Seven things you need to know from Kentucky’s 103-62 win over Wright State in the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season opener at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center :
1 . Mark Pope’s triumphant first game. At exactly 6:53 p.m. (EST), Mark Pope strode onto “Cawood’s Court” dressed in a dark suit to coach the Kentucky Wildcats in a game that counts in the record books for the first time.
Greeted by a large, energetic Rupp Arena crowd, Pope’s appearance brought a big ovation — and the new UK head man drew an even louder roar when he was introduced as the Kentucky coach at the end of pregame starting lineups…