Their assist numbers prove it. Through five games, Kentucky has an assist rate of 61.6% of all of their made baskets through those games combined. After the game, Mark Pope talked about how well this team shares the ball,

Mark Pope’s Kentucky basketball team jumped out to another big early lead Friday night against Jackson State, setting new season highs on 3-point makes and attempts.

Mark Pope delivered an early signature win as Kentucky's head coach, but he's putting the attention on his players.

Mark Pope wants this Kentucky team told their opponents to 39% or less overall, and they have done that so far, even against then-No. 6 D

Hating Kentucky isn’t cool or fun anymore because Kentucky’s coach is both. Mark Pope is relentlessly likable, which means Kentucky basketball has become likable. Adjust accordingly.

A lot of times, basketball is bigger than the sport alone. That's exactly the type of people Mark Pope is getting to join the Kentucky program when he goes out

His level of success was a big part of why Kentucky basketball poached him from BYU. He led Utah Valley to a 77-56 within four seasons, and BYU to a 110-52 record with four tournament appearances. Also,

Kentucky scratched and clawed their way to the big win over No. 6 Duke in the Champions Classic after making some really important adjustments at halftime. One

Pope played two seasons at Kentucky, winning a national championship with the program in 1996 under legendary coach Rick Pitino. Following five seasons piloting BYU, Pope accepted the head job for the Wildcats this past April to succeed John Calipari.