Kitchen Collection Stores 2024-06-29 Kitchen Collection Stores - Last update images today Kitchen Collection Stores Player Ratings: Messi Dangerous As Argentina Edge Past Chile 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." Shop Kitchen 41c5fb0e127663b968faf9670f71e89b 2c063595 Bf7e 448e B7e8 A1f40e2b7bf9 Kitchen Collection Edited ?crop=3077,1731,x1,y237&width=3077&height=1731&format=pjpg&auto=webp 36dbe6144e981399cf061ae7396ab682 OAH Downtown Kitchen 4 1 Brand 1500x1000px 800 4956 492A4466 Maxresdefault One Stop Shop 640 IMG 7616 492A4383 35e2461736b3636c9cbfcb7fe15774a6 Image 80f308fac4230019ed19237a2d1882b0 Closing Down Nj 1200x578 Maxresdefault Ff803987d0ca58e02215aeef1bf74b8b 328074423 166834969466482 2995024199535177187 N.webp F2339ec62d68d55cec021015e0067a8b D4b4418fc1ad7d46a0838f0f3756c1e0 B05e7859f1bb40b271a0dbd16e0ef620 B74a0cbaa677df0d9ba4c3c3a281b70b 1000 F 579032572 IA0v3YwDBYHIjNbJGQpkK0TrGzdE9ug0 Ab735a099a7700b7e010418044b7a793 6a0105362badb1970b01bb09be39ed970d Fb64fabf Eb73 4571 A0db Cae21ed9eb9e D0b356a08dfe213e100595bb24524934 Image Showrooms IK180473 902658f3f8836e6bf550085b3ede8888