Let’s be honest, BBN. We were all a little worried about Mark Pope after that Michigan State disaster.
The loss in the Champions Classic wasn't just a loss; it was a defensive collapse that saw the Cats give up 83 points. And afterward, Pope didn't look like his usual sunny self. He looked gutted. He looked like he hadn't slept.
Fast forward to Friday night. Kentucky dismantled an overmatched Loyola (MD) squad 88-46, but the real story wasn't the score. It was Pope’s admission about just how dark things got for him after leaving New York.
When asked if he was "okay" because of how hard he took the loss, Pope didn't dodge it.
"I stunk after Michigan State. I was terrible," Pope confessed. "I’m a terrible, terrible loser. I’m the worst... I hate it with a passion that is maybe unknown on the planet Earth."
You have to love that honesty. We don't want a robot on the sidelines. We want a guy who bleeds blue and loses sleep when this program doesn't meet the standard.
The lineup shakeup that paid off for Kentucky basketball
Pope didn't just stew in his misery; he made changes.
With Mo Dioubate out with an injury. though Pope joked Mo would play "if both his legs had fallen off," the lineup got a shakeup. Kam Williams stepped in, but the big surprise was Malachi Moreno getting the start over Brandon Garrison.
Was it a message? Pope says no, claiming he's "not really a message guy." But the results scream otherwise. And it worked too.
Brandon Garrison didn't pout. He came off the bench and played like a man possessed on the glass.
"Maybe the best story of the night... is BG's response," Pope said. "I mean he's an 11 rebound guy. I don't think he's done that all season... Coach decided not to start me. I'm going to go be unbelievable in my 20 minutes off the bench."
Garrison finished with 6 points, 11 rebounds (3 offensive), and a block. That is exactly the kind of "next man up" mentality this team lacked against Michigan State. In fact there was a play where he gave up multiple offensive rebounds through just a lack of effort.
Getting 'down in the mud'
The box score is pretty, but let’s not kid ourselves. Loyola is not an SEC contender, and they probably will not be a tournament team. They shot 29% from the field and 21% from three.
However, the way Kentucky played is what matters. They were aggressive. They were in the gaps.
The Wildcats won the rebounding battle 56-33. That is complete domination. Pope called this current phase of fixing the team his "heaven."
"The determination to like get down in the mud and grow and do it sleeplessly and relentlessly... That's actually how you build something great," Pope said. "I'm actually better than okay. This is my heaven right here."
Otega Oweh returns to form
One of the biggest bright spots was Otega Oweh. After disappearing a bit in New York, he was a menace on Friday. He finished with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, but it was his defense that had Pope gushing.
"I felt like, welcome back, my friend," Pope said of Oweh's defensive intensity. "That guy is our guy."
What this means moving forward
Look, beating Loyola by 42 points is what Kentucky should do. The "joy in the gym" is back, as Pope put it, but he knows they aren't there yet.
"We don't deal with the physicality of the game well. We don't deal with the intensity of the game well yet. Those are yets," Pope warned.
Kentucky has a long way to go before SEC play, but seeing a coach who loves the "mud" and a bench that responds to adversity? That’s a start.
Now, let's see if they can keep that same energy when the opponent punches back.
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