BIRMINGHAM, ALA. (WYMT) - The SEC Tipoff ‘26 started on October 14, with the first day wrapping up with Kentucky Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mark Pope taking the podium.

Pope is entering his second year at the helm of at Kentucky, finishing with a Sweet 16 appearance and a 24-12 record.

“It has been the greatest year of all-time for the Pope family,” Pope stated. “We’ve got to immerse ourselves in Kentucky basketball.

Kentucky comes into this season as the ninth-ranked team in the country in the Associated Press’ Preseason Top 25 Poll.

“I was elated that we came in at number nine,” Pope said. “We see nine everywhere we go. We think nine is in our future destiny and we’re chasing it hard, so I was really thrilled with that.”

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