Pope has Mitch Barnhart on the frontline of the locker room water fights [Video]

Excitement was so high after Kentucky beat Duke in Atlanta that Mitch Barnhart joined in on the team’s celebratory water fight. Mark Pope had Barnhart fighting on the frontline as the first platoon into the Wildcats’ locker room, armed with two full bottles of water against a room of players holding the same.

Barnhart earned his place in the postgame celebration after Kentucky snapped its Champions Classic losing streak and finally beat Duke again. He hired Pope amid criticism of the pick because he believed Pope was the guy to get Kentucky Basketball back to doing things like beating Duke in the Champions Classic, and it didn’t take long for Pope to prove him right.

Barnhart’s pick now has unanimous approval and overwhelming support from the fans three games into his first season, and the sight of Barnhart leading Pope into the postgame celebration is symbolic of the unity around Big Blue Nation in this new era.

Or, another way …