The Kentucky Wildcats & Coach Mark Pope Dealt With Another Unfortunate News Following Lamar Wilkerson’s Decision
Mark Pope’s first complete offseason as Kentucky’s head coach was always set to be eventful, but now it’s turning into quite the spectacle, with rival fans escalating a minor recruiting setback into a full-blown meme fest.
Following Lamar Wilkerson’s decision to commit to Indiana instead of Kentucky, fans from Indiana, Louisville, and even Arkansas seized the moment to take jabs at Pope and the Wildcats.
Friendly banter and roasting It all kicked off when BarstoolIU shared a photo of Pope and Wilkerson at Keeneland, captioning it:
“Did all this and didn’t even get to see inside Rupp Arena.”
Then the GIFs, memes, and “Pope struck out again” jokes followed. One fan quipped:
“Mark Pope got lockered AGAIN, by DARIAN DEVRIES.”
An Arkansas supporter added:
“Pope massive whiff—Nick Pringle, Malique Ewin, what a day.”
Wilkerson’s remark about not wanting to “just be another guy” at Kentucky only stoked the flames further.
A broader view on the transfer portal It’s easy to get swept up in the uproar, but let’s take a step back.
Mark Pope has assembled a top 5 transfer portal class. This isn’t just fan talk—it’s backed by reliable sources like 247Sports, On3, and EvanMiya’s evaluations.
He’s secured:
- A reliable point guard
- Versatile wings
- Additional depth in the frontcourt
- Key players with NCAA Tournament experience still on the roster
With a two-man high school class (possibly three with Braydon Hawthorne) in the mix, Kentucky’s roster is shaping up to be well-rounded for both the immediate and future seasons.
Time for rivals to enjoy their moment Let’s face it: this is what happens when Kentucky hires someone that other fanbases feel they can poke fun at. However, the laughter will likely fade as the season kicks off in November, just as it did last year.
If Pope’s transfer class comes together as many anticipate—and if players like Jaland Lowe, Kam Williams, and Andrija Jelavic step up—the memes might not hold up over time.
So go ahead, let the jokes flow. Enjoy Barstool’s Keeneland post. Let Indiana, Arkansas, and Louisville bask in their offseason victories.
Because when the regular season rolls around, it could very well be Mark Pope and Kentucky who have the last word—and the biggest laugh—once again.
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