ATLANTA — We’re going to spend a lot of time discussing Cooper Flagg over the next decade or so. Following Tuesday’s Champions Classic, the highly-anticipated future No. 1 draft pick experienced the intensity of major sports for the first time.

This is what happens when you meet expectations brilliantly for 39 minutes but then fumble the ball in a pressured spot and accidentally knock it off your foot with the game on the line. He better get accustomed to this.

However, Flagg is only 17, and Duke remains a Final Four-quality team. It’s definitely too soon for detailed critiques.

On the other hand, it’s not premature to assess another significant narrative from a thrilling night in college basketball.

Mark Pope? Yes, he truly is the real deal. Just weeks into the college basketball season, he has already reinvigorated Kentucky basketball.

It has been a while since that happened.

“This group is special,” Pope stated after Kentucky’s 77-72 win, marking a valuable victory right from the start, especially during a period of doubt about his capability to handle this colossal role.

Only time will disclose the full story, but one clear observation is this: there’s a noticeable energy shift surrounding Kentucky basketball.

Relieved of the strain stemming from John Calipari’s obstinacy, his escalating tension with Kentucky’s administration, and his contentious attitude towards an exceptionally passionate fanbase, Big Blue Nation is likely to welcome this brand of basketball with open arms.

It’s attractive, it’s vibrant, and most importantly, it’s free of unnecessary drama.

Indeed, Kentucky was in need of a transformation. They’ve got it, and it seems they are genuinely going to appreciate it.

This isn’t to undermine Calipari, a Hall of Fame coach whose first decade was outstanding. However, the program became stagnant, contentious, and his last four seasons were characterized by a series of disappointing NCAA tournament exits.

Still, when Calipari transitioned to Arkansas, the future of Big Blue Nation was uncertain. After all the prominent names declined, the initial reception for Pope was quite negative.

Despite being a member of Kentucky’s 1996 championship team, he was seen as a coach with no NCAA tournament wins in almost a decade at Utah Valley and BYU.

Kentucky fans eventually accepted Pope because they had little choice. He wasn’t merely one of their own; he reminded them of what it meant to be associated with Kentucky. For 15 years, the program revolved around Calipari’s brand. From day one, Pope aimed to restore Kentucky’s prominence.

This approach set the stage for a promising beginning, but results had to translate to the court. Given that Pope primarily assembled his roster through the transfer portal, there was a possibility that Year 1 might be challenging.

“Nobody knew each other,” Pope explained.

Yet, it’s already evident that Pope excels in three key areas that will benefit him as the coach of Kentucky.

Firstly, he is exceptionally attuned to player dynamics and how they resonate with one another. He discussed the natural tendency for people to withdraw from issues and the intentional effort required to counteract that. This was visible on Tuesday when Kentucky trailed by 10 points in the first half yet persevered until their experienced and physically stronger players took control in the closing minutes.

“I felt like it was something special for us,” noted senior Andrew Carr, a forward who transferred from Wake Forest and contributed 17 points, including two critical three-point plays late in the game. “Not everything was in our favor, and coach emphasizes coming together, the individuals that matter, and as we grow closer, it becomes harder to defeat us.”

The second standout characteristic of a Pope-led team is its seamless offense. For years, fans were frustrated with Calipari’s stagnant ball movement, inadequate spacing, and lack of emphasis on three-point shooting until his final year. With Pope at the helm, those issues are nonexistent. The ball flows fluidly, players move without the ball, and every player is encouraged to shoot when open. This was pivotal: Kentucky made 10 of 25 three-pointers, while Duke managed only 4 of 23.

The third noteworthy aspect is that Kentucky competes with relentless intensity, which will be crucial against most opponents. Although the Wildcats have some talent, they often won’t enjoy a significant advantage over other strong teams — as clearly demonstrated against a Duke squad filled with potential future NBA prospects. This relentless effort ultimately wore down Duke, leaving Flagg too fatigued to perform effectively during crucial moments after a stellar game where he scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in 32 minutes.

“Guys headed into the locker room at halftime and had constructive talks,” Pope said. “Most of the adjustments were made by the players themselves before I entered the locker room. It was all about sheer determination and resolution. There was a lot of back and forth, and the game almost slipped away from us, but the players pulled it back together.”

It’s still early in the basketball season, so it’s hard to make definitive predictions about the future for either Kentucky or Duke. However, for Pope, who holds one of the most challenging yet rewarding positions in college basketball, last night was a moment of affirmation.

Following the match, he remarked that he would have felt proud of his team regardless of the outcome, which likely holds some truth. Nevertheless, defeating Duke is a significant achievement, and this victory will greatly enhance the belief and reputation of Kentucky. The ripple effect of this win will resonate throughout the fan base, impact recruiting efforts, and boost the confidence of a team that feels it has the potential to do something remarkable.

Overall, Big Blue Nation couldn’t have asked for a more fulfilling outcome.