15 years, leading Kentuchy to 400-plus wins- that’s the legacy that John Calipari left! Let’s not forget that the tenure included a national title, four Final Fours, seven Elite Eights, and 12 conference championships. When the legendary coach decided to move to Arkansas Razorbacks, his successor always had the tough shoes to fill. But who would have thought it would be Wildcats alum Mark Pope?

Some called the choice unexpected, but the former UK star knew the expectations from the get-go. As a player, he delivered on those for the Big Blue Nation, and in his first season, the team made it to the Sweet 16. So, was it a successful season? Let’s compare it with Coach Cal’s first season to understand the impact of the wins and losses and what is to come in the future.

Will Mark Pope’s season one create a great foundation to build?

After his exit from the Sweet 16 stage with the University of Memphis, John Calipari accepted a mammoth 8-year contract with Kentucky. On March 31, he signed the contract, and the next day, his official introduction happened. In the first year at Kentucky (2009-10), Coach Cal led the Wildcats to a 35-3 record, winning the SEC regular season and tournament championships. On the other hand, by Kentucky standards, Mark Pope had a 24-12 season, which is not exceptional.

Plus, the SEC record of 10-8, UK lost in the quarterfinals in the SEC tournament. They entered the NCAA tournament with an overall 11 seed and #3 in the Midwest. They steamrolled through Troy and Illinois, trailing for a total of 49 seconds with a combined win total of 28 points. But ultimately bowed out at the Sweet 16 stage with a loss to Tennessee 65-78. So, did Coach Cal have more success in the Big Dance in his first season?

Unfortunately, that run did not result in a championship, as Kentucky lost to West Virginia in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. They entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed, so one could say a bigger disappointment of the two teams. The team failed despite being the top team in March Madness.

Calipari’s team had No. 1 overall recruit John Wall, along with other 5-star players like DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, and Daniel Orton. This led the Wildcats to win the 44th SEC Regular Season Championship with a 14-2 conference record.

Is the future bright for the Big Blue Nation?

The season for Mark Pope was never straightforward. His team wasn’t the number one seed or the most dominated one. But the Wildcats beat Duke in the Champions Classic and Louisville on their home floor. Not to forget other huge wins over Gonzaga, Florida, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Missouri, and yes, Tennessee twice. This resulted in the team making history as the school tied for the most top-15 wins in college basketball. Off the field, too, the team had its issues.

Jaxson Robinson (wrist) and Kerr Kriisa (foot) suffered season-ending injuries. Meanwhile, Lamont Butler (ankle, shoulder) and Andrew Carr (back) missed games over the course of the year. Despite those troubles, Kentucky managed eight top-15 and 12 Quad 1 wins. A solid season in the books for Mark Pope will be a fair assessment for the UK alum. He fell short of three wins to claim title No. 9.

With more time on his hands and the pedigree he earned in his first season, no doubt that he will attract more sought-after players. So, the season started with what the successor can manage, and Pope exceeded the expectations of fans and pundits who thought it might take him years to get there.