Mark Pope says Kentucky is rebuilding identification by spacing and communication

[ad_1] In the event you watched the non-conference and thought Kentucky seemed like three totally different groups rolled into one…

You weren’t unsuitable.

Pope isn’t simply tweaking the playbook; he’s re-engineering what Kentucky is.

“We’re making an attempt to evolve into the workforce that may get us to the very best ceiling.”

Meaning spacing. Meaning communication. Meaning uncomfortable development.

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And yeah, meaning errors.

Kentucky’s offense is shifting, and Pope is blunt about why He isn’t hiding what the blueprint is.

Spacing = house to punish.Spacing = cleaner screens.Spacing = tempo with out panic.

And proper now?

They’re nonetheless studying.

“We get slowed down and impatient when it will get powerful. We’re rising out of that.”

This isn’t a critique. It’s a prognosis.

One of the best coaches inform the reality.

Protection is the actual SEC drawback Alabama forces two defenders to be unsuitable on the similar time. Tennessee is at all times so bodily, and Vanderbilt places stress on each spot on the court docket.

Kentucky is getting ready for all of it in follow.

“Bringing a number of gamers into ball screens”

Pope isn’t dumbing it down.

He’s talking like a coach getting ready his workforce for grad faculty.

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Translation for followers:The SEC goes to attempt to confuse Kentucky greater than outshoot them.

If they'll talk by the chaos?

This workforce turns into one thing harmful.

Why this issues now Final 12 months, Kentucky fell aside when accidents hit, they fought again however couldn’t overcome the well being disaster. This 12 months, Pope is making an attempt to forestall the pothole, not react to it.

They realized from Michigan State. They realized from the Nashville catastrophe. They realized from the second halves vs. Indiana and St. John’s.

This workforce has a reminiscence.

That’s new.

The takeaway You don’t construct identification with slogans.

You construct it with:

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Movie classes the place egos die

Kentucky is doing that. And SEC play, which begins Saturday at Alabama, is the place we discover out if the work interprets.

As a result of “identification” is only a phrase till it survives stress.

Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been masking the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime together with his household and Premier League soccer. You'll find him on X right here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion