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What is a fair way to evaluate coach Mark Pope’s team after Kentucky was obliterated 80-55 at Vanderbilt last week and then turned around and won 85-77 at Arkansas?
What lies ahead for Kentucky, which is 15-7 overall, 6-3 in Southeastern Conference play, and 3-6 against top-25 teams?
I reached out to two national personalities — ESPN college basketball analyst and former head college coach Fran Fraschilla and Sporting News columnist Mike DeCourcy —for their thoughts/perspective on Kentucky now and the rest of the season.
“Given the turmoil of the previous 72 hours, the fact that the Wildcats are down three players and the chaos of the game, it was a gutsy win at Arkansas,” Fraschilla, who worked the game for ESPN, said. “They got out of the gate fast, and when Arkansas battled back early in the second half, they never lost their fight.
“This team has some holes, especially without a pure point guard, but Ortega Owen’s toughness and scoring ability will keep them in a lot of big games down the stretch. The rest of the SEC schedule, while challenging, offers great opportunities to improve their NCAA seed line. I absolutely expect them to be a (NCAA) tournament team.”
Kentucky trails Texas A&M (7-1), Florida (7-2), and Vanderbilt (6-3) in the SEC standings with nine games to go and is tied with Arkansas (6-3). Next comes Tennessee (5-3), Missouri (5-4), Auburn (5-4), and Alabama (5-4).
Kentucky has to play Florida twice and also has games remaining with Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Alabama, and Texas A&M. However, UK also gets to play Oklahoma (1-8), South Carolina (2-7), and Georgia (4-5).
“If you look at it, they won six out of seven games in a highly competitive league. It’s not easy to do that in the Power 5 conferences, unless you’re one of the teams at the very top of the sport,” DeCourcy said. “I certainly wouldn’t classify Kentucky, in its current state, in that category — not with basically three of their top eight players out because of injury. So to be doing what they are is pretty remarkable.”
DeCourcy believes it has been “absurd” to question Pope’s coaching ability because of some one-sided losses this season.
“One could hardly call what remains of their schedule ‘forgiving,’ but it’s about as accommodating as the SEC could provide. I think if they can finish in or near the top five of the league, they have had a heck of a regular season.”
Another ESPN analyst, Seth Greenberg, posted on social media, “I guess the sky wasn’t falling,” adding that it is just hard to win in college basketball today.
3 Responses
The 3-6 record against top 25 teams is what has everyone calling for Pope's head. If it were 6-3, Pope would be fine. Not signing any 2026/27 incoming freshman hasn't helped his cause either. Losing to Louisville and North Carolina are No Nos in any year. Losing to Missouri in Rupp was inexcusable and getting pounded by Gonzaga, Alabama, and Vanderbilt is what has Pope on the hottest of hotseats. Beating Indiana, St. Johns, Tennessee, and Arkansas has cooled that seat off a little, but Pope will need to go at least 6-3 in the last 9 games and get a first round bye in the SEC Tourney where a finals appearance followed by another Sweet 16 showing will silence the calls for his job. Year 3, and there will be a Year 3, will have to be nothing short of one of the two SEC titles and an Elite 8 in the Dance to get most back on his bandwagon. It's a tough job that nobody else wanted, but even so, you have to win much more than you lose at Kentucky. Double digit game losses will not cut it here.
True fact only 8 teams across the country has more quad 1 wins than Kentucky. Cats has 8 quad wins and the 8 teams ahead of cats has 9. That's wild consider what this team has gone through.
Correct “ it’s a jungle out there “ !
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