Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky has held its own against elite competition this season.
The sixth-ranked Wildcats are undefeated (3-0) against teams ranked in the Top 10, including an exciting 106-100 win over No. 8 Florida on Saturday. Coach Mark Pope said the Wildcats enjoy competing against top teams and like the marquee matchups.
“They love it,” Pope said. “Every day we are learning to love each other a little bit more. Just the opportunity to compete, you know, there is nothing better.
“You only get to do this for a little time in your life, to just compete like this. Our guys are falling in love with competing, they are falling in love with it.”
Pope added the Wildcats aren’t intimidated by any opponent and will expect more of the same when the Wildcats (12-2, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) take on Georgia (12-2, 0-1) tonight in the first of two straight conference road games this week.
“I don’t think they are scared,” Pope said. “I don’t think they spend a ton of time stressing or fretting about the outcome. I think they are doing a terrific job as best as anybody can about staying in the moment and just competing on each possession. When we do get sideways, somebody else steps up and says, ‘I will be present right now.’ I think our guys are doing a great job at that.”
Kentucky guard Koby Brea agreed with his coach.
“We show up — we really show up,” said Brea, who was named Co-SEC Player of the Week on Monday after scoring a career-high 23 points and connected on a personal-best seven 3-pointers in the win over the Gators.
“It does not matter who it is. I feel like playing against any team — it doesn’t have to be Top 10 — it doesn’t matter. We are coming for everyone. I think the SEC is pretty loaded this year, and that is what we want. We want those games, so we are super excited.”
The Bulldogs lost their conference opener, a 63-51 setback at No. 23 Ole Miss last Saturday in their second setback of the season. Georgia has compiled a perfect 9-0 record at home this season and has won 11 straight games at Stegman Coliseum. Despite the team’s setback to the Rebels, Kentucky center Amari Williams said the Wildcats can’t take the Bulldogs for granted.
“You’ve got to be ready for every game from the jump,” he said. “You can’t wait until 10 minutes into the first half or anything like that. I feel like we’ve got to come out ready, even the teams who aren’t ranked — it doesn’t really matter. Everyone is going to come out ready to play.”
