Kentucky is college basketball's winningest program. But it's fallen short of that standard in recent years. Here's how Mark Pope aims to change that.

Kentucky basketball 7-footer Amari Williams had a big debut showing to begin the Mark Pope era at Rupp Arena as UK rolled to a win over Wright State.

Kentucky scored 103 points in its 41-point victory over Wright State on Monday night. (Yes, Pope wore the No. 41 during his playing days as a Wildcat. Karma.) That’s the highest point total by a Kentucky team for a brand new coach since Tubby Smith’s first edition defeated Morehead State 88-49. Those Cats went on to hang a banner.

Kentucky beat Wright State by 41 points in Mark Pope’s first game as the team’s head coach. Afterward, Pope talked about the importance of the evening.

After a decade and a half with Kentucky, former Wildcats head coach John Calipari is no longer leading the program. Now the head coach at Arkansas, the longtime face of the team brought a few of his former players to a new school in the SEC. In his absence, former BYU head coach Mark Pope is now running the show for Kentucky.

Monday will be a day that Kentucky head basketball coach Mark Pope remembers forever, his first game at the helm for his alma mater. Leading the Wildcats to a 103-62 win over Wright State to start off his tenure in Lexington the right way.

The Mark Pope era is officially off to a winning start for the Kentucky men’s basketball program. On Monday night, the Wildcats began the 2024-25 season with a dominant 103-62 home victory against Wright State of the Horizon League.

Otega Oweh scored 21 points, Koby Brea added 18 off the bench, and No. 23 Kentucky shot 60% to blow out Wright State 103-62 in Mark Pope’s Wildcat debut.

Ready for Kentucky basketball? Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats begin their season Monday. Get ready for the action with our preview coverage.