The Mark Pope era has truly wrapped Big Blue Nation in a warm blanket of nostalgia ever since the day he was introduced at Rupp Arena. Even during those otherwise mundane Tuesday night Kentucky basketball games, the sense of nostalgia lingers.

Reliving the Past through Kentucky Basketball Voices

Travis Ford: A Familiar Voice from the Past

During the SECN+ broadcast of UK vs. Lipscomb, a familiar face emerged - Travis Ford. Hearing his voice took me back to a place I hadn't been in years. It wasn't just because he was a former player; Kentucky fans have heard many former players call games over the decades. But this time was different. While listening to Travis Ford call the game alongside Andrew Kappes, memories of my childhood watching the Wildcats on Jefferson-Pilot Sports with Larry Conley commentating alongside Tom Hammond came flooding back. Even though I'm paid to write words, I can't accurately describe what about their voices strikes me as so similar, but it's a feeling that lingers. Hearing Ford felt like a blast to the past of one of the best to ever call Kentucky basketball games. He was one of Rupp's Runts and later became one of the original ESPN color commentators for college basketball.Interestingly, Conley was on the call for one of Travis Ford's most memorable games, the Mardi Gras Miracle - a 31-point comeback victory at LSU in 1994. In the clip below, the first thing you'll hear Conley say is, "Travis Ford needs to pick his game up." It's almost as if there's a certain connection between these two former Cats when they're behind the mic calling a basketball game.

Mark Pope's Connection to Travis Ford

Long before he spent more than two decades coaching college basketball, Travis Ford was a Madisonville kid who transferred from Missouri back to Kentucky. He shot the lights out for Rick Pitino from 1991-94, guiding the Cats to the 1993 Final Four alongside Jamal Mashburn. Ford still ranks Top 10 in career three-point field goals made (No. 6, 190) and career assists (No. 9, 428). He never played with Mark Pope at Kentucky, but during his postgame conversation with Tom Leach, the Wildcats' head coach revealed that Ford hosted him on his official visit to Kentucky. "He was a great mentor to me. Coming to Kentucky, it's kind of like TP (Travis Perry) and Trent (Noah) with our guys. Travis Ford was a guy that helped me understand Kentucky really, really fast," Pope said. "Travis Ford, if you remember, was an unbelievable point guard. He's only like 5-2 and his arms are probably shorter than his body. He's probably minus length. And he was an assassin and the toughest kid ever, man, and was so good on that Final Four team as he played such a major role with Coach Pitino and restoring Kentucky basketball to where it was supposed to be and will always be greatly indebted to Travis. He's an all-time great here."

Another Former Wildcat's Presence

Ford wasn't the only former All-SEC player at Rupp Arena for the Kentucky win over Lipscomb. Jim Andrews was a two-time First Team All-SEC selection in 1972-73 when he averaged north of 20 points per game for Adolph Rupp and Joe B. Hall. On Tuesday night, he served as the Y at midcourt. Former Kentucky Wildcat Jim Andrews is the Y, via Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio. Andrews wasn't the only former Cat in attendance. After helping the Bills hand the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season, Ray Davis is back in Lexington for the Buffalo bye week. He enjoyed last night's game at Rupp Arena. Dr. Mike also spotted Keely Willis in the stands with Wolf, her and Derek Willis' first child. Ray Davis at Rupp Arena, via Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio. Keely Willis and Wolf Willis, Derek's son, via Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio.