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Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope inherited a team with no returning scholarship players in April 2024.

Despite this, the Wildcats finished 24-12 and reached the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.

Pope emphasizes the importance of time spent together as a team, both on and off the court.

During the offseason, he implemented one-on-one sessions with each player and allows players to lead practices at times.

LEXINGTON — Mark Pope took over a Kentucky basketball program in April 2024 that didn't boast a returning scholarship player . So, he and his first-year coaching staff did what they had to do: overhaul the entire roster, bringing in a dozen newcomers. The results — while maybe not reaching the heights UK's fervid fan base annual

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