a game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 21, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
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Birmingham, Alabama — John Calipari will be Mark Pope’s distant admirer as he gets ready for his debut as Kentucky men’s basketball coach. Calipari said his previous school made the “perfect” decision in appointing Pope as its new head coach.
Pope was the captain of the Wildcats’ 1995-96 team, which won a national championship under Rick Pitino. Calipari left Kentucky in March for the Arkansas vacancy. Despite their recent changes, Calipari and Pope’s connection has remained strong.
Arkansas and Kentucky on Feb. 1 in Lexington, Calipari said he’ll be supportive of his replacement.
“I think they hired a perfect guy for that job,” Calipari said Tuesday at SEC media day. “And part of it is because he played there, graduated from there. He has a heart for the place, and he has an idea of what that is. … It’s a different place if you’re just walking in. He’s been there and understands it.”
When asked about his decision to leave Kentucky amid a turbulent finish that included two first-round exits in the past three NCAA tournaments, Calipari said those interested could read his past comments.
I’ve talked about why I did what I did,” he said. “I’ve talked, so what I want to do today is talk about the SEC. This league has gotten ridiculously hard. I want to talk about my team, my roster. But I’ve talked about all that stuff. I mean, you can look it up and see what I’ve said. It’s going to be me saying it over again.”
Calipari was happy to praise Pope, though, a sentiment the former BYU coach had echoed earlier in the day about Calipari.
“He’s a Hall of Fame coach, as a die-hard Kentucky fan and a player,” Pope said. “I’m grateful for everything he’s done for our university. He’s also been a good friend. He is a terrific mentor.
We’ve gone through our coaching journey, and so we wish him the best in everything he does and we’ll be grateful for everything that he did at Kentucky. We’ll be cheering for him [except on] Feb. 1st.”
At Arkansas, Calipari said he’ll need time to build his culture. And while players like ex-Florida Atlantic star Johnell Davis and former five-star recruit DJ Wagner have eased the transition, overall, Calipari said he’s focused on where he’s at, not what he left behind.
“I am fully immersed in what I’m doing,” Calipari said. “You won’t believe this. I’m doing a lot of stuff, and I don’t have time for any of the other stuff, any of the things out there, but I’ll be rooting for [Pope]. Come on, man. Fifteen years, I gave my heart and soul I want them to do well.”
