“Legacies are cemented when the stakes are high.” It’s the perfect way to start off a Kentucky vs. Duke pregame hype video , knowing what’s on the line in this one tonight.
Mark Pope has been perfect for the Wildcats since taking the job in April, knocking every staff, roster and recruiting decision out of the park while checking off every PR box imaginable. When the games started, he crushed those opportunity, as well, cruising through the exhibition schedule and the first two regular season matchups in blowout fashion.
The told-ya-so folks have been waiting for their first chance to say Pope isn’t the man for the job, and make no mistake about it, they’ve had this day circled on their calendars from day one. Will this be his first misstep as head coach? Or will he take it in stride just like he’s done with everything else en route to a statement victory in the Champions Classic?
Needless to say, it’s a big one. And the hype video reflects that — while adding all of Kentucky’s most exciting highlights to get the season rolling, obviously.