Last update images today City Kitchen Charlotte
![city kitchen charlotte <h3 class=](https://hellosensible.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/things-to-do-in-charlotte-2-1.jpg)
Mark Pope understood the comparisons he would face at Kentucky as the successor to John Calipari, who led the Wildcats to a national title and some of their most fruitful years before his tenure soured in recent years.
But Pope, who was hired in April from BYU following Calipari's departure to Arkansas, said Tuesday that while he respects Calipari's legacy, he can win only if he is authentic in his approach to the job.
"Well, the one thing I know is [Calipari] is one of the greatest coaches to ever coach here," Pope said Tuesday at a news conference in Lexington. "I mean, he went to four Final Fours in five years and coached a million draft picks and represented Kentucky really, really well and gave his heart and soul to this place. As [Big Blue Nation], and I'm just as much a member of [Big Blue Nation] as anyone, all of us will be grateful to him forever. And he's a Hall of Fame coach.
"But one of the things that you learn really early on if you have great mentors in this game is that you just have to coach you. I have to be me. I can't be [Rick Pitino], I can't be [Tubby Smith], I can't be [Calipari]."
In his first season, Pope will turn to a fleet of transfers, including former San Diego State star Lamont Butler and former BYU standout Jaxson Robinson, to lead the Wildcats through a stacked SEC slate full of national title contenders, including Calipari's Razorbacks.
But Pope said he won't do it by emulating Calipari or the other great coaches who've led Kentucky in the past.
"It would be disingenuous and my guys wouldn't actually believe it if I tried to take on that persona or personality or even approach to the game," Pope said. "We're us. ... I'm a big believer in what we do and I love our staff. I think right now we're just trying to do everything we can to build on this incredible legacy that is Kentucky basketball and do it the way that we know how to do it and really believe it's going to work."
Kentucky will face Arkansas just once this season, and the game will be played in Rupp Arena. Pope said Calipari has been helpful throughout his transition despite any animosity that might remain between the fan base and the former Wildcats coach.
"[Calipari] has been super generous," Pope said. "I've had a chance to speak with him several times. He's always been generous. Throughout my whole career, he's been so great to me. But as you step into this job, this is one of a kind. We've got to go do this the best way we can."
![Things To Do In Charlotte 2 1](https://hellosensible.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/things-to-do-in-charlotte-2-1.jpg)
![Charlottes Kitchen 006](https://www.charlotteskitchen.co.nz/library/slideshows/charlottes-kitchen-006.jpg)
![Large](https://images.otstatic.com/prod1/30721647/3/large.jpg)
![Shutterstock 1158438217](https://www.worldatlas.com/upload/ab/2d/c7/shutterstock-1158438217.jpg)
![The City Kitch 88386](https://tkd-images-production.s3.amazonaws.com/kitchen-images/11601/the-city-kitch-88386.png)
![The City Kitch 72997](https://tkd-images-production.s3.amazonaws.com/kitchen-images/1344/the-city-kitch-72997.png)
![AF1QipNS RbAGsYDFSxwuJZlvLCy5m66cPFT GJr54 Tw1600 H1000 K No](https://topbrunchspots.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AF1QipNS-rbAGsYDFSxwuJZlvLCy5m66cPFT-GJr54_tw1600-h1000-k-no.jpeg)
![Charlotte Kitchen 1200x907](https://tbcdn.talentbrew.com/company/288/cms/img/self-service/charlotte-kitchen_1200x907.jpeg)
![E7995cff704e24a4316e1cdc15348df2](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e7/99/5c/e7995cff704e24a4316e1cdc15348df2.jpg)
