Kentucky survives Northern Arizona, but ‘Fire Mark Pope’ chants say it all
Kentucky escaped Northern Arizona 78-77, but “Fire Mark Pope” chants showed how an ugly win only turned up the heat on the Wildcats coach.
The Kentucky Wildcats secured a thrilling 78-77 victory over Northern Arizona University in a rollercoaster game on Friday, Nov. 13. The game's decisive moment came when Alex Wilkins hit a clutch three-pointer with just 2.1 seconds remaining, giving the Wildcats a narrow lead. Despite the Wildcats' efforts to claw their way back into contention, late-game miscues marred their momentum.
With over 10 seconds left in the game, Max Majerle missed a critical free throw, leaving Kentucky with a new challenge to overcome. Malachi Moreno's loss of possession further compounded Kentucky's struggles. The Wildcats managed to capitalize on a subsequent missed free throw by Chris Komin of Northern Arizona, resulting in a final score of 78-77.
The win keeps Kentucky's season record at 3-1, marking a significant improvement from their previous outings. The game's intensity also drew attention to the coaching situation of Mark Pope, with chants of "Fire Mark Pope" echoing around the arena. Should Pope face a buyout, he would be owed approximately $13 million in salary remaining on his current contract, which expires on April 1, 2027.
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