Scheduling the nation’s No. 1 team for a preseason exhibition?
For most programs, it might seem insane.
For Kentucky? It’s just another ho-hum day at the office. Mark Pope knows this, and after his Wildcats
impressed against Purdue, he couldn’t resist a playful jab at the fanbase he knows so well.
A challenge BBN secretly loves
“It was probably the most fun exhibition game I’ve ever been a part of,” Pope beamed postgame. He then addressed the idea that fans might have questioned the tough matchup, with tongue firmly planted in cheek. “I know BBN was totally frustrated about playing uh the number one ranked team in the country in exhibition,” he said, surely aware that Kentucky fans live for these high-stakes games, “but I like it. So, you guys are gonna have to live with it.”
That last line was a wink. It was Pope acknowledging the unique, perhaps slightly crazy, standard at Kentucky, where fans expect the toughest challenges. “You’re gonna have to live with it” was less a command and more a playful challenge back, knowing full well that Big Blue Nation wouldn’t want it any other way.
Clarity through combat
Behind the playful banter, however, lies Pope’s core philosophy. He genuinely does like the challenge because he craves clarity. He believes stress-testing his team against the best, even in a game that doesn’t count, reveals truths that easy wins mask.
“This is exactly what it is, guys. We’ve been practicing for… four and a half weeks. And so, that’s just what this is. Like, this is a preseason game,” Pope stated, putting the result in perspective while emphasizing the value of the intense competition itself. He wants his team exposed early to pressure, size, and potential failure, because that’s where true growth happens. You never know what you have unless you have to give it all.
Faith in facing the fire
This mindset connects to the deeper themes of faith and belief Pope often discusses. It’s a conviction that embracing difficult tests, rather than shying away from them, ultimately forges a stronger, more resilient team capable of handling the pressures of March. Kentucky’s roster is still gelling, but Pope isn’t shielding them. He’s throwing them into the fire, trusting that the experience will refine them. You will either rise and be better or fail spectacularly.
The impressive performance against Purdue certainly validated the approach in the short term. But Pope’s playful challenge to the fanbase was a reminder that this tough scheduling isn’t a bug; it’s a feature. It’s part of the shared understanding between the coach and Big Blue Nation: at Kentucky, you don’t run from the fight; you run towards it. And everyone just has to live with the thrilling, sometimes nerve-wracking, results.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion
