For Mark Pope, job one as UK men’s basketball coach is beating these 7 teams

As a “rivalry coach,” Mark Pope was solid at BYU.

In Pope’s five seasons directing the Cougars’ program (2019 through 2024), BYU went 3-2 in its intrastate grudge fest with Utah.

As the new Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball head man, Pope’s primary tasks are, in order, to get UK back to winning postseason tournament contests and to claiming SEC championships.

The third main responsibility of a Kentucky basketball coach is to produce rivalry success in games against the teams that the Big Blue Nation likes the least.

Of the six teams that rank as UK’s primary men’s hoops rivals — Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, North Carolina and Tennessee — ex-Cats coach John Calipari went a combined 49-31 during his 15-year stint (2009 through 2024) as top Cat.

As with so many other facets of Calipari’s Kentucky tenure, the Wildcats’ performance over the past four seasons in “rivalry games” has not been at the “gold standard.”

Since the 2020-21 season, UK is 10-10 against its primary rivals — 0-1 vs. Duke; 0-0 vs. Indiana; 1-3 vs. Kansas; 2-1 vs. Louisville; 2-1 vs. North Carolina; and 5-4 against Tennessee.

Looking to the immediate future, Calipari’s self-exile to Arkansas likely installs the Razorbacks as a seventh member of the top tier of Kentucky men’s basketball rivals.

So as Pope prepares for his debut season directing the Big Blue, this is the status of the rivalries that he inherits with the teams the UK fan base most yearns to defeat:

Arkansas

Kentucky’s all-time record vs. Arkansas : 36-14.

UK’s mark vs. the Razorbacks in the Calipari era : 13-7.

Cats’ record vs. Hogs over the past four seasons : 3-3.

Arkansas coach John Calipari’s all-time mark vs. Kentucky : 2-4.

The skinny for 2024-25 : It has already been announced by the SEC that Calipari will bring Arkansas — featuring four ex-UK players and three former Wildcats recruiting commits — into Rupp Arena to play in 2024-25.

It will be the first time Calipari has coached at Rupp as the visitor since Dec. 4, 1991, when Rick Pitino and UK blitzed Cal and Massachusetts 90-69.

Suffice to say, the reunion figures to produce an all-time electric Rupp Arena atmosphere.

DUKE

Kentucky’s all-time record vs. Duke : 12-11.

UK’s mark vs. the Blue Devils in the Calipari era : 1-3.

Cats’ record vs. Devils over the past four seasons : 0-1.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer’s all-time mark vs. Kentucky : 0-0.

The skinny for 2024-25 : Kentucky will face Duke in the State Farm Champions Classic in Atlanta on Nov. 12.

If the Wildcats prevail against a Blue Devils roster led by incoming freshman hoops phenom Cooper Flagg, it would be only UK’s third win over Duke in the past 12 meetings between the teams.

Such a victory would provide an early turbocharge to the Pope coaching era.

Indiana

Kentucky’s all-time record vs. Indiana : 32-25.

UK’s mark vs. the Hoosiers in the Calipari era : 3-2.

Cats’ record vs. IU over the past four seasons : 0-0.

Indiana coach Mike Woodson’s all-time mark vs. Kentucky : 0-0.

The skinny for 2024-25 : For the 13th consecutive regular season, there is no game scheduled between ancient border rivals Kentucky and Indiana.

That will change in 2025-26, however, when Indiana will commence a four-year contract to play Kentucky by facing the Wildcats at Rupp Arena on Dec. 20, 2025.

Kansas

Kentucky’s all-time record vs. Kansas : 24-12.

UK’s mark vs. the Jayhawks in the Calipari era : 5-6.

Cats’ record vs. KU over the past four seasons : 1-3.

Kansas coach Bill Self’s all-time mark vs. Kentucky : 9-6.

The skinny for 2024-25 : UK and KU will not meet in the coming regular season.

With the demise of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, the Wildcats and Jayhwaks will likely only be playing each other once every three seasons in the Champions Classic moving forward.

LOUISVILLE

Kentucky’s all-time record vs. Louisville : 39-17.

UK’s mark vs. the Cardinals in the Calipari era : 13-3.

Cats’ record vs. U of L over the past four seasons : 2-1.

Louisville coach Pat Kelsey’s all-time mark vs. Kentucky : 0-1.

The skinny for 2024-25 : The initial UK vs. U of L coaching matchup between Pope and Kelsey will take place Dec. 14 at Rupp Arena.

Given how one-sided Kentucky’s historic advantage has been over Louisville and with the Wildcats defending their home court, this is a game Pope needs to put in the “W” column.

North Carolina

Kentucky’s all-time record vs. North Carolina : 18-25.

UK’s mark vs. the Tar Heels in the Calipari era : 8-4.

Cats’ record vs. UNC over the past four seasons : 2-1.

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis’ all-time mark vs. Kentucky : 0-2.

The skinny for 2024-25 : After playing a thriller last season in the CBS Sports Classic (an 87-83 UK win), Kentucky and North Carolina will not meet during the 2024-25 regular season.

Tennessee

Kentucky’s all-time record vs. Tennessee : 161-78.

UK’s mark vs. the Volunteers in the Calipari era : 19-13.

Cats’ record vs. the Vols over the past four seasons : 5-4.

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes’ all-time mark vs. Kentucky : 12-12.

The skinny for 2024-25 : The SEC has already announced that UK and UT will play twice in 2024-25.

One way Pope can quickly establish his own identity as Kentucky coach would be faring better against Rick Barnes and UT than Calipari — 10-11 vs. Barnes since he went to Tennessee in 2015-16 — did.

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