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The Mark Pope effect: How one coach is rapidly changing Kentucky's entire culture

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Mark Pope isn't just building a team for one season; he's building a program with a new identity.

University of Kentucky’s new men’s basketball coach Mark Pope applauds as Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart introduces him to the thousands of fans in Rupp Arena for his press conference on Sunday, April 14, 2024. | Clare Grant/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

There's a different energy around the Kentucky basketball program. It's not just the new faces on the court or the new offensive system being installed; it's a fundamental shift in the program's cloth, and it all stems from head coach Mark Pope.