Mark Pope’s postgame tone has shifted lately. He’s clearly searching for ways to close the gap between good stretches of basketball and consistent 40-minute performances. But beyond communication or defensive issues, one glaring trend stands out across every loss of Pope’s tenure:
Kentucky repeatedly gets hit by major opponent runs, and Pope often allows them to snowball without using timeouts to stop the bleeding.
It’s not anecdotal. We know Mark Pope loves analytics, so we dove deep into every loss in his Kentucky tenure. This is a flaw backed up by data, and it's the one thing keeping Kentucky from becoming an elite basketball team. In today’s college game, where momentum swings are violent and analytics-driven, failing to break those runs often decides outcomes.
The undeniable pattern of collapse
We reviewed every major defeat under Pope. The pattern is unmistakable: Kentucky waits for a scheduled TV timeout instead of calling one proactively.
The result is a long list of uncontested opponent surges:
- Louisville (2025): Kentucky took a 22–19 lead, then surrendered a 13–0 run. No timeout was called from the Kentucky bench.
- Michigan State (2025): Down late, Kentucky allowed a 13–3 Spartan run to stretch the deficit to 16. Pope called timeout mid-run, but too late to stop the momentum.
- Ohio State: The Cats watched a 15–4 Buckeye run turn a one-point lead into a double-digit deficit, all without a timeout.
- Auburn: Kentucky allowed a decisive 14–2 run in the first half that effectively decided the game. No timeout was used.
- Alabama (Game 1): Kentucky was up late, then Alabama ripped off a game-defining 10–0 run. No timeout.
- Texas: Up 69–64 with 3:51 left, Kentucky surrendered a crushing 14–2 closing run. No timeout was used during the collapse, only after the damage was irreversible.
Why timeouts must become a weapon
Pope is a system coach who values flow, spacing, and pace. His philosophy prefers not to disrupt his team unless absolutely necessary. But the data confirms the approach is costing Kentucky in real time:
- Momentum is Measurable: Analytical studies show that timeouts successfully disrupt an opponent's scoring run up to 66% of the time. They are not abstract; they are a proven intervention.
- The cost: By waiting, Kentucky allows the opponent to find rhythm, build confidence, find matchup advantages, and take over the tempo. The timeout becomes damage control, not damage prevention.
- The contrast: Great coaches don’t let the game get away. They hit the brakes the moment the engine sputters.
To beat NCAA Tournament-level teams, Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn, Texas, Michigan State, Kentucky cannot allow double-digit runs to stretch uncontested. There is zero reason to wait until it is a 9-0 spurt. If it hits 6, it is time to call a timeout and stop it before it grows.
The bottom line
Mark Pope has built a modern, entertaining team at Kentucky, though this year they are struggling more than last. He’s energized the program and positioned the Wildcats for success in a lot of new and exciting ways.
But one flaw keeps surfacing, and keeps costing Kentucky winnable games: He waits too long to call timeouts during opponent runs.
It’s correctable. It’s fixable. And it's necessary. If Kentucky wants to take the next step, from competitive to consistent, Pope must become quicker and more intentional with his timeout usage.
Momentum wins games. Timeouts stop momentum. It’s time for Kentucky’s head coach to use them that way.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion