Pope's First Offseason Press Conference

[KCKUKFan]

And all in all, the SEC's gonna be NOWHERE near what it was last season. Huge chunks of teams are gone and many did not really bring in a whole lot.

Might be one of the weaker power conferences in America next season. To which I say: good.

Good.

I want Kentucky to win. The SEC being a gauntlet doesn't help in that regard.

[Joneslab]

Good.

I want Kentucky to win. The SEC being a gauntlet doesn't help in that regard.

Staying healthy is maybe the most important thing. You looked out there at Florida at the end and all their guys were healthy and available. It's been many a year since Kentucky could say that in March.

[EKYCat]

Staying healthy is maybe the most important thing. You looked out there at Florida at the end and all their guys were healthy and available. It's been many a year since Kentucky could say that in March.

Been many a year since UK could say that November through March! Last season was particularly bad. All said, Pope did pretty well.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Kentucky had the best offense the program has had in a quarter century.

Of course they did, scored a lot of points against non conference teams but notice the scoring in some of those SEC games when teams actually prepared.

Don't act like it was 90 a game each and every time.

In league play the teams that could physically match up would shut down the 3 ball and make Robinson Brea uncomfortable, keep Williams up top, and make Oweh beat you.



Pope just told you this, why do you think this was??

[KentuckyWild2020]

I think Oweh would have benefitted more had Butler and Robinson not been hurt because teams would have had to respect both players offensive abilities, freeing Oweh up to do more in space. That Oweh did what he did when they were hurt is a testament to Oweh's ability.

I agree.

I felt like the game plan was shut down the 3 ball isolate Williams up top and make OWEH beat you.

It don't matter, if healthy this season, I think the team will run and gun shooting the 3 ball at will.

[EKYCat]

Of course they did, scored a lot of points against non conference teams but notice the scoring in some of those SEC games when teams actually prepared.

Don't act like it was 90 a game each and every time.

In league play the teams that could physically match up would shut down the 3 ball and make Robinson Brea uncomfortable, keep Williams up top, and make Oweh beat you.



Pope just told you this, why do you think this was??

It wasn't 90 points each and every time. It was, however, an average of 83.7 a game. Still pretty good.

[Joneslab]

Of course they did, scored a lot of points against non conference teams but notice the scoring in some of those SEC games when teams actually prepared.

Don't act like it was 90 a game each and every time.

Averaged 84 in conference games.

That's wildly impressive in that sort of league.

[KentuckyWild2020]

It wasn't 90 points each and every time. It was, however, an average of 83.7 a game. Still pretty good.

Of course, I never said the offense sucked lol lol....

The offense sucked when you had a out of control Archie Goodwin out of the gate full steam down the court running like he stole something or all the numerous years of JUNK AAU AND 1 STREET GARBAGE basketball.

POPE truly is the POPE when it comes to running a offense...

[EKYCat]

Averaged 84 in conference games.

That's wildly impressive in that sort of league.

Including hanging 106 on the eventual national champions.

[Joneslab]

Also regarding threes, Kentucky hit the most threes as a team than it had since 1992.

So it wasn't like OWEH was doing too much damage to the offensive philosophy.

[EKYCat]

Of course, I never said the offense sucked lol lol....

The offense sucked when you had a out of control Archie Goodwin out of the gate full steam down the court running like he stole something or all the numerous years of JUNK AAU AND 1 STREET GARBAGE basketball.

POPE truly is the POPE when it comes to running a offense...

No, you didn't say it sucked. You implied the offensive numbers were skewed by weaker non-conference competition. Maybe it was slowed, but only by a few points a game.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Averaged 84 in conference games.

That's wildly impressive in that sort of league.

Let's try this from a different angle.

If you was coaching against Mark Pope and Kentucky last year, what would have been the defensive game plan, especially after Robinson and Butler was out ??

[EKYCat]

Williams was unique in that he was a great passer from the top of the key. So forcing him up top played into Pope's hands a little. You get physical with Brea. Go under every screen. Dare Oweh to shoot the 3 ball and take away his driving lanes. The thing with the offense Pope wants to run is it is predicated by such screening and motion that you couldn't really do like you'd do with a Wheeler or Wagner and just sag off one guy.

[Joneslab]

Kentucky wasn't a very physical team. Ole Miss probably had the best gameplan and they just knocked us back on our heels. Georgia and Ohio St. were the other two teams that come to mind that made it very hard because they just pushed and shoved us around a lot.

The first two Tennessee games and the last Tennessee game were interesting in that the first two games, they tried to finesse with us. Didn't work. Last game they just grinded, got in the trenches, and even offensively played the kind of game that we pretty much hated. When you don't have a lot of physical, tough guys you defend by dirtying up the game.

Next year's team is going to be A LOT different as far as this goes.

[Bluesong]

Matt, thanks for posting the video. The more I hear Mark Pope talk, the more I like him.