Kentucky pulled off a big statement win on Tuesday against No. 6 Duke in the Champions Classic, but it did not come easy. With the Wildcats down nine at halftime, Mark Pope and the staff needed to make some adjustments,

ATLANTA — Kentucky has a coach with a clipboard who knows how to use it. New Wildcats head man Mark Pope made all the right decisions down the stretch of a 77-72 win over No. 6 Duke that will have Big Blue Nation falling even further in love with him.

Otega Oweh knocked down four free throws in the final 10.3 seconds and No. 19 Kentucky claimed the first big win of Mark Pope’s coaching tenure, knocking off No. 6 Duke 77-72 at the Champions Classic in Atlanta.

Right before the 2024-25 college basketball season started, the analytics websites didn't seem to have a ton of confidence in Mark Pope's Kentucky Wildcats. This was a bit of a surprise, knowing how good of an X's and O's coach the Wildcats have.

Shot chart from Kentucky basketball’s gritty Champions Classic win over sixth-ranked Duke Duke had Kentucky on the ropes. The Cats refused to break. ‘They just kept coming at us.’ Kentucky delivers with its defense in the final seconds. Cats upset No. 6 Duke in Atlanta.

The Wildcats were averaging 101.5 points a game going into the Champions Classic. With 53 assists on 77 made field goals in wins over Wright State and Bucknell, Kentucky entered Duke game with more dimes than any team in men’s NCAA college hoops.

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats made the trip to Atlanta, or as it is better known in Lexington, 'Catlanta,' to take on the #6 Duke Blue Devils, and the Wil

It didn't take long for new University of Kentucky head coach Mark Pope to endear himself to Big Blue Nation. When you respect your players and the game itself, you're bound to win over the admiration of the fans,