![O](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/GFbB6HKmPgQlp0K2GcHl_g/o.jpg)
![1670865026221 F8a6e3c5ba894c11896366b4f0ef6ae5](https://thevendry.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=1920,width=1920,fit=contain,metadata=none/https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/uploads.thevendry.co/24984/1670865026221_f8a6e3c5ba894c11896366b4f0ef6ae5.jpg)
![Cuisine Charlotte 8](https://cuisinesaction.com/media/catalog/product/cache/8c1d7bf18036d611bb1e936e289a5dbb/c/u/cuisine-charlotte-8.jpg)
![Regus City Center HQ (1138) Charlotte USA Kitchen 525 North Tryon Street ?height=675](https://cdn.commercialcafe.com/images/199DB47A-E703-4F09-A158-3072E326FAD8/Regus City Center HQ (1138) Charlotte USA Kitchen - 525 North Tryon Street.jpg?height=675)
![The City Kitch 49561](https://tkd-images-production.s3.amazonaws.com/kitchen-images/1344/the-city-kitch-49561.png)
![Maxresdefault](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NUQSW3-qcU0/maxresdefault.jpg)
![Charlotte CK 01 1024x682](https://www.charlottearchitects.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Charlotte-CK-01-1024x682.jpg)
![2024 City Guide Cover Graphic Web V2 ?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&fm=webp&ixlib=php 3.1.0&q=80&v=1704300986](https://crva.imgix.net/banner-images/2024-City-Guide-Cover-Graphic-Web-v2.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&fm=webp&ixlib=php-3.1.0&q=80&v=1704300986)
![BdGqrBPTLrHBEKvB](https://openkitchen.mapforfood.com/images/BdGqrBPTLrHBEKvB.jpeg)
![Cwc 1540 West Blvd Bldg*900xx1802 1014 668 357](https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11518188/cwc-1540-west-blvd-bldg*900xx1802-1014-668-357.png)
![Restaurant 1570714159 ?size=small](https://d2s742iet3d3t1.cloudfront.net/restaurants/restaurant-33640000000000000/restaurant_1570714159.jpg?size=small)
![2bf24e 546ad089ff984c16aee447253910be2b~mv2](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2bf24e_546ad089ff984c16aee447253910be2b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_745,h_745,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/2bf24e_546ad089ff984c16aee447253910be2b~mv2.jpg)
![Large](https://images.otstatic.com/prod1/50861130/2/large.jpg)
![City Kitch Mk011*900xx5104 2871 0 266](https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11848578/city-kitch-mk011*900xx5104-2871-0-266.jpg)
![348s](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/xr8ybrwk7i3r5VWaoqKosA/348s.jpg)
![Kitchen 2WEB V2 FillWzk3Miw2NTBd](https://www.jayman.com/assets/Uploads/Kitchen-2WEB-v2__FillWzk3Miw2NTBd.jpg)
![98175001 241884597266819 3144572434754043904 N E1658549927282 768x768](https://charlotteskitchendsm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/98175001_241884597266819_3144572434754043904_n-e1658549927282-768x768.jpg)
![Cuisine Charlotte 2](https://cuisinesaction.com/media/catalog/product/cache/8c1d7bf18036d611bb1e936e289a5dbb/c/u/cuisine-charlotte-2.jpg)
![App Pic7](https://www.americascuisine.com/mobile_App/gallery/3724/app_pic7.jpg)
![91eecfce B4ed 48fe B380 700b25a8df83 1140x641](https://media.wcnc.com/assets/WCNC/images/91eecfce-b4ed-48fe-b380-700b25a8df83/91eecfce-b4ed-48fe-b380-700b25a8df83_1140x641.jpg)
![Photo1jpg](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-p/13/56/e4/cb/photo1jpg.jpg)
![Charlotte CK 02](https://www.charlottearchitects.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Charlotte-CK-02.jpg)
![Image7](https://carolinacommercialkitchen.net/files/2020/04/image7.jpeg)
![Charlotte26 Kitchen2 Image FillWzk3Miw2NTBd](https://www.jayman.com/assets/HomeGalleries/Charlotte26-Kitchen2-Image__FillWzk3Miw2NTBd.jpg)