Kentucky's defense has not been great this year, you know it, I know it, and the coaches know it. That is why Mark Pope took responsibility for setting up the assignments against Florida Too that ultimately cost them the game.
Too many times the defenders have been going under screens and allowing good shooters to get wide open shots. Take a look at some of the examples below:
UK being coached to go under screens is frustrating pic.twitter.com/roJHMhFtFr
— John Montgomery (@Monty4033) February 16, 2026
But it's not just the Florida game fans can look to as an issue. Time and time again, the same thing happened in the Alabama game: the Tide turned that into 15 3-point shots. So, this is a strategy that Kentucky has employed all season long. And who is in charge of the defense? Mark Fox.
Mark Fox's defense scouting has been poor
Mark Pope and Mark Fox have been close since Pope broke into the coaching game. Fox gave him his first job on the Georgia coaching staff when Pope decided to leave medical school. So, it only made sense that Mark Fox would come and be a part of the coaching staff when Pope took over at Kentucky. Things haven't exactly been coming up roses, though.
Last year, Kentucky was atrocious defensively. They were 315th in the country, giving up 77.2 points per game.
This year, they are a little better, but that is not saying much. Kentucky is 131st in the nation in scoring defense, giving up 72.2 points per game. Teams around them include Bryant, Syracuse, and Mt. St. Mary's. Those schools have a combined record of 35-45. Not exactly great company.
And it is Mark Fox's job to have the defense ready. He is in charge of on-court defensive preparation and opponent scouting after signing a one-year contract extension last year.
If the defense is struggling, then the coach in charge of that defense has to be questioned. Fox has a career record of 324-263 as a head coach and was largely successful at Nevada. At Georgia, he did okay, but at Cal, it was a nightmare. He was just 38–87 in his last stop as a head coach. Looking at that, you have to wonder what Mark Pope saw to bring him in, other than the mentor status he has.
This is not to absolve Mark Pope of the issues Kentucky has had on the defensive side of the floor, but when your defensive guru isn't guru-ing, that is a problem. But the issue starts with the gameplan, and that gameplan is being put in place by Mark Fox.
So if you are mad about Kentucky's ball screen coverage, it is the other Mark that should get most of the heat.