Mark Pope Aims for Historic Win as Kentucky Faces No. 1 Auburn
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope has the opportunity to accomplish something no Wildcats coach has ever done—win his first regular-season game against the top-ranked team in the country.
On Saturday at 1 p.m. EST, the 17th-ranked Wildcats will take on the No. 1 Auburn Tigers in Rupp Arena. The game will be nationally televised on ABC, adding to the significance of Pope’s first showdown with the nation’s best team.
Kentucky’s History Against No. 1 Teams
Since the Associated Press introduced its rankings in 1949, Kentucky has faced the No. 1-ranked team 24 times, posting a record of 8-16. However, no Wildcats coach has ever won their first regular-season game against a No. 1 opponent.
– Adolph Rupp faced the top-ranked team twice, both times in NCAA Tournament losses to Ohio State in 1961 and 1962.
– Joe B. Hall** lost his first such matchup in 1975, an overtime defeat to an undefeated Indiana squad that went on to win the national title. Hall finished with a 2-3 record against No. 1 teams, including a key victory over Indiana in the 1975 NCAA Tournament.
– **Eddie Sutton** had just one chance against a No. 1-ranked team, losing 80-55 to Duke in 1988.
– **Rick Pitino never faced the top-ranked team in the regular season but had key tournament battles, including the legendary 104-103 overtime loss to Duke in the 1992 Elite Eight and a victory over No. 1 UMass in the 1996 Final Four.
-Tubby Smith went 1-3 in his four matchups against No. 1 teams, losing his first in the 1997 Maui Invitational to Arizona. His only win came in 2003, when Kentucky defeated top-ranked Florida in Rupp Arena.
Billy Gillispie** lost all three of his games against No. 1 teams in just two seasons at Kentucky.
-John Calipari** had the most opportunities, going 3-3 in six matchups. His first win came in the 2011 Sweet 16 against Ohio State, but he lost his first regular-season attempt at Florida in 2014. His last shot at a No. 1 team was in 2023, an 89-84 loss to Kansas.
Now, Mark Pope has his first chance to do what no Kentucky coach before him has managed—win in his debut regular-season game against a No. 1-ranked opponent.
Pope’s Previous Experience Against No. 1 Teams
Although this will be Pope’s first attempt at toppling a No. 1 team as Kentucky’s head coach, he has faced the nation’s best before.
During his tenure at Utah Valley, his team suffered a lopsided 99-69 loss to No. 1 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. At BYU, he faced No. 1 Gonzaga four times over two seasons but was unable to secure a win in any of those matchups.
However, in his short time at Kentucky, Pope has already made a statement. The Wildcats have recorded four wins against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 5—beating No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Florida, and No. 5 Tennessee twice. Now, he faces his biggest challenge yet in the No. 1 Auburn Tigers.
Auburn’s Dominance This Season
Bruce Pearl’s Auburn squad has been a powerhouse all season. The Tigers, holding a 26-2 record (14-1 SEC), have been ranked No. 1 for seven consecutive weeks. Their only losses came against Duke and Florida—teams currently ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the AP poll.
Auburn boasts the No. 1-ranked offense in the country according to KenPom, while their defense ranks among the top 15 nationally.
One of the key figures for Auburn is former Morehead State standout Johni Broome, now in his third and final season with the Tigers. Broome is a frontrunner for National Player of the Year, competing alongside Duke’s Cooper Flagg. He is also the clear favorite for SEC Player of the Year and is likely to earn First-Team All-American honors.
Can Kentucky Make History
While Auburn enters as the heavy favorite, Kentucky has proven its ability to compete with top-tier opponents. If Pope can lead the Wildcats to a victory, he will make history as the first Kentucky head coach to win his first regular-season game against a No. 1 team.
Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. EST on ABC, and the college basketball world will be watching to see if Mark Pope can pull off a historic upset.
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