Vicky Graff Photo
Mark Pope knows players that played their final game in Rupp Arena might miss him next season. But he knows they will miss another Pope even more.
“I have (my wife) Lee Anne. Lee Anne actually can do that (build relationships), and she’s unbelievable at that,” the Kentucky coach said after UK’s 95-64 win over LSU Tuesday night. “If you ask them, they would be like, ‘I’m sad we are not going to be with coach Pope and we are really sad we are not going to see Miss Lee Anne.’”
Pope then revealed it was Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, Amari Williams, Jaxson Robinson, Koby Brea, Ansley Almonor and Kerr Kriisa who made the relationships special in their only season at UK.
“That’s what’s so special about this group. These seniors became so close. It was really fun. We had a dinner last night that was so fantastic,” Pope said after the win on Senior Night. “It was really special with just the seniors, not seniors but the extinguished eligibility guys and their families.
“To hear those guys talk about, it was fun to recount their experience recruiting. Which all of them had interesting stories from their point of view to share with each other. And then just to hear them, all six of them stood up and kind of took the mic and told stories last night for quite a long time and it was really wonderful.
“I learned a lot of things were going on behind the scenes that I’m not allowed to talk about. But really beautiful things. That’s what special. They built relationships with each other. And to watch them just in that setting where the only focus was just taking them in, was actually really fun last night. Special guys.”
