DeMarcus Cousins says Kentucky has 'no heart’ after Gonzaga Blowout, and Pope doesn’t disagree

There are plenty of people you could ignore when they criticize Kentucky basketball. DeMarcus Cousins is not one of them.

Cousins is one of the most emotional, competitive, and flat-out intense players Kentucky has ever seen. Sometimes he went over the line. Sometimes he boiled over. But no one ever questioned his desire or his commitment to the program.

DeMarcus Cousins questions Kentucky basketball heart and effort

So when he watched this 2025 team get run off the floor again and finally posted on X:

it cut deep.

The worst part? You can’t really argue with him.

In their four losses this season, Kentucky has been outscored 340–277 and outrebounded 166–131. That’s not just losing. That’s getting physically handled over and over again. There are long stretches where players aren’t talking to each other on the floor. Defenders stare at each other after a breakdown. Offensive possessions die in isolation and frustration.

You see it on film. Guards drive into traffic while open teammates stand and watch. There was a sequence against Michigan State where Brandon Garrison watched as the Spartans grabbed two straight offensive rebounds right in front of him. No box out. No second effort. Just standing there.

Against Gonzaga, it got even uglier. Down 30, the body language stayed flat. No fire. No visible anger. No sense of urgency from a team wearing Kentucky on the jersey. They just accepted the loss and were ready to move on.

That’s what Cousins saw. That’s what fans saw. And that’s why the reaction resonated.

Mark Pope was asked directly about Cousins’ “no heart” comment after the game. He didn’t dodge it.

“I have no issue with what he said,” Pope answered. “Starting with the coach, this product was completely unacceptable. As a former player, I’m pissed at this too. It’s all deserved. There’s nothing inappropriate about what he said at all.”

That’s as blunt as you’re going to hear from a coach. He didn’t defend the effort. He didn’t push back. He didn't stand up for his players and say that wasn't the case. He basically co-signed Cousins’ frustration.

The truth is simple: Kentucky teams are never going to be perfect. They’re allowed to be flawed. They’re allowed to lose. But they’re not allowed to look like they don’t care.

Right now, that’s exactly how this group looks far too often. Until the fight, communication, and urgency return, people like DeMarcus Cousins are going to keep talking and Big Blue Nation is going to keep agreeing.

We will leave you with this Otega Oweh video, you tell us what you see.