Seven games have been won in the last eight for the Kentucky Wildcats. That’s Mark Pope trying, but it might not be enough. Kentucky fans expect the absolute best for their program, boasting eight NCAA championships, the best all-time winning percentage, and the most all-time victories. Now that comes with immense pressure, and an analyst is finally shedding light on the same.

Jeff Goodman talked about Kentucky’s unique environment on The Field of 68: After Dark: “So, number one for me is the Kentucky Wildcats. They love it. They’re out of their minds. For better or worse, you could be a god, or you could be run out of town if you’re not doing it. That’s all they care about in Lexington and Kentucky.

“They have all the resources you need. Rupp Arena is a top-ten environment. It’s probably a little big for me, but it’s still a top-ten environment. You have players in the Midwest. People grow up wanting to play at Kentucky. Obviously, you have everything you need there, and it’s a basketball school in the SEC, which is probably one of one or maybe one of two there, along with Arkansas. I’m going to Kentucky number one.”

When you look at where Kentucky is going right now, Goodman’s assessment makes more sense. The Wildcats moved up to 7-3 in SEC play after beating Oklahoma 94-78 on Wednesday. They are now only a half-game behind Florida and Texas A&M for first place. And their firepower is showing up as well.

Otega Oweh scored his season-high with 24 points, and Brandon Garrison scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds off the bench against Oklahoma. Kentucky’s ability to shoot well from three-point range was the most important factor; they made 12 of 26 shots against Oklahoma. The standard at Kentucky isn’t just doing well in the SEC; it’s also being in the running for a national championship.

Even the emotional cost of coaching at Kentucky differs from that of other programs.

Matt McCall, an analyst on The Field of 68: After Dark, detailed on the same: “It’s about that horse racing money that they have. You know you’re going to have every single resource you need to win. The hardest part of the job is dealing with the fanbase. It’s the hardest part of that job is being able to block out. Every single time they lose, Mark Pope looks completely and utterly dejected and defeated because he knows what’s coming.”

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We all saw what happened when No. 18 Kentucky was annihilated on its home floor on December 5 in a 94-59 loss to No. 11 Gonzaga. Kentucky shot 26.7% from the field, 20.6% from behind the arc, and was out-rebounded by Gonzaga, 40-27. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs shot 57.1% from the field and 50% from behind the arc. Gonzaga forwards Graham Ike and Braden Huff combined for 48 points.

Wildcats fans instantly made their displeasure known with rampant booing throughout the night, and if anything, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope understands the frustration.

“All the boos that we heard tonight were incredibly well-deserved, mostly for me, and we have to fix it,” Pope said after the loss. “We’ve kind of diminished a little bit into a bad spot right now that we have to dig ourselves out of it, and it’s going to be an internal group thing, and we feel the responsibility we have to this university and this fan base.”

In Kentucky, fans want their teams to win national championships. Pope’s 7-3 SEC record and winning streak look good right now, but if they lose that momentum, everything changes. And that’s where the real test lies.

Mark Pope and Kentucky win, but the pressure never stops

Wins like Wednesday’s 94-78 over Oklahoma only temporarily ease the pressure from the fans. But you have got to give credit where it is due. Pope’s team had a strong showing as they scored 94 points and hit 12 three-pointers, both of which are season highs against an SEC opponent.

Brandon Garrison had the best game of his career, scoring 20 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and bagging his first double-double as a Wildcat. Otega Oweh scored 24 points, which is the same number he scored against Arkansas. This extends his streak of scoring in double figures to all 23 games this season. And he’s 56 for 59 in that endeavor in two seasons as a Wildcat.

While that’s impressive, this win did not come without drama.

With less than three minutes left, Oklahoma cut the lead from 18 to 8. After that, Kentucky scored eight points in a row. Such moments of weakness remind Pope that fans are still worried even when his team wins.

The 53-year-old is in his second year with the Wildcats, and right now they are third in the SEC and boasting an overall 16-7 record. In his first year, he put up a 24-12 record overall with 10-8 in the SEC and was tied for 6th. Now, the next two games against ranked opponents like Tennessee and Florida could prove pivotal in the Wildcats’ standing in the SEC.

Every game is another chance for Pope to show that he can keep up this level of success while dealing with the constant pressure from fans. Do you think he can do it? Let us know in the comments.