Mark Pope has done his best to bridge the gap between generations of Kentucky basketball history since taking over as head coach, most notably by bringing back dozens of legends across every era from Adolph Rupp to John Calipari for his introductory press conference. The 1996 national championship squad has been all in from day one, obviously, as have the likes of Jack “Goose” Givens, Rex Chapman and Richie Farmer, among a long list of others.
Shoot, Pope single-handedly brought Rick Pitino back from villain territory, Big Blue Nation ready to welcome back the Hall of Fame coach with open arms.
Maybe the biggest name Pope has connected with since landing the gig? None other than John Wall — Coach Cal’s first rockstar talent when he landed the Kentucky job.
The former No. 1 pick has been an outspoken supporter of Pope and Kentucky in the post-Calipari era while also making it clear he’ll always be a Coach Cal guy — fair given their history. And that’s what you’d hope for a player in his position, one who meant so much to the program in general, but also Calipari’s career. It was a win-win-win for all parties involved, everyone benefitting from the partnership between Wall and Kentucky under Coach Cal.
Wall’s relationship with Pope started back in May, the former Wildcat introducing himself in Indianapolis at Nike EYBL Session III, talking and sharing a hug at the high-profile recruiting event. He later said that moment was “all love and respect,” adding “it was exciting to just get a little chemistry and build a relationship with him.”
“We need your help”
Now, Pope is sharing his side of the story and what his relationship with Wall means to Kentucky as he gets rolling in Lexington.
“Just from my standpoint, John, you being around the program — come on,” Pope said on Wall’s podcast, Point Game. “… The one thing is, like — we need your help. That’s just it. Like, John Wall — there were actually surveys that I saw recently that said John Wall is currently the most popular Kentucky player on the face of the planet right now. Those were actually the results of a survey done locally.”
Pope’s ultimate goal is to connect generations and make Kentucky basketball a melting pot of eras, Wall a clear anchor for the Coach Cal era. His impact on this program needs no explanation, and he wants the former Wildcat to be around as often as his schedule allows for it.
“This is it. The one thing I know about Kentucky basketball is it’s a family. It’s been that from when I was here to the generations before and the generations after,” Pope told Wall. “I do think everyone who has put on this jersey, it means something to us. We’re all trying to be as successful as you can. The weight of John and his legacy here, what he means to this program — I don’t need to tell you guys, but Kentucky was not at its finest moment when you, Eric (Bledsoe) and DeMarcus (Cousins) rolled in here with a crew and fixed it.
“You guys fixed it in one season with Coach Calipari. That means a lot and that is always going to mean a lot. That’s always going to mean a lot here at Kentucky and all of us being together is what separates Kentucky from everywhere else.”
Wall pledges to return to Lexington
Wall understood the assignment when he arrived on campus, as Pope would put it. He knew what that group needed to accomplish in terms of winning games — they did plenty of that — and establishing a culture, the ultimate rebrand.
And as Kentucky undergoes its next rebrand under Pope, Wall wants to be a part of this one, as well.
“That was my goal. That was our goal going into that year, like, ‘We’ve got to bring basketball back to life here.’ We know what the history has been there,” Wall told Pope. “I’m definitely going to come to games, for sure. You know that. I’ve definitely got to continue my ritual of throwing up the Y. They’ll definitely get to see me.”
Wall’s co-host, C.J. Toledano, asked the former Kentucky star if he had any advice for Pope as he navigates life as the head coach in Lexington. His response? The ’96 national champion knows everything there is to know about being a player and the expectations that come with representing this program.
If he sticks with what has been working up to this point and it translates to wins on the floor, as expected, Wall believes Pope will do just fine.
“I really don’t think I can give any advice because he knows. He played there, he’s seen the experience,” Wall said. “For me, it was different, they had been to NITs so we were just trying to get Kentucky basketball back on the map, put them on that platform. For him, I think he already knows the right way to go with it. He knows how much it means to him and how much it means to his family.”
Pope is ready for the moment — and Wall is ready to help
If he did have any advice, though, it’d be to drive home the magnitude of this situation to his players, certainly as the season approaches. Reality will hit them at Big Blue Madness, just as it did for him — his legendary welcome-to-college moment.
When that happens, let them soak in the emotions that come with it.
“Just being around that environment, being around those fans, you know how much they love basketball. Having your first practice, instilling in them how you want the program to go and how you want them to play,” Wall added. “Still figuring that out, but I think just walking around campus, and when they get to go to their first scrimmage or preseason game, they don’t really know how much it means to play for Big Blue Nation.”
And however he’s able to help, Wall will be there. Just pick up the phone and call.
“I think you got them in a great position. I hope you have a great first year, I know it’s gonna be exciting,” he told Pope. “You can’t wait to walk out there and put your suit or whatever you’re gonna wear for your first game, just to see how loud the crowd gets. I think it’s gonna be an amazing experience for you.
“I’m happy for you to have that job, I’m definitely happy to have the opportunity to come out and support. You have my information, so we’re locked in.”
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