Senior Staff Writer/Editor/Host
For years, Tennessee basketball fans rarely saw a win against Kentucky—whether in Knoxville, on the road in Lexington, or during the conference tournament. Between 2000 and 2015, Kentucky dominated the rivalry, winning 22 of 32 games. Then came Rick Barnes…
When Coach Rick Barnes took over the helm following the firing of Donnie Tyndall, it was a new era for Tennessee. The then 60-year-old, a sure-fire Hall of Famer, had recently been let go by Texas after a storied 17-season tenure. During his time with the Longhorns, he led the team to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, won a school-record 402 games, and claimed three Big 12 regular season titles.
At his press conference following his dismissal, Barnes confidently predicted, "Sooner than you think," when asked about a return to coaching. That prediction came true just days later when then-Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart announced Barnes as the next head coach of the Volunteers.
At the time, Kentucky head coach John Calipari reportedly encouraged his close friend Rick Barnes to take the Tennessee job—something he probably regretted later. Under Barnes, Tennessee and Kentucky would face off 22 times, with the series splitting 11-11.
In April 2024, Kentucky head coach John Calipari resigned, and it was quickly announced the next day that he would take the head coaching job at Arkansas. After a lengthy coaching search, Kentucky turned to Mark Pope, who was coaching at BYU at the time.
Pope, a former Kentucky player from 1994-1996, brought not only deep ties to the program but also an innovative offensive approach. Despite never winning an NCAA Tournament game in his coaching career—and with Wildcat fans still disgruntled over Calipari’s recent tournament struggles—Pope was hired to lead what some consider the biggest brand in college basketball.
While the Wildcats have struggled recently, including back-to-back losses to Vanderbilt and Alabama, many Kentucky fans remain optimistic about Pope’s future. Will Rick Barnes continue to give Kentucky the blues and potentially end the Pope honeymoon? Or will Coach Pope bring the Wildcats hope for the future? Find out tonight in Knoxville.
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