Following a disheartening 89-79 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks at home, Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope took the podium to address the media. The game marked a significant moment as it was former Kentucky coach John Calipari who got the last laugh beating the fans and city who ran him off.
Mark Pope’s opening statement following the loss to Arkansas at home. pic.twitter.com/2BcZb0AWvu
— Cats Coverage (@Cats_Coverage) February 2, 2025
Pope began by saying how his "guys are pretty disappointed. It's been a complicated stretch for us." That stretch involves 3 losses in their last 4 games.
The atmosphere at Rupp Arena was not lost on Pope, who commented, "There’s just nowhere like it. There’s just nowhere like it. It never ceases to amaze me. It was unbelievable. So much juice in the gym. It’s BBN and a place like no other." A place like no other that he now has lost two times in a row at.
When asked about switching to a zone, which Cal has famously struggled against Pope said, "You know, it’s a little complicated proposition. If I could have run it back, I think I would have taken a more aggressive posture probably and taken some more risk defensively and maybe even rather gone zone." Saying they are navigating some "roster situations right now".
That’s a bad loss. Period. You have to beat bottom of the league teams at home.
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) February 2, 2025
First loss that ACTUALLY hurts Kentucky. Quad 2 home losses are no good.
Generally, just about every team has them though. It feels worse because it’s THIS ONE…but if it’s JUST this one we will be…
When questioned about why Trent Noah didn't play after a great sub appearance at Tennessee, Pope explained, "Trent is actually super interesting to me. With Drew coming back and Ansley playing so well, I wonder if there is some space for Trent, actually at the three and I think that something to explore. As we kind of reconfigure everything we are doing right now on the fly, he’s played well and there’s definitely space for him and it’s my job to find the right space."
Pope concluded by emphasizing the journey of the season, acknowledging the pain of the loss but also the resilience of his team, "We are a really good team. We are dealing with some roster changes right now that are complicated. We are really good team." You know, this is a journey for us. This is not a coronation, this is a journey. And we’re going to earn our way through it and there’s going to be some pain on the way and certainly, for my guys tonight it was super painful."
The most important quote of the night, "This grieving process that we go through and for our guys they care so much, it really is a grieving process, a five-step process" Pope opened up. Fans are definitely grieving. And so is Kentucky basketball, can they recover in time to save the season? That remains to be seen.