Mark Pope caught slipping or bad lip reading? See for yourself

Mark Pope is Kentucky basketball’s gentleman coach—a high-character guy who’s more likely to praise opponents than curse refs. But Big Blue Nation (BBN) caught a rare glimpse of Pope’s fire when a questionable foul call sent Lamont Butler to the bench in the waning moments of an 83-82 win over Oklahoma. Cameras nabbed the moment—Pope mouthing what looked like “That’s BS” or “That’s bush league:.” See the video for yourself:

A Nice Guy’s Reputation

Pope’s known across college hoops for his genuine vibe—heck, even 2025 recruit Nate Ament called him a “high-character coach, not just X’s and O’s but as a person.” In his first season at Kentucky, Pope’s kept it classy, navigating a 19-9 (8-7 SEC) campaign with a smile, even amid roster “weirdness” like injuries to Jaxson Robinson, Kerr Kriisa, and Butler “I’m proud of how our guys responded,” he said post-Oklahoma, tipping his cap to the Sooners’ fight and his team’s grit—classic Pope, focusing on the positive. So when X lit up with fans claiming he mouthed “That’s BS” after Butler’s fifth foul, jaws dropped—nice guys don’t snap, right?

The Foul Call That Drew The Response

Butler, a bulldog defender (1.8 steals/game, No. 199), picked up his fifth foul sliding to get in front of a driving Oklahoma player, and the refs called a block. The call? Debatable “Lamont fouling out… it’s just all this stuff,” Pope lamented postgame. The camera caught Pope’s reaction—lips moving fast, eyes wide. Was it “That’s BS,” a blunt cry over a bad break? Or “That’s bush league,” a jab at sloppy officiating? Video sleuths on X leaned “BS”, but “bush league” fits Pope’s polished style—either way, it’s a line he rarely crosses.

The Pope Pause: Back to Class

Pope didn’t dwell—his presser pivoted to praise: “I’m proud of these two guys—Otega and Brandon were terrific.” Oweh’s 28 and game winner was massive and Pope kept perspective: “We captured experience… it’s that time of year.” Why downplay it? That’s Pope—nice, genuine, and laser-focused on Auburn next (March 1, No. 1, 26-2). A “BS” slip—or “bush league” jab—shows he’s human, but BBN knows he’s not here to feud with refs—he’s chasing March glory.