Mark Pope explains what sets Kentucky basketball apart

The standard is the standard at Kentucky, and according to head coach Mark Pope, that’s what makes the Wildcats who they are.

Of course, that puts his first season at Kentucky an an interesting light. He went 24-12 overall, 10-8 in SEC play and the Wildcats made a run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Tennessee.

For a coach’s first year at a program, that’s a solid run.

At Kentucky, though? It’s just not good enough, but that’s what Pope likes about his job.

“The expectation here has nothing to do with me setting it. It’s what it is at Kentucky,” Pope said on Monday (h/t On3). “It’s one of the things that sets us different, sets us apart from every other program in the country. I happen to love it. I love every bit of it. I’m so grateful to be here where the expectation is that there’s only one ending to the season that actually makes it a satisfying season.”