Pope does have a roster of players who have played in the NCAA Tournament. Specifically, point guard Lamont Butler, who is expected to return to action after being injured in the SEC Tournament, has played in the Final Four and an NCAA Championship game at San Diego State. Pope knows that Butler’s experience is very important.

Mark Pope's Kentucky basketball team dispatched Oklahoma without Lamont Butler. If Pope wants Cats to thrive in NCAA tourney, he needs to rest guard.

Mark Pope's first season guiding Kentucky, his alma mater, always will be viewed through the prism of how the Wildcats fare in the NCAA Tournament.