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Kentucky senior Otega Oweh, UK’s leading scorer last season, recently suggested that the Cats had so much depth this season that coach Mark Pope could actually use a platoon system much like Kentucky did during the 2014-15 season when it started the season 38-0.
Pope has a plethora of talent on this second Kentucky roster with an interesting mix of returning players, talented transfers and incoming freshmen. Of course, he still doesn’t have the overall talent Kentucky’s 1995-96 team coached by Rick Pitino had that won the national title and produced nine NBA players, including Pope.
That led me to ask Pope how in today’s college basketball world could he keep so many talented players happy or does he even worry about trying to do that.
“I think if you have three talented players on your team, you worry about keeping a happy roster, and if you have 15 talented players, you worry about keeping a happy roster,” Pope said. “I don’t know if worry is the right word.
“I think it’s your job to create an environment where guys are thriving, and you never do that perfectly. Every single player since the beginning of time, no matter if they’re getting every shot or no shots, is super twisted up about their progress. That’s what makes great players.”
Pope said the best players are “relentless in their pursuit of growth” on a daily basis.
“They’re always turning over every stone to try and find every possible way that they can grow themselves and grow their team,” the UK coach said. “That’s how great players are built.
“So if you’re not fighting to get better, something is wrong. I think you want to cultivate that and I don’t think that players today are any different than players from the past in that regard.”
3 Responses
That will be Pope's biggest challenge…finding playing time for 14 kids. Come SEC play the rotation will fall to 9 players. The other 6 must commit to making those 9 players better and be prepared to plug in if injuries pop up. That is how national titles are won.
Exactly except maybe the best 10 since we are 14 deep. I think you have to find 2 platoons that play together, not for themself. He has until SEC play to find 2 great teams he can use. The other 4 guys are just going to have to realize we are a better team with these 10 on the court. If injuries occur they have someone at every position that can slide into the lineup. I do believe there will be one player on this team who surprises the world and there will be another who is much farther behind than what everyone thinks they will be. Chandler is my dark horse on this team. I think he might be the most fine tuned all around guy on the team.
Just like last year, we only have 1 true point guard. I hope Lowe can stay healthy because he will take a beating every game.
Tyran Stokes inked a deal with Nike.
Could be good news for Kentucky or Oregon.
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