In the post-game following Kentucky’s second straight loss, this one coming on the road at Vanderbilt with a final score of 74-69, Mark Pope provided an injury update on the absent Andrew Carr.

“There’s just so much he can’t do with his back,” he said. “He wants to play so bad.”

Carr sitting the Vanderbilt game came after weeks of up-and-down performance, playtime and speculation. His injury seemed to come out of nowhere, and has evolved quickly from a quiet concern to something that could hold him out for “weeks.”

“What we’re hoping is that we can get to a space sometime in the next few weeks, next few days, somewhere where we have enough confidence… he hasn’t practiced in a couple weeks,” Pope revealed.

“Every game, it’s kind of like he just gets beat up so bad it’s back to square one where it’s hard for him to walk essentially. We’re hoping that, with more time, we can get him to some sustainable place where he can endure a practice, and endure a game, and not be back to zero…”

“But we’ll see if that actually happens.”

Rocky Roads

The revelation that Carr hasn’t practiced in weeks is certainly a sobering one. That, combined with the apparently restrictive nature of the injury itself, explains his inability to stay on, let alone produce on, the court.

This news couldn’t come at a worse time for the Wildcats, who have only two days to recover from the loss to the Commodores before they find themselves center stage in Thompson-Boling Arena taking on the Tennessee Volunteers.

The Volunteers are also on a two-game losing streak and, in front of their home crowd, will be chomping at the bit to turn things around.

With Kerr Kriisa still out indefinitely, Lamont Butler dealing with a shoulder/off-hand ailment (something Pope has briefly alluded to,) and Andrew Carr joining the former off the court, Kentucky will have to rely on reserves to stay afloat in the SEC. It’s a long road to rocky top, to say the least.

Get well soon, #7. All of Big Blue Nation is behind you.

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.