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Kentucky Players Coming Into the Season With a Chip on Their Shoulder, “We’re Going to Be Scary”

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The first Kentucky Basketball team of the Mark Pope era is coming into the season with a chip on their shoulder, ready to surprise people.
Chet White | UK Athletics

Since Kerr Kriisa’s commitment, Mark Pope has raved about the talented guard, who is coming to Kentucky for his final year of eligibility. 

Everyone has heard about Kriisa’s ability to be disruptive on the defensive end of the court. Mark Pope has even said in interviews “Kerr’s got a little defensive juice to his own. He’s not really taking your ball, but he’s going to end up flopping at some point and you’re going to be so pissed at him. He just is so beautiful that way to kind of get under your skin”.

These statements should come as no surprise, considering the Estonia native has gained fame in the past by talking a little trash to NBA star Luka Dončić.

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So without doubt Kerr took full opportunity today at Kentucky Media Day to let everyone in the country know his thoughts on the team and the upcoming season.

Kerr shared when asked about taking on the bad guy role that has followed him. “ I don’t really pay attention to it, I’m just being me. I’m a competitor. I just go out there and compete. Bad guy, good guy, I’m just trying to win the game”.

When asked about what his thoughts are on the team, now that they have grown closer together.“ I think we’re going to be scary. I think people don’t really know what’s coming and I like it, we have a chip on our shoulder. The way we’ve been practicing we haven’t had one single bad practice, haven’t had one practice where there is no energy”.

He also said “he feels everybody is on the same page and everybody has come to Kentucky for the right reasons. To win as many games as possible and put yourself aside to be a part of something that’s bigger than you. When that happens it’s super easy to connect as a team”. When speaking on holding everyone accountable he also said, “That it has been very easy because we want to win”. 

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Like all the Mark Pope interviews done over the summer, the common theme that continued with Media Day was winning. You hear the players mentioning what it means to them to have Kentucky across the front of their jerseys. They speak on the storied tradition of Kentucky Basketball and how they are all focused on winning games, playing as a team, and competing for a National Championship. All things Big Blue Nation will welcome with open arms. 

Men's Basketball

Mark Pope’s Honesty Is a Rarity in College Basketball, “He’s Not Going to Sell You BS”

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Players say Kentucky coach Mark Pope's honesty and authenticity is what separates him from other college basketball coaches.
Chet White | UK Athletics

College basketball has changed with the advent of NIL and the transfer portal. In some ways for the better, and in others for the worse. That said, when money is introduced, it can complicate things, and even give opportunities for people to deceive young athletes.

It has already been seen in college football, as multiple athletes have opted to sit out the remainder of their seasons after not receiving NIL money they were originally promised. According to Kentucky transfer guard Kerr Kriisa, it is happening in college basketball too.

“In the college industry, kids are getting lied to,” Kriisa told Kentucky Insider. “They’re getting sold something that’s not true, that’s not there.”

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As of now, there are few bylaws and guidelines that the NCAA can enforce, leading to the current landscape. However, Mark Pope is separating himself.

“With Coach Pope, that’s not the case,” he added. “He’s honest. He doesn’t tell you something that’s not there. He’s not going to sell you some BS. He’s going to tell you how things are. That’s the thing I appreciate most, especially in this college industry. That is a very big thing about Coach Pope.”

Pope presents himself as honest and authentic, and that is apparent very quickly upon meeting him. Kriisa suggests that is why he has had early recruiting success.

Kentucky’s most recent commitment Acaden Lewis said as much following his accountment this past weekend.

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“[Mark] Pope, he was in the hood with me,” Lewis said. “He came to my barber shop and everything. It felt like a home. Felt like somewhere I should be.”

Talking to the father of another Kentucky prospect, “Everything is super personal with him [Pope]. It’s super cool.”

That authenticity is why Big Blue Nation and recruits have fallen in love with Pope. Now, will it lead to success? Time will tell.

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Men's Basketball

Mark Pope Named Most Impressive Coach of Opening Day of College Basketball

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Jordan Prather | Imagn

What a Kentucky coaching debut for Mark Pope, as the Wildcats routed Wright State 103-62 to tip off the season.

The 41-point margin of victory was not only the second-largest margin of victory in a Kentucky coach’s debut, only behind Adolph Rupp, but also a number of divine intervention. Of course, the margin matched Pope’s jersey number from his playing days at Kentucky.

“41, really special to me,” Pope said after the game. “That is really sweet. Kentucky magic, ain’t nothing like it.”

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Kentucky fans weren’t the only group impressed, as ESPN’s Myron Medcalf named Mark Pope the most impressive coach of day one of this college basketball season.

Medcalf writes:

Mark Pope kicked off his first year at Kentucky impressively. In the first half of his team’s matchup against Wright State, the Wildcats made 58% of their shots, 44% of their 3s. Five players had at least eight points before the break. Kentucky finished with 103 points. Jaxson Robinson is a potential future pro, but the program doesn’t have a clear star yet. Which is OK, as long as UK continues to play selflessly in the former BYU coach’s offensive scheme that spreads the floor — 50% of BYU’s shots last season were 3s — and encourages players to push the pace and attack the rim. It’s a fun style.

Of course, this is a long season, but the vibes are high and the excitement is building ahead of Kentucky’s first real test of the season as they take on Duke in the Champion’s Classic next week.

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Men's Basketball

Mark Pope Provides Promising Injury Update on Amari Williams

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Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope provides an injury update on Amari Williams ahead of the Wildcats season opener against Wright State.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

Kentucky tips off the season on Monday against Wright State, however, they could be down an important player.

Amari Williams, who is expected to be the starting big man for the Wildcats this season, suffered a hip injury just minutes into Kentucky’s exhibition against Minnesota State last week. While the injury did not look too severe at the moment, his limp to the locker room was worrisome.

“I think he’s fine,” Mark Pope said after the game. “X-rays came back solid but we’ll get some more imaging tomorrow. We’re hopeful he’ll be back soon.”

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On Friday, Pope provided another update.

“Imaging was really good, really positive. He’s day-to-day right now,” Pope said. “He won’t do anything – you know, just do free throws today. We’re hopeful that he’ll be back soon but we’ll kind of proceed with all the caution and urgency that we possibly can.”

Long term, this is a positive update. However, in the short term, Williams could be out for Kentucky’s first couple of regular season games, depending on how cautious he and team are being. We saw Kerr Kriisa sit out for the Blue-White event and Kentucky’s first exhibition following a “tweak” in practice.

The sooner the better for a return. Kentucky will certainly hope to be at 100% as they take on seventh-ranked Duke next week in the Champion’s Classic.

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