With the Kentucky roster nearly complete, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope made one thing clear during Tuesday’s press conference: the new era of Kentucky basketball is being built on hunger, competitiveness, and deep respect for what wearing the blue and white truly means.

“Competitive, deep, skilled,” Pope said, describing the roster he’s assembling heading into year two at the helm of the Wildcats. “The guys who have chosen to be here are just starving to come test themselves every day in practice and get better.”

He praised the unique abilities of the incoming group but emphasized that skill alone isn’t enough to succeed in Lexington.

“We’ve got hungry guys with unique skillsets that fit us really well,” he said. “I’m excited about this crew. It’s a special crew.”

Pope continues to say the right things to get Kentucky fans excited. Talent matters, but mindset matters more. And for Pope, appreciation for the program’s legacy and standards are non-negotiable.

“Being a part of Kentucky basketball is at the top and bottom of the checklist when looking at potential additions to the roster,” Pope explained. “There is nowhere like this, and if you come in here not appreciating that, your chances of success aren’t very high.”

That Kentucky identity is forged by history, expectation, and relentless drive and serve as both a filter and a motivator for the roster moving forward.

“Guys who are successful here come in with a healthy respect of what this is. It requires more.”

With Pope’s blueprint coming into focus, one thing is certain, the new look Wildcats won’t just be playing basketball. They’ll be defending a legacy and building their own in the process.