Kentucky

“We’ve got hope with Pope:” Businesses, former players share excitement of new UK hire

Published

3 weeks ago

April 12, 2024

Press Room

“We’ve got hope with Pope:” Businesses, former players share excitement of new UK hire

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Mark Pope’s hiring has had fans and former players talking all Friday long.

It all comes after what’s been a whirlwind of a week for Kentucky Basketball.

“Whether they wanted Cal back or not, everybody including Mitch Barnhart thought we had a coach…and then all of a sudden we didn’t,” said Cameron Mills, who played guard for UK from 1994 to 1998.

Many of those who followed the frenzy weren’t put at ease when Mark Pope emerged as a top candidate.

“I was surprised on Sunday night when that all was breaking – and I was equally surprised Thursday evening,” said former WKYT Sports Director Rob Bromley.

But initial hesitation transformed into hype as Pope’s hire sank in for Big Blue Nation.

“I’m ecstatic, man. I’m an old school Cats fan,” said Rick Paynter, owner of The Kentucky Shop. “I was at the ‘97 championship when we lost, even met Mark Pope at the ‘97 Championship when I was 12″

It’s also gotten businesses to find some fun ways to back the new Big Blue head coach. Rick Paynter and The Kentucky Shop are riding the wave of excitement with new shirts that read “We’ve got hope with Pope!” flying off the shelves.

“It’s been a crazy day, we’ve sold several thousand,” Paynter said. “So, we’ve got to go over and print some now.”

Pope wasn’t the highest scoring player, but former teammate Mills says he was among the hungriest.

“We hated him, because he outworked us all. He made us all look bad,” Mills said. “He’s the guy that will run through the wall first and then you can go through it easily, that’s who he is.”

“You could tell how much he wanted to be here,” Bromley said. “How much he enjoyed being a Wildcat, and I think that’s an important thing. You really got to want this job.”

Now that he’s coming back to Lexington, Mills says his fellow Untouchables from 1996 are behind him all the way.

“This is a meat grinder, and you have to handle it,” said Mills. “Mark Pope is ready to handle that meat grinder because he is one of the mentally toughest people I’ve ever been around.”

Pope’s introductory press conference is open to the public and is set for 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Rupp Arena.

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Kentucky

UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel drawing interest from Kentucky

Published

5 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Press Room

UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel drawing interest from Kentucky

The majority of the 2024-25 Kentucky Basketball is finished, but there are still four open scholarship spots. For that reason, we’re going to see Kentucky kicking the tires on just about every available option that emerges over the next month to fill those final spots.

We’ve got a new one to monitor in the form of UCLA Bruins forward Berke Buyuktuncel, who entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.

Per Jon Rothstein, Kentucky is among a host of schools that’ve contacted Berke, including Virginia, Ohio State, Louisville, Washington, and Iowa.

Sources: UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel is receiving interest from several schools which includes the following programs.
Nebraska
Virginia
Cincinnati
Washington
Butler
Ohio State
Oklahoma State
Kentucky
BYU
Iowa
Louisville
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— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 3, 2024

A class of 2023 signee out of Turkey, Berke was ranked 36th overall and seventh among power forwards in his class, according to 247 Sports. He’s represented his home country in international basketball competitions, including the summer of 2023 when he helped Turkey finish in third place at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.

The 6-foot-9, 245-pounder played in 26 games (eight starts) last season, averaging 4.5 points on 38.5% shooting (29.7% from 3-point range) and 2.5 rebounds per game. He attempted 37 3s on the season, connecting on 11, so he’s capable of stretching the floor, something Mark Pope has put a strong emphasis on with frontcourt transfers he’s contacted.

Kentucky’s frontcourt is going to rely heavily on Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, and Brandon Garrison to hold down the fort next season, so Berke could be a nice option as a fourth big man who would be competing for an 8th/9th man-type of role.

Whether Berke is open to that type of role or wants heavy playing minutes at a smaller program remains to be seen, but we know Kentucky has some level of interest in his services.

Check out some highlights of Berke in action!

A Sea of Blue comes loaded with the best Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and other fun stuff, so be sure to like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. Go CATS!

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Kentucky

Friday NBA Best Bets, Kentucky Derby Winner, and Kenny Mayne Joins

Published

12 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Press Room

Friday NBA Best Bets, Kentucky Derby Winner, and Kenny Mayne Joins

Cousin Sal is joined by Kenny Mayne to talk wiffle ball and the Kentucky Derby, then the D3 hops on to discuss their best bets for Friday’s NBA games, the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Kentucky Derby winner.

Host: Cousin Sal
Guests: Darren Szokoli, Brian Szokoli, Harry Gagnon, and Kenny Mayne
Producers: Michael Szokoli, Joel Solomon, Jack Wilson, Chris Wohlers, and Jonathan Frias

Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / RSS

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Kentucky

Ex-Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin Barred From Estranged Wife’s Home

Published

19 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Press Room

Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin lost access to a home he co-owns with his estranged wife after she complained to the court about his “aggressive and unsettling behavior.” The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Glenna Bevin accused the 57-year-old Republican politician of following her around in the home where she lives with their two children, peppering her with questions about their pending divorce, and staying until she went to bed. She also wanted Bevin, who lives in a different home the couple co-owns, held in contempt. Jefferson Circuit Judge Angela Johnson gave the ex-governor—who served from 2015 to 2019—a week to get any belongings from the home before he is barred from the property unless the court or his wife allows it. But she declined to hold him in contempt, and suggested that he is living in denial that his marriage is over. “While [Matt Bevin] admitted that he did not want the divorce, [he] seems to be trying to keep the parties’ relationship and maintain a ‘business as usual’ environment,” the judge wrote. “However, the truth of the matter is that the parties are getting a divorce. Normalcy and the ‘business as usual’ environment are gone.”

Read it at Lexington Herald-Leader

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