Although the crushing 85-65 loss to an unranked Ohio State team was a setback for Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats, all hope is far from lost. The team remains on track to make it big in the SEC, provided they tighten up their defense and fill a few glaring gaps. With a coach as dedicated as Pope, things will turn around. But for now, the Ohio State game still stings.

Speaking candidly after the loss, the coach expressed how tough it was to stomach. When asked to rate his gift-wrapping skills during a recent call-in show, he couldn’t help but tie it back to that tough loss. “If we’re talking about the Ohio State game, I’d rank [my gift-wrapping skills] as an F,” he joked. “Man, it pained me to leave BBN with that gift. That was not what we intended.”

Clearly, the Wildcats’ head coach is taking this one to heart, and who can blame him? Losing by 20 to an unranked team is a tough pill to swallow. However, according to the head coach, his daughters and wife, Lee Anne, give his “insane” gift-wrapping skills an A, even if he has a habit of overusing tape. 

The coach also shared sweet Christmas advice. “Yeah, that’s the part I was like, ‘We’ve got to burn that part of the tape,’” he admitted. “It usually takes me like—I’m trying to be better in those moments, but boy, those are hard for me, man. It’s just like, oh, your heart is ripped out.” 

It’s great to see how, even with the weight of the season on his shoulders, the Pope finds time to enjoy the small moments at home. Despite the challenges on the court, Pope looks forward to spending Christmas Eve with his family, including three of his four daughters. The exception is Avery, who is currently on a mission in El Salvador. “We’ll all spend Christmas Eve together,” Pope shared. 

The family plans to have a quiet dinner, read the Christmas story from Luke Chapter 2, and open one present before sending everyone off to bed. Sounds wholesome! Nevertheless, do you know? If there’s one thing that keeps Mark Pope grounded, it’s his gratitude practice.

Pope brings gratitude to life, practices both at home and on the court

Whether at home or with his team, the coach believes gratitude is the cornerstone of happiness and success. As he put it, “You cannot be more happy than you are grateful. Gratitude is something we have to practice. If you’re great at being grateful, by definition, you’ll 100% be happy.”

At Kentucky practices, gratitude is a team effort. The Wildcats participate in a “gratitude circle,” where players take turns naming something they’re thankful for before tagging a teammate to do the same. Pope insists it’s not just about building a better team but fostering a better mindset. 

The coach also carries this philosophy into his personal life. During family dinners, he encourages everyone to share what they’re grateful for. “Just write down three things you’re grateful for before bed,” he advises. “If you’re blessed enough to sit around a dinner table with your family at night, go around the table and just have everybody say what they’re grateful for.” 

For Pope, it’s about creating an environment where positivity and perspective reign supreme. As the Wildcats head into the grind of SEC play, one thing is for sure—they’re not letting a single loss define their season. Let’s see how Pope and his team bounce back and prove their mettle in the weeks ahead.