Mark Pope: "I’m doing a poor job" in Kentucky basketball loss to Ole Miss

Kentucky basketball faced another tough challenge against Ole Miss, and despite a strong second-half push, the Wildcats couldn’t overcome their defensive struggles. Head coach Mark Pope addressed the media after the game, acknowledging the team’s frustrations while expressing confidence in their ability to improve courtesy of the Lexington Herald Leader.

Ole Miss Earns a Hard-Fought Victory

Pope started his postgame remarks by giving credit to Ole Miss, emphasizing the Rebels’ strong performance and ability to make big plays.

“Congrats to Ole Miss. I thought they played really, really well. They made big shots. They hurt us in a lot of different ways... We’re dealing with some frustration right now, but we’ll continue to get better.”

Offensive Challenges Against a Strong Ole Miss Defense

One of the major issues for Kentucky in this game was finding a rhythm offensively against a stifling Ole Miss defense. Pope admitted that the Rebels’ switching schemes caused problems for the Wildcats.

“They’re a really good defense, and they do a nice job. I think they are one or two in our league right now, and their switching was problematic for us and it was hard for us to find a rhythm. I didn’t help the guys enough to try and find answers.”

Defensive Woes Continue for Kentucky

While offense was a challenge, Pope expressed even greater concern about Kentucky’s defensive struggles, particularly in forcing turnovers.

“My guys are playing hard, I’m doing a poor job with our team defensively right now.”

Pregame Shootaround and Three-Point Attempts

Pope downplayed the idea that Kentucky had a poor pregame shootaround, stating that the team was focused. However, he did acknowledge the team’s lack of three-point attempts and its impact on offensive production.

“There’s a bunch of things that are frustrating about that. One, it’s a credit to Ole Miss of course, always first. Two, for us it’s a struggle to find ways to get downhill."

Guarding the Three-Point Line

Defending the perimeter has been a recurring issue for Kentucky in SEC play, and Pope admitted that it remains a major concern.

“We’ve played against two teams back-to-back now where their bigs have really shot it tremendously well against us, and that’s problematic for us... And I’m doing a poor job of finding the right ones.”

Young Players Making an Impact

Despite the team’s struggles, Pope highlighted the performances of young players like Collin Chandler and Travis Perry, emphasizing their potential.

“They’re really good players. Collin and Travis are really good players, and Trent (Noah) also. They’re really, really talented, good players, and certainly they don’t have a ton of experience, but they’re good players and they’re going to get better every single second they’re out on the floor.”

Amari Williams’ Historic Night

While the loss was disappointing, Pope praised Amari Williams for making program history with a triple-double.

“He has a triple-double in less than 26 minutes. That’s remarkable, especially as a player his size. To be a 10-assist guy on the road in a game where we desperately needed him to be a playmaker for us..."

Looking for Answers Moving Forward

Pope remains committed to finding solutions despite the team’s recent struggles.

“We’re stretching a little bit right now and trying to find answers. That’s really the truth … We’re in a tough spot right now as a team, and we’re searching for answers. It’s not going to get easier. This is the job. I’m glad I get to do this with these guys and we’re going to go find answers and we’re going to have unbelievable success as we go.”

Final Thoughts

Kentucky fans are understandably frustrated, but Pope believes in his team’s ability to grow through adversity. While defensive issues remain a priority, the Wildcats will look to build on the positives from the second half as they prepare for their next challenge. That challenge comes in the form of SEC winless South Carolina who comes to Rupp Saturday.