Mark Pope Understands What Trent Noah Means to Eastern Kentucky Fans

Vicky Graff Photo

By LILIA SAXENA SMITHSON, Contributing Writer

Kentucky freshman guard Trent Noah believes a slogan he heard during Banner Week (UK’s preseason camp) can epitomize what this season can be like for the Wildcats.

The saying: “The magic is in the work that you’re avoiding.”

That obviously resonated with the former Harlan County star.

“I think that that really makes a lot of sense because we don’t avoid work. That’s what he (coach Mark Pope) preaches to us. So I think that’s the go-to right now, especially just leaving banner camp  and that can apply to everything, right?” Noah said at UK’s Media Day.

He believes the same saying can apply to everyday life for UK fans and other people.

“Coach says we don’t avoid any work so we’re fine with that magic,” Noah said.

Noah continues to admit it is a “dream come true” for someone like him from eastern Kentucky to be playing for UK.

“There’s no place like the University of Kentucky and to be able to grow up in the state and really understand and watch it all my life, I feel like that’s what makes it even more special,” Noah said. “I mean, I’ll put on my practice jersey and I see Kentucky across my chest, and I’m just like, ‘Man, this is real.’

“Then I come out for practice on the UK logo in the middle of the floor and I’m like this is really real. I mean, it’s just crazy. I have so much pride and passion for the state of Kentucky. It just means a lot.”

Noah believes Pope is putting the same pride about Kentucky in players who are not from the Bluegrass.

“I think Coach pope has instilled into all of us, even the people that are from far away from here, what this basketball program in this university means to the state and the people,” Noah said. “So I feel like they understand, I feel like we all understand it. That’s just a credit to him.”

Harlan County has not sent a player to play at Kentucky since Dickie Parsons over 60 years ago and he admits it has been “completely different” adjusting to college basketball compared to high school.

“The speed of the game, the size, the strength and the athleticism. That is all different, but I feel like I’m doing a fairly good job. My players always build me up and give me confidence and so do my coaches,” Noah said.

Pope certainly senses what Noah’s presence at UK means to fans in eastern Kentucky.

“I don’t know Eastern Kentucky like people who grew up in Eastern Kentucky,” Pope said. “I don’t know it well like them, but if you had a guy that was going to represent the eastern half of this state in a brilliant, brilliant way… this Trent Noah is really special that way.”