Kentucky players seem to always be smiling as they are preparing for coach Mark Pope's first season at UK. (UK Athletics Photo)
WTVQ-TV sports director Jeff Piecoro noticed two major differences when he was around the Kentucky basketball teams recently.
First, the men and the change he noticed was a subtle one but a major one I think also.
“The guys are walking around with smiles on their faces,” said Piecoro. “They seem to be happy and even enjoying the media, which was not the sense I got the last few years.
“They have great size and great shooters on this team. Jaxson Robinson and Koby Brea keep talking about that (coach Mark) Pope will take you out if you don’t shoot. I think it is really going to be fun basketball to see and all the guys talk to you about Travis Perry and how he shoots. It’s almost ridiculous the shooting ability this team will have.”
Piecoro also thinks UK will be better defensively than it has been and credits Pope for rejuvenating the UK fan base.
“It has been a great breath of fresh air for the fans,” Piecoro said. “It’s a lot different than when Cal (John Calipari) was here and it became Cal U. Now it is about the players. Mark is enthusiastic and I think it helps that he went through all this here as a player. He knew what to expect and the right buttons to push to excite fans. He’s just fun.”
What about the biggest change he sees with the women? For him, this one is easy.
“I do women’s games for the SEC Network and Kentucky is always playing with a center that is 6-foot tall and wings that are smaller while other SEC teams go 6-3, 6-4, 6-5,” Piecoro said.
“This is going to be a different brand of Kentucky basketball with the size (coach) Kenny Brooks has on this team now. He’s got shooters and an all-American point guard (Virginia Tech transfer Georgia Amoore) but that size just jumps out at you for a change in a positive way.”
Piecoro believes both teams will surprise a lot of people this season.
“Both of those coaches look like they want to be here for the right reasons,” Piecoro said. “They are both great teachers and are all about fundamentals and getting back to being more about the team.”
8 Responses
The focus should always be and NOW is the PLAYERS, the TEAM blossoms into reality.
Coach Rupp is a legend, but he focused on fundamentals including teaching players to have “spots” on the floor where they preferred to take their shots. He developed players into TEAMS & let the spotlight shine in the TEAM. Joe B. Hall & Rick Pitino we’re also highly recognized successful coaches, but the focus was still the TEAM.
Coach Mark Pope is the 4th GREAT UK coach because he puts the DOCUS on the TEAM, on UK.
No other agenda. UK has been cheated a 1/4 century without a coach who knows & understands UK BB & UK history,
A new era has arrived. We WILL see new National Championships banners in Rupp Arena within 3 to 4 years, with at least 1 every 4 or 5 years. I will
Not be surprised if UK wins it all THIS year.
Those smiles on ALL the players & their high compliments of their teammates, even so many impressed with the superior shooting by 1 of the 2 the youngest guys – Travis Perry – on the team, is impressive coming from other sharp shooters with years of experience.
Kentucky has been big, for years, on summertime talk about championships. By March, the CAL-endar produced duds. We’ll see how this goes. I am not buying into the summertime hoopla.
I do hope that Pope does play a style like the Pitino teams. That was an era of exciting basketball. I do not hang on every tidbit coming out of Lexington because it is only a game, not something to be worshipped.
It was not easy playing for Cal. He put his pets ahead of the good of the team and everyone knew it. It’s kinda hard to smile when you think about how you are being screwed over. Fayetteville will come to know this soon enough.
Word has it that Jasper Johnson will sign with Bama with a close finish by North Carolina. Kentucky is viewed as a distant third, despite his ties to Lexington and Kentucky. Here’s what Jasper’s decision will come down to. At Alabama or North Carolina, he will be the starting guard in year 1; at Kentucky he will be a role player with limited PT in year 1. He wants to be the star more than he wants to win a championship. The truth is, Jasper is a one trick pony who is a poor shooter, is a great penetrator and finisher in high school but will be less so in college, is weak going to his right, and is a mediocre defender. His me first attitude will not bode well at Kentucky. We will be better without him even if he is a Lexington kid. Kinda reminds me of DJ Wagner.
Pretty harsh Barry. Not a me-first kid at all
Larry, I may be wrong as I don’t know this kid personally. I would think that if he is not more concerned about being a starter, he would have already committed to Kentucky where he would not be a starter. Practicing against Perry and Chandler would help him develop areas of his game that are not ready for a starter’s minutes or responsibilities, much less the NBA. Being a two or three year player at Kentucky would be a huge benefit if he has aspirations of playing in the NBA and I hope he chooses to wear the Blue and White.
On the other hand, if a kid doesn’t have a burning desire to play at Kentucky to help them win championships, another school might be a better place for them. Pope is recruiting kids who are team first in whatever role that will help him bring more championships to Lexington. Most of those kids will become more NBA ready by doing so whether they are OAD or not. I wish him the best in wherever he decides to go.
Ive been saying this for awhile. He’s very overrated. He’s a gun which means he shoots even with 2 and 3 people guarding him never looking to kick the ball out. He’s a Me first type of person. I said he would choose between Arkansas and North Carolina with Alabama coming in 3rd awhile ago. Popes personality doesn’t fit Johnson. We need Hudson Greer. He’s the prized recruit out of the class. He is a 6’6" Rex Chapman. Except more aggressive. Unbelievable motor and most of all a great team player. His stats would be much better but he gets everyone involved. I hope we get Greer Moreno and Magwood. I would be happy with them 3. I wouldnt waste my time chasing one and done players in today’s college basketball. These kids are making money and will now stay more. Instead of going Pro. Look how many freshman returned and should have from last years Kentucky team. Before the year started we had supposedly 4 one and done guys and Reed wasn’t even counted as one of them.
Got to say I don’t know that much about Jasper but the few times I’ve seen him play he is NOT that good of a shooter and if he wants to play elsewhere then by all means DON’T LET THE DOOR ! You know the rest. Being he is a Kentucky kid I’d rather he stay here but he’s no REED SHEPARD !!!
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