On the heels of yet another loss featuring a brutal free throw discrepancy, this time to the Alabama Crimson Tide at home, Mark Pope reassured fans that he, the staff and the team are working tirelessly to overcome what has essentially become their achilles’ heel: SEC officiating.

‘We’re spending an insane amount of time right now on fouls,” he said. “We’ve gone back and categorized every foul that has been called on us over the last five games, and we’re seeing some trends where we can really, really aggressively attack and make some strides, and that’s really important for us to do.”

Currently slated at 3-2 in SEC play, the Wildcats have still managed a solid stretch of conference basketball in spite of their strike-related struggles. To Pope, enduring the pain wrought by this trend is worth it if the team grows as a result.

Pain to Progress

“There’s gonna be times where it’s super painful, but as long as that pain is turned into us growing, and preparing, and getting better, it’ll be worth it… It’s given us some real direction, and I think there’s a good chance that we have a chance to make some massive improvements.

As far as those improvements go, they’d have to be mainly concerned with finding ways to level free throw numbers going forward; whether that means Kentucky shooting more or opponents shooting less, something will have to change for the ‘Cats to keep pace in SEC play.

In addition to attempting to “learn” the league and the whistle, as he put it, Pope admitted to sharing many fans’ frustration with the officiating as of late.

“There are times when I internally and sometimes externally lose my mind with some of the officiating, but the truth is, usually when you go back and watch the film, the officiating might not be what you’re used to or how you would correlate things with the book, but there is some consistency with the officiating.”

“…that’s a place where we can really grow.”

And grow they must. While it is encouraging to hear Coach Pope detail the team’s efforts to combat the whistle, only time will tell if a strategy forged in the film room will translate onto the court.

But with each of the next two games being in-conference and on the road, it’s likely we won’t have to wait long to find out.

In the aftermath of his first loss at Rupp Arena as the head coach of Kentucky, wherein Alabama prevailed in a 102-97 shootout, Mark Pope made a strong point in the post-game.

“We will punish teams in the future that guard us like this,” he began, referencing Kentucky’s scorching shooting performance on the day in spite of the loss. The Wildcats shot 47% from the field, as well as 40% from downtown; both metrics were marginally better than that of the Crimson Tide.

“Every game gives you a new challenge…”

What’s New is Old

Yet it was recurring problems that kept Kentucky at arm’s length against Alabama. Not only were they out-rebounded, though barely so, but they shot 14 less free throws than the visitors in red, tallying 16 makes on 20 attempts to Bama’s 29-34.

Exactly why Kentucky always seems to lose close games due to that margin is an uncomfortable question, and one that may pose a “new challenge” all on its own. That’s a ball we’ll have to kick down the road for now, though.

Either way, it comes down to the guys in the jerseys for Coach Pope, and he won’t have them painted incorrectly in any way.

“I got beautiful guys, my guys are fighting for each other… there are zero part of my guys that are in this for themselves at all. That doesn’t exist at all. These guys are fighting for each other,” he said, with an unfamiliar frustration.

‘Til The Battle is Won

And fight they have. If this Kentucky team has done anything well, it’s returning a punch when they take one. After each of their three losses prior to the one at hand, the Wildcats won the next game out. It’s been a crucial, positive pattern in a year full of new experiences and uncharted territory.

With a two-game Tennessee road trip up next, UK will again be forced to respond. Their first opportunity comes at Vanderbilt, who just took down the sixth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in the same building.

As is the case with every SEC game this season, it’ll be a powerful test. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Kentucky will be eager to “ring the bell.”

With the college basketball year well past the midseason point and many teams starting to take their ultimate shape, awards conversations are heating up for players and coaches alike.

Kentucky fans have long clamored for Mark Pope’s name to be in the coach of the year conversation, and thanks to CBS’ Gary Parrish, they aren’t alone.

In a segment called “3&D”, Parrish named his top three candidates for the honor. Third was Jon Scheyer, head coach of the Duke Blue Devils. In second place, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl.

First: Mark Pope.

A Perfect Choice

Parrish cited a multitude of reasons for his first-place choice, including the narrative effectivity of it all: “I just love the story at Kentucky. He was not their first choice to replace John Calipari, but he’s been a perfect choice..”

“14-4 this season, he’s re-engaged that fanbase, he’s got a legitimate final four contender…” he continued.

Parrish makes a moving point. Given Kentucky’s recent success, the widespread expectation via the national media that they’d be an SEC bottom feeder has been swept under the rug. Pope’s case for NCOTY becomes far more prevalent considering just about everybody had counted him out across the board.

“There are other first-year coaches around the country doing great work… but nobody is doing more than Mark Pope at Kentucky.”

Parrish was quick to mention Louisville’s Pat Kelsey, who’s led the Cards to an 15-5 (8-1) record, as well as second place in the ACC. He also noted Darian Devries at WVU, who has mounted one of the most compelling resumes in the country for the 23-rd ranked Mountaineers. Both coaches are certainly worthy candidates…

“Nobody is Doing More”

But again, in the words of Parrish, “nobody is doing more” than Pope, who’s taken a team of last-minute transfers and made them legitimate championship contenders, as well as awoken a fanbase who’d been long asleep.

It’s more than the product on the floor, but at 14-4, he’s done well there too. Kentucky will have to keep winning for Coach Pope to stay in the conversation, but if he and the team retain their momentum, there won’t be a better pick for the award than the rightful heir of Camelot himself.

Gary Parrish isn’t alone in his opinion, as multiple other analysts, including ESPN’s Jay Williams, have Pope has their choice for Coach of the Year as well.