Mark Pope tops Rick Pitino. Kentucky basketball coach joins short list

by December 20, 2025

written by December 20, 2025

ATLANTA — Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope joined an incredibly short list with Saturday’s 78-66 win over St. John’s: Former players who have beaten Rick Pitino.

Pope now is just the third ex-Pitino mentee to do so, joining Travis Ford and Steve Masiello.

Both Ford and Masiello topped Pitino twice. (Though Pitino still has 4-2 records against both.)

Pitino entered Saturday’s game 18-4 when coaching versus his ex-players.

Now, that’s 18-5.

This story will be updated.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.