It is officially the Mark Pope era in Lexington after a magical introductory press conference in Rupp Arena on Sunday.

Kentucky Wildcats athletic director Mitch Barnhart has confirmed that donors are buying in and helping get the program back on track.

Kentucky received $4 million from two donors this past Friday, and Barnhart says Club Blue (one of Kentucky’s NIL collectives) added hundreds of new monthly subscribers.

A large portion of Kentucky donors seemingly abandoned ship late into the John Calipari era but are clearly excited for the new era in Lexington.

Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio believes the amount of donations incoming could help with numerous parts of the program.

“And I think you’re going to see, it would not shock me if, within a few months, we hear about a practice facility, which probably would make Cal’s head explode, but it wouldn’t shock me. I’m not saying that’s definitely gonna happen but it wouldn’t it wouldn’t shock me,” Jones stated.

Back in 2022, Calipari clamored for Kentucky to get a new practice facility, but Barnhart believed Kentucky should focus on upgrading the Joe Craft Center, which has happened over the last year.

With those upgrades wrapping up, perhaps a new practice facility for the men’s basketball team is now in the cards.

There is clearly new and revamped excitement around the program, and Pope is getting bank-breaking help from fans and donors to kick off his time in Lexington.