Vicky Graff Photo
It seems like little things but Mark Pope just does things most coaches will not do.
First, he let freshman Collin Chandler make the opening statement at the postgame press conference Friday night after Kentucky beat Liberty in Milwaukee. Coaches always give the opening statement but Pope let Chandler, who had nine points in two minutes, do his best Pope impersonation with coach-like remarks.
Next, Pope brought his teenage daughter, Shay, with him to Saturday’s press conference and had her sit at the podium with him. Occasionally I have seen coaches bring young children to the podium, but never a high school age child.
“She is the director of analytics for Kentucky men’s basketball, so any analytics questions will go straight to her,” Pope joked.
Pope is known for his positivity and got a question about that.
“Shay would be like, ‘My dad is not positive. He grounded me last week. Is that true?” Pope said.
“I am grounded,” Shay replied.
“You didn’t have to answer,” the UK coach said back.
That bit of father-daughter chemistry is just different, especially at NCAA Tournament time.
But Pope also did one more thing that endears him to players. Instead of bringing his star players to the press conference, he let freshmen Travis Perry and Trent Noah, both Kentuckians, come along with Ansley Almonor, who played in the NCAA Tournament with Fairleigh-Dickinson but is not a star player for UK.
It was a memory maker for all three but definitely for Perry and Noah who know what basketball means to in-state fans. They also know the pressure the Cats — and Pope — face in postseason play.
“Obviously being from Kentucky, we watch it (NCAA Tournament) all the time. Kentucky is always here. So it’s the thing to do. And over the past few years, there have been some disappointing results for sure. So there’s the pressure of that going on social media everywhere with the fanbase,” Perry said. “But I think we were focused on the task at hand. Really focused on getting the job done so we could play another game and I think we did that, and the support was really great for us.”
Today’s second round game with Illinois is uncharted territory for Pope who had not won a NCAA game as a college coach until Friday.
“Our life gets really simple right now. Last night we dug in a scout, kind of stayed there all night. This morning met with the team, digging in on a scout this afternoon, had a really nice experience with our guys on the floor, and we’ll go back and keep trying to figure out this terrific Illinois team,” Pope said Saturday.
“So in that sense, it gets really, really simple. It’s one of the best parts of this year aside from recruiting, which is constantly ongoing right now. Everything else is just focused on the game. So it gets simple.”
Perry said Pope’s demeanor had not really changed because of the NCAA Tournament.
“He’s pretty good about being consistent with us,” Perry said. “The main message he kind of had for us was just to take in the moment and realize that there’s not many times that you get to be where you want to be in that moment.
“And before that game, obviously all of us, if we could pick anywhere to be in the world, we would pick right there about to play with those 15 guys about to play our first March Madness together. And that kind of puts it in perspective. I think he does a good job of settling us down that way, knowing if we could choose to be anywhere we would choose right there. So that kind of makes it pretty easy.”
Pope understands Illinois likely will have more fans at today’s game than Kentucky will but he hopes a non-conference game in Seattle against Gonzaga in December that UK rallied to win will be similar to the Illinois game atmosphere.
“But we’ve also had great road games. At Tennessee is a great environment. At Mississippi State is a great environment. So our guys have been through this. We’re really blessed to have a really experienced lineup that feels this, and I think they love it,” Pope said. “We went and played at Missouri in a great environment, and we kind of — our guys lead a lot of the pregame speeches. And so we got to the point it was — well, I gotta be careful with what I say.
“There is that real joy that you get from being in the gym and the gym getting really, really quiet. Our guys know that feeling, and relish the opportunity to do that. And that will probably be part of what our job is tomorrow.”
Kentucky MBB Players
Photos by Vicky Graff
4 Responses
This year Ky basketball has been fun to watch. The last few years it didn’t seem to be about the team but where would they be in the NBA next year. Under coach Pope it is KY again. One recommendation coach. Try to get that UCLA guard to Lexington. You know, Trent Perry. That would be a gas!!!
it sure has Bill
Hey guys, just keeping on, keeping on. We are so proud of you all. Your coach has a good point, make and enjoy these memories TODAY. The bigger the memories, the more enjoyment you’ll have looking back in your lives. I see you all as my Grandkids…so work hard at what you love and come on over for some of Granny’s banana pudding and a hug. May God Bless you and your Coach. Be safe. Granny Carol. GO BBN!!!!!
well said Carol