Mark Pope Had BYU Dreaming Of Championships At Midnight Madness

PROVO, Utah – BYU head coach Mark Pope has had one mindset since he took over the Cougar basketball program and that’s being relentless 24/7.

Having a 24/7 relentless mindset and approach to the game helped Pope be a National Champion while playing at Kentucky. Along with having a career in the NBA.

Champions practice winning championships#BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/xWWw7j22YX

— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) October 24, 2019

Since joining the West Coast Conference nine years ago, BYU hasn’t won a conference championship. It takes a different mindset and approach to get that title.

On late Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday morning, BYU basketball hosted Midnight Madness. An event to get BYU fans and students excited for both men’s and women’s hoops teams in Provo.

Pope was the final person to speak in the evening and he wanted to shut the night down with a championship practice for every one of the 2,737 people in attendance at the Marriott Center.

Mark Pope on the turnout from #BYU students and fans for Midnight Madness: “It’s really fun. This is an extraordinary place.” pic.twitter.com/xTgYh0eEHY

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 24, 2019

“I want you to understand that we are all in this together, you the fans and these players. We get up every morning and we go to bed every night dreaming of a championship. That’s why we’re here. And we practice, we practice and I want to practice that (championship) right now,” said Pope to the Midnight Madness crowd.

Pope laid out a hypothetical game scenario in a WCC Championship game that ended with BYU winning the title. Then the fans and students in attendance stormed the court to get their “championship practice.”

The practice led to fans and students storming the Marriott Center floor.

“Coach Pope you know he shut it down with the storming the floor and all of that. I was not expecting that,” said BYU senior Jake Toolson. “Actually, I would expect that because he does crazy stupid stuff like that. It was cool. It was fun.”

#BYU graduate senior Jake Toolson was not surprised Coach Pope had the crowd storm the court at Midnight Madness. 😂 pic.twitter.com/0DQ6cLF9zN

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 24, 2019

BYU’s championship quest begins on November 5th when the 2019-20 season tips off against Cal State Fullerton from the Big West Conference.

Midnight Madness Nuggets

Here are some additional tidbits from the late-night event at the Marriott Center.

-BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake was in attendance sitting on the baseline watching the event.

-The Women’s Basketball team was introduced first on the night. Injured Shaylee Gonzales participated in a three-point contest along with teammates Brenna Chase Drollinger, Paisley Johnson, and Babalu Ugwu.

-BYU men’s basketball team was introduced to the crowd towards the end of the event. The seniors on BYU’s roster were introduced one by one. Forward Dalton Nixon put on the dance moves while being introduced.

-Richard Harward and Kolby Lee participated in a pie-eating contest. Harward bowed out early giving Lee the win.

-Connor Harding, Trevin Knell, Evan Troy, and Arizona transfer Alex Barcello participated in a skills competition with BYU students.

-Last but definitely not least, BYU Vocal Point performed in front of the crowd to the song, Thriller.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.