Mark Pope has refused to let the transition of power in Lexington be anything but peaceful, raving about the job John Calipari did at Kentucky and embracing the Hall of Fame-sized shoes he has to fill with the Wildcats. His predecessor’s departure to Arkansas may have been polarizing for those on the outside looking in, but for the new guy taking over, he’s happy to admit he’s rooting for Calipari’s success.

Well, outside of their head-to-head battle inside Rupp Arena on February 1, of course.

“You’ll never hear me say a negative word about Coach Cal, because there’s not a lot to say,” Pope said in his first-ever SEC Media Day on Tuesday. “He’s a Hall of Fame coach. As a diehard Kentucky fan and alumnus and former player, I’m grateful for everything, all the incredible things that Cal accomplished at the University of Kentucky.

“And he’s also been a good friend, he’s been a terrific mentor. … We’ll be cheering for him every day like crazy, except for February 1.”

No controversy there. And there won’t be any from Coach Cal, either — no matter the clicks and headlines that’d pull.

When asked about his unique relationship with Pope and his thoughts on the new head coach’s first six months on the job, Calipari said there is no better person to replace him in Lexington than the guy Mitch Barnhart hired back in April. It’s a perfect fit, someone who understands the magnitude of the job.

“I think they hired the perfect guy for that job,” Calipari told KSR at SEC Media Day. “Part of it is because he played there, graduated from there, has a heart for the place and has an idea of what that is. When I walked in, I had Coach (Joe. B) Hall. I had Coach (Tubby) Smith too, but it was Coach Hall. It’s a different place if you’re just walking in, but he’s been there and understands it.”

Calipari hasn’t obsessed over Pope’s every move and the day-to-day at Kentucky since he left — he’s got a lot on his plate, he says — but there is nothing but love in his heart for the place he called home for 15 years.

“He and I have talked. I am fully immersed in what I’m doing. I’m like — you won’t believe this. I’m doing a lot of stuff, and I don’t have time for any of the other stuff, any of the things out there,” Calipari told KSR. “I’ll be rooting for ’em. I want Kentucky (to do well). Come on, man. 15 years. I gave them my heart and soul.”

Like Pope, Calipari will be rooting for his former program to do well — again, on most days.

“You think I want — I want them to do well. Except on what date? (February 1.) OK, that date,” he joked.

Coach Cal has always said he wanted Kentucky to be left in good hands the day he walked away. Looking back six months later, the Hall of Fame coach is confident it is with Mark Pope leading the way.

“He’s a good man and a terrific basketball coach,” Calipari said. “They hired the right guy. They really did.”

John Calipari is getting ready for his first season with the Arkansas Razorbacks after spending 15 seasons in Lexington. It’s a big change for him, but one coach in the SEC who has known him for decades thinks he will do well in Fayetteville.

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes spoke at SEC Media Day and talked about his thoughts on Calipari’s transition to Arkansas. Barnes described him as a “winner” wherever he goes. The two go way back, and if there is someone that knows Calipari the best, it’s Rick Barnes.

“We go back a long time and we started a relationship back in 1975-76 at the University of Pittsburgh camp that the we both worked. …We’ve had a dear friendship since that time. He’ll do great (at Arkansas). Wherever he’s gone he’s built a winner. He’s one of the great coaches of all time. He will make it even tougher than it’s ever been to play at Arkansas, and I’m happy for him because I think he’s happy, and what he did at Kentucky was really unbelievable if you look back on it and his time there. But what he did at Memphis, UMass, everywhere he’s been, he’s winner and he will continue to do that.”

– Rick Barnes on Calipari.

That’s some very high praise from a close friend of Calipari that has known him for many years. It is also very interesting though, with the way Barnes has had Calipari’s number as of late in head-to-head matchups. At the end of the day, Calipari is a Hall of Fame coach that really has had success everywhere he’s been.

With Calipari taking a lot of his players with him to Arkansas, it will be interesting as to how his first season in Fayetteville goes after spending 15 years as the Kentucky head coach.

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According to reports, Torilena is accused of obstructing government work, tampering with physical evidence, and mistreating a corpse. Authorities have hinted that further charges could be added as the investigation progresses. Allegedly, the strained relationship between Torilena and her mother, Trudy Fields, stemmed from the daughter’s involvement in witchcraft practices, which reportedly worsened their bond.

Gruesome discovery by police

Kentucky State Police revealed that the investigation began when a man called the authorities last Wednesday, reporting the discovery of a mutilated body. The police were dispatched to the home on Brierly Ridge Road around noon. Upon their arrival, Torilena refused to cooperate, and officers had to investigate further.

It was in the backyard that police made the shocking discovery. Drag marks led them to a blood-stained mattress and the dismembered body of Trudy Fields. The unidentified caller, a property contractor, allegedly followed the marks to the gruesome scene, where he found Trudy’s remains lying in the grass.

Disturbing scene inside the house

The investigation took a more disturbing turn as officers explored the inside of the house. A blood-stained stick and additional body parts were found on the back veranda, further intensifying the horror. Police also found body parts reportedly cooked in a stainless steel pot inside the oven.

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The contractor, who had last seen Trudy the previous day, claimed that she had called him for property-related work. He also alleged that Torilena’s witchcraft practices had contributed to tensions between mother and daughter, which likely culminated in this tragic incident.

Witchcraft allegations and police standoff

As the investigation unfolded, police had to use tear gas to force Torilena out of the house around 11 p.m., as she initially resisted arrest. When she emerged, blood was reportedly visible on her face, hands, and clothes. Authorities are still piecing together the details of this brutal murder, and Torilena remains in custody.