The Wildcats are beating expectations and playing pretty ball in Year 1, but their new coach's link with the fan base is powering the vibes.

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope didn’t hold back when addressing his frustration following the Wildcats’ 98-84 loss to Ole Miss, even trailing by 23 points going into halftime. After the team’s fourth loss in five games, Pope made it clear that Kentucky is not meeting the program’s high standards—and his emotions boiled over in the locker room.

Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats don’t play any more defense than John Calipari’s final team that couldn’t guard a Division II transfer last March.

Mark Pope has suffered his worst loss at Kentucky thus far. Pope’s No. 12-ranked Wildcats fell 89-79 at home to Arkansas Saturday afternoon — and it wasn’t an ordinary upset defeat. The contest marked Pope’s first meeting with former Kentucky head coach John Calipari, whom Pope replaced after Calipari left for Arkansas last April.

J ohn Calipari's final team as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats was a frustrating team for Big Blue Nation as the Wildcats were elite on offense, but the defense was horren

Kentucky was hoping to get back in the win column on Tuesday night against Ole Miss. Instead, Mark Pope's squad got embarrassed. The Rebels jumped out to a 54-31 halftime lead over the Wildcats thanks to strong performances from Matthew Murrell and Dre Davis.