Collin Chandler is Mark Pope’s first recruiting win at Kentucky

It is truly head on a swivel season for new head Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope. After adding Trent Noah to the roster on Wednesday, the Wildcats now have 10 scholarship players and are not done building yet.

On Friday night, Mark Pope joined Jeff Goodman on the Field of 68 to discuss the Kentucky job and building his first roster. The former BYU head coach loves how the pieces are coming together for the Wildcats.

“We’ve been really blessed to put together a roster that I think fits brilliantly what we’re trying to do. Andrew Carr was born to play for us. Koby Brea is the most efficient — look it up. He’s the most efficient high-mid, high-major player in the last decade offensively. He’s a 1.33 points per possession last year. The next closest guy is at 1.31,” Pope told Goodman. “I’ve never seen numbers of what he did last year ever. He is exactly us.”

“You think about Kerr Kriisa and Collin Chandler and this whole group. Brandon Garrison — this dude is just a rising star. I think the pieces are incredible with how they fit together and how they fit us. We couldn’t be more excited.”

Mark Pope labeled himself as an offensive-minded coach during the interview with Goodman but also recognized some of the early success Kentucky found finding defensive players in the transfer portal. Pope believes San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler “is probably the best defensive backcourt player in the country” and Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh “is right there with him”. Drexel transfer Amari Williams will provide some excellent rim protection. Pope went on to gush about Butler calling the transfer a “world-class winner and a world-class leader.”

The pieces have come together nicely for Kentucky despite not having a very long runway. Mark Pope likes where his program sits heading into the NBA Combine which should lead to some more player movement in college basketball.

Kentucky is home for Mark Pope

Mark Pope has been a busy man since accepting the head coaching job at Kentucky. However, the entire big process has been very much like a reunion for the former team captain and 1996 national champion. Pope has had a lot on his plate but is loving every moment so far in his return to his alma mater.

“This feels like home. When I first got here and we’re kind of doing the tour where you’re going around speaking to groups. I’d be standing there talking to a group of several hundred people, and as I’m speaking, and kind of making eye contact with people, I’m like ‘oh my gosh’ this is a teammate or this is one of my teachers from 30 years ago,” Pope said. “That’s just a spectacular experience for me. I’ve loved every second of it.”

Mark Pope is truly “one of us” for the Big Blue Nation. The wild press conference at Rupp Arena was proof of that. Kentucky fans are excited to have one of their own leading the program, and Mark Pope is ecstatic about the opportunity to return home.