Mark Pope raves about impact Harrison twins, TBT have on Kentucky program

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope is embracing all eras of UK basketball. Last year, Pope welcomed Kentucky’s TBT team, La Familia, with open arms, inviting them to practice with his team and even allowing them to practice in Rupp Arena ahead of their games.

Pope’s warm attitude didn’t go unnoticed. Earlier this month, Aaron Harrison, who played at Kentucky from 2013-15, said that he watched the most Kentucky basketball he’d watched in a while this past season. He was motivated to tune in after meeting the team and connecting with them.

Aaron and his twin brother, Andrew, are both playing on La Familia again this year. During an offseason press conference, Mark Pope discussed the importance of making former players feel welcome when they return to Lexington.

“It’s our job. It’s what makes this place so special,” Pope said. “It’s about connecting. It’s really special, and I love these guys, man because when the Harrison twins were doing their brilliant work, I was a former player cheering them on like crazy, being like, ‘You guys better step up and get this done and represent right just like they’re doing with us now.’ That’s why this thing is special.

“They’re really important. They’re the ones that built this. I get to walk into this press conference with all of you in here and and get to put on this logo with everything it means because of what those two guys and every other player and every other coach here did for this place. If we do our job, then the next coach and the next players to come in are going to feel the same way.”

Pope knows the feeling. He played at Kentucky for two seasons and was the team captain of the Wildcats’ 1996 National Championship team. His love for the program played a key role in fans approving of his hire.

His reception of Kentucky’s TBT team isn’t the only way he’s shown respect to the program’s past. Pope also welcomed back his former head coach, Rick Pitino, for his inaugural Big Blue Madness. Fans embraced the moment, giving Pitino a standing ovation.

“The connectedness that Kentucky basketball offers all of us is one of the quintessential pieces that makes us different than everybody else,” Pope said. “I love those guys, man. I’m grateful for those guys. I’m grateful for what they built and how they represent, and I’m so glad that they feel a part of this.

“They bled and sweated and cried and celebrated on this court and with this fanbase in a really intimate way, and it should be theirs forever. The thing that would make me most sad in the world is if there was ever a former player, or former coach that didn’t feel like they were welcomed here or that his was their home because it should be.”