Kentucky
New Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope arrives at Bluegrass airport
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – University of Kentucky’s new men’s basketball coach Mark Pope has arrived back in the commonwealth after landing in Lexington Saturday afternoon.
“This is like true blue at all angles,” said Kathleen Raque, a member of Big Blue Nation and Louisville resident.
The hiring of Mark Pope came as the names of multiple candidates were being floated around for the role.
As the news settles in, some in Big Blue Nation are gearing up for the new era of Kentucky men’s basketball.
“The more I’ve talked to people, the more I’ve sort of even researched it myself, I think that he will bring a lot of good new energy to the program,” said Russell Glass, a sophomore at UK. “Being an alumnus, […] he’ll care about it a lot in a way that I don’t think a lot of other people would.”
Pope played for the Cats in the 90s, serving as a captain for the University of Kentucky’s 1996 national championship team.
“I love all of the people who are saying ‘in Pope we hope,’ I think that’s a great saying,” said Raque.
In Pope, some fans hope to see a revitalized program.
“BYU did not have NIL funding or the recruiting name that Kentucky has. Kentucky has all of the resources college basketball could ask for,” said Caleb Lane, a student at Indiana University.
With the news still fresh, there are still questions about how Pope will compare to his predecessor, Coach John Calipari, who left UK for the University of Arkansas heading coaching job.
“I’m curious how much of the players coming in was for the UK nameplate or how much was for him,” said Mario Garza, a sophomore at UK. “I’m curious how Mark Pope is going to go about recruiting and if he’s going to even be able to come close to what Coach Cal was able to do.”
Even with questions still in the air, members of the UK faithful are putting their hope in Pope.
“I don’t think the pressure will bother him because he had the pressure as a player,” said Raque. “I know it’s going to be different, but we are supporting him, I hope he knows that.”
Pope is the just the 8th UK men’s basketball coach of the modern era.
A Mark Pope news conference will be held at Rupp Arena on Sunday, April 14. It is an event that is open the public.
Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. It is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. While a ticket is not needed, it is treated as any event with the clear bag policy.
Copyright 2024 WKYT. All rights reserved.
Kentucky
Here's what will be on Northern Kentucky ballots Tuesday
Kentucky voters will go to the polls Tuesday, May 21, to weigh in on the nation’s presidential primaries and a number of other local elections.
Northern Kentucky voters will also consider the primary election of the state’s 4th Congressional District, currently held by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie. He’s facing two other Republican challengers, Eric Deters and Michael McGinnis, in the primary.
Boone County
Voters in Boone County will also consider primaries for the 60th, 61st, 66th and 69th Statehouse districts, as well as the 11th state Senate district. Three Boone County Board of Education candidates will also be on the ballot. Residents of Walton and Florence will also weigh in on city government primaries there.
You can find more information at the Boone County Clerk’s Office.
2024 Kentucky Voter Guide: Primary Edition
Campbell County
Campbell County voters will vote in a primary election for Kentucky’s 67th Statehouse district. Residents of Newport will also cast ballots for the city’s mayoral and commission primaries, and residents of other cities like Dayton, Bellevue and Fort Thomas will vote on city commissions. Find out more at the Campbell County Clerk’s Office.
Kenton County
Residents of Kenton County will consider nominees for Kentucky’s 61st, 64th and 69th Statehouse districts. They’ll also weigh in on county commission candidates. Covington residents will see primary elections for mayor and city commission, and residents in other Kenton County municipalities will vote for city council or city commission candidates. More information is available at the Kenton County Clerk’s Office.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. local time. You’ll need government-issued ID to vote.
Kentucky
Kentucky Newsmakers 5/19: Ky. Sec. of State Michael Adams; God’s Pantry Food Bank CEO Michael Halligan
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – On the latest edition of Kentucky Newsmakers, WKYT’s Bill Bryant talks with Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams and God’s Pantry Food Bank CEO Michael Halligan.
First, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams is here as voters have been going to the polls for early voting before Tuesday’s primary.
Later, we’ll get an update from God’s Pantry Food Bank CEO Michael Halligan on hunger in Kentucky and their efforts to address it.
Copyright 2024 WKYT. All rights reserved.
Kentucky
Could Kentucky land the top 2025 basketball prospect?
Now that Mark Pope has mostly finished putting together his 2024-25 roster, he will shift his focus to recruiting the 2025 class. What better place is there to start than with the number one overall player?
Yesterday, Coach Pope offered AJ Dybantsa, who is the number one overall player in the 2025 class. Dybantsa was a member of the 2026 class but reclassified and will look to be a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Coach Pope and many other top coaches were at the EYBL event in Indianapolis, where Dybantsa and many other top prospects were. It sounds like Dybantsa really does want to play at Kentucky so Pope will have a chance here. It sounds like Coach Calipari will try and get him to Fayetteville and Bruce Pearl is trying to pull him to Auburn but Coach Pope will make a run at the classes top prospect.
If Coach Pope is going to succeed at Kentucky, he will need to have the perfect mix of veteran stars and one-and-done McDonald’s All-American type of player. If he is able to land Dybantsa, he can achieve that balance.
This is definitely a recruitment Kentucky fans need to keep an eye on.
Here is On3’s scouting report on Dybantsa, “AJ Dybantsa is a lengthy and wiry 6-foot-7, maybe 6-foot-8 wing. He has a slippery and smooth handle in the open floor that allows him to attack the basket downhill. He is a bouncy athlete at the rim, finishing high above in transition. Dybantsa has a smooth jump shot and can create his own shots off the bounce. He has the length and upside to be very good when he is locked in on the defensive end. With a 2007 birthday, he has the foundation of all the tools; it will simply be about continuing to get stronger and developing the vast skill base. He is tracking as one of the top players in his class.”
-
News1 week ago
Skeletal remains found almost 40 years ago identified as woman who disappeared in 1968
-
World1 week ago
India Lok Sabha election 2024 Phase 4: Who votes and what’s at stake?
-
Politics1 week ago
Tales from the trail: The blue states Trump eyes to turn red in November
-
World1 week ago
Borrell: Spain, Ireland and others could recognise Palestine on 21 May
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”: Disney's New Kingdom is Far From Magical (Movie Review)
-
World1 week ago
Ukraine’s military chief admits ‘difficult situation’ in Kharkiv region
-
World1 week ago
Catalans vote in crucial regional election for the separatist movement
-
Politics1 week ago
North Dakota gov, former presidential candidate Doug Burgum front and center at Trump New Jersey rally