The Kentucky Wildcats nearly experienced a Friday the 13th nightmare that would have sent shockwaves throughout college basketball.
Instead, Mark Pope and the Wildcats escaped Rupp Arena with a 78-77 victory over Northern Arizona, avoiding what would have been one of the most embarrassing losses in recent program history.
Kentucky entered Friday night ranked No. 24 in the country and favored by 34.5 points. Northern Arizona entered without a win, having lost its first three games against UNLV, New Mexico and Arizona by a combined 72 points.
This was supposed to be a get-right Kentucky game. An opportunity to rebuild confidence, experiment with different lineups and give Big Blue Nation something to feel good about heading into the weekend.
Instead, the Wildcats barely survived.
Kentucky improved to 3-1, but the concerns surrounding Pope and his basketball program are growing louder.
Wildcat dub pic.twitter.com/DPITMLZpGM
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 14, 2026
Kentucky's nightmare week nearly gets considerably worse
Just three nights earlier, Kentucky suffered an embarrassing 89-69 loss to Kansas in the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago.
The Wildcats committed 15 turnovers, connected on just four of their 21 attempts from beyond the arc and were outscored 22-0 in points off turnovers.
The expectation was that Kentucky would take out its frustrations on Northern Arizona. Instead, the Lumberjacks nearly delivered a historic upset in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Give Northern Arizona plenty of credit. The Lumberjacks walked into one of college basketball's most intimidating venues and came within a single point of knocking off an eight-time national champion.
For Kentucky, however, there is a significant difference between finding a way to win and looking like a team capable of competing for a national championship.
Through four games, the Wildcats haven't consistently resembled the latter.
How much longer will Kentucky remain patient with Mark Pope?
Pope's third season in Lexington is quickly becoming the most important of his coaching career.
Following Tuesday's loss to Kansas, CBS Sports analyst Gary Parrish addressed the pressure surrounding Pope, while national college basketball analyst John Fanta described Pope's tenure at Kentucky as a disappointment.
That was before Friday's scare against Northern Arizona.
Pope understands Kentucky basketball better than most. He was a member of the Wildcats' 1996 national championship team and knows the expectations that come with leading the program.
Unfortunately, that connection to Kentucky's glorious past can only buy him so much patience.
The Wildcats will host Grambling State on Monday before facing longtime rival Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Nov. 20. Suddenly, that showdown with the Hoosiers feels considerably more important than an ordinary November basketball game.
There is still time for Pope to turn things around. Four games do not define an entire season, but the warning signs are becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss.
Kentucky escaped disaster on Friday night.
The Wildcats won the game, but Pope's seat might be hotter than ever.
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