Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr is one of the veteran players Mark Pope really likes. (UK Athletics Photo)
He’s been the Kentucky head coach for almost three months now but the honeymoon period is not even close to over for Mark Pope.
He’s as happy and giddy now as the day Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart offered him the job after John Calipari’s departure and continues to do everything right to be embraced by UK fans.
Pope praised the Kentucky players picked in the draft. He’s said nothing but good things about Calipari. He’s interacted with fans at major NIL events like the one sponsored by Club Blue but also has been just as approachable anytime fans have seen him out in Lexington or anywhere else.
He’s welcomed La Familia, the Kentucky alumni team playing in the TBT (The Basketball Tournament), at Rupp Arena later this month.
“Every time that I get to walk into a building with UK on my chest, it just feels different recruiting. And it looks different. I’m a way handsomer guy with UK on my chest,” Pope said. “It just it just comes out of my soul, you know, every time I get to introduce myself to a recruit and say, ‘You know, I’m coach Pope, the head coach at the University of Kentucky.’ That doesn’t roll off my tongue, like it catches me every single time.
“I know what this job is, right? I know how blessed we are to have a chance to be here affiliated with this incredible university. I got to coach at a great institution before this at BYU that had some significant filters in terms of the players that would fit in that program.”
Pope understands UK also has its own “massive filters” because of the pressure on players to perform consistently at a high level.
“They’ve got to be the best players in the country and they have got to want to take on the most amount of pressure and scrutiny of any players in the country. They have the highest standard of any program in the country and so finding those pieces is different,” he said.
Pope said there had been “very few surprises” in terms of what he was expecting from players and what he got when they started practicing.
“The pieces fit,” Pope said.
Graduate transfer Amari Williams’ passing ability was a big reason Pope wanted him. At UK’s first practice, Pope watched Williams start “diming” guys up with pinpoint passes for easy scores, and “all of a sudden everybody starts cutting harder” to get open.
“One of the things about working the portal is that guys have such a resume that you can see over and over again what they do in college. Our guys have certainly lived up to that billing,” Pope said.
He cited San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler for being “taking a little piece of advice and implementing” what he was told immediately. Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr has been “incredible” in different areas.
“It’s really wonderful to see these veteran guys and how excited they are to grow and learn and are willing to try new things,” the Kentucky coach said.
Kentucky is allowed to practice an hour a day four days a week so Pope is trying to move at a “lightning-fast pace” to give players a bigger, grander overview” of what he wants to do this season.
“We’ve been super aggressive on everything we’re installing right now. The guys have been really receptive. That’s the other thing about veteran guys. They pick stuff up really fast and, so that’s been a major difference. I’ve never approached an offseason like this,” Pope said.
13 Responses
I didn’t realize that Summer practice was so limited. I hope these guys put extra time in the gym when the coaches can’t be there. They are experienced enough to know what they need to work on. Building strength and conditioning is vital to being able to play uptempo on both ends and to also help avoid injuries that can accrue over a season of physical play. We have a solid team and a savvy coaching staff. We play Duke early in November and thumping them would serve notice to the rest of the country that Kentucky basketball is back!
Wouldn’t have to be a thumping – a one point win in OT would suffice 🎉.
love the enthusiasm of coach pope. i can’t wait to see these guys play together, and it’s nice to know for the first time in a long time that this team is actually getting coached up as well. can’t wait for the season to start, this could be a really fun season, and it’s great to know that i won’t have to listen to the screaming maniac anymore and his poor coaching.
Yes! Actually getting coaches up! What a change!
Remember how great UK played summer games – as a TEAM, with fantastic results & amazing chemistry. That was before they were poisoned!
Then, months later after being under the fraud they were selfish, not focused on TEAM and did not look like the same players or team.
The proof of the fraud is what happened during those months.
Carr is going to be Kentucky’s leading scorer. He’s a poor man’s Larry bird in a good way. The way he plays the game reminds me of Bird. I think he’s going to be the catalyst of this team. When a players gets noticeably better every year it means they really work on their craft. He can score inside and he can score outside. He’s a very intelligent guy. He will also pass the ball to whoevers open. He takes what the defense gives him and I’m very excited to watch this team this year. I think Robinson Carr and Oweh will be a 3 headed monster. The thing that’s going to make this team go is I think we have 4 or 5 double digit scorers on this team. Then you will have alot of guys averaging 8-9 ppg. It’s going to be balanced scoring. I think that makes great team chemistry when anyone can take the shot. My dark horse on the team is Chandler. Tape doesn’t lie and he looks better than Reed Sheppard looked coming out of high school. He’s more athletic and more disruptive. There’s a reason he was labeled the best white boy in his class. He plays like Rex Chapman. That’s who I would say he reminds me of. Also Watch out for Kriisa and Brea 2 5th year guys who are ready to explode in Popes offense. Garrison is going to be very good as well. Williams vs Garrison in practice is probably something to see. We are used to having skinny bigs. These guys won’t get pushed around. Very very tough and great defenders. We almost have too many good players. Butler will start at point but Kriisa will get almost as many minutes. Oweh is the most underrated player on the team. He’s built like a linebacker and very athletic. He will be great in the SEC. Thiero vs Oweh is going to be a great show.
We shall see now that its a new day and season to come!
We shall see!
UK has already jumped up to the program we last saw in the 1990’s when Pitino players went to 3 Finals, winning 2.
I’m convinced Pope will deliver and he began the moment he got offered the job!
Talented Depth to maintain an intense defense and rapid playing, rapid firing offense!
Components for this complete UK “package” were quickly, yet carefully & thoroughly analyzed before recruiting & landing pieces who FIT into the Pope planned puzzle!
The passing skills of the big man as well as the best skills of all the players will be utilized to the max. The coach AND his assistants are building a scoring machine and shark feeding frenzy defense!
last year texas a&m beat us twice an easy , this team’s got some guards that’s gonna make it bot difficult for wade Taylor an company ….
In reference to headline. I hope he likes the pieces. He picked them.. go big blue
I have confidence in this team, and there coachs. That don’t mean we have to win every game, but just like you don’t have to make every shot, you have to win some big ones😊.
I was so up and down, like Cals teams, that this new team and coachs, have me really excited. I’m even wishing my old ass life away😁
Come on November🥳
Hahaha wishing I had a time machine right about now lol
This is the most pumped preseason I have had for many years. There will predictably be some hiccups coming out of the gates, but the coach staff quality, lock in, and commitment could be the best in years as well. The players seem to be accepting the bonding process very well also, and it does appear that we have many good pieces of the puzzle to work with. I can’t wait for first game!!