Kentucky's first-half offense against Nicholls State was, to put it kindly, an ugly sight to watch. It was tight, "discombobulated," and looked dangerously similar to the isolation-heavy offense that doomed them in the Georgetown exhibition and at times last year.
But after the game, Mark Pope wasn't focused on the negatives. Instead, he was "really proud" of how his team fixed its problems, even when things "weren't very good" for very long stretches.
Mark Pope highlights key "hidden stats" in season opening win
"I was really proud of us in the first half offensively because we weren't very good, but when we weren't very good, we tried to solve it by being us," Pope explained.
He pointed to specific "hidden" stats that matter deeply within his complex offensive system. "You know, we had seven cut assists and seven screen assists on the night," he said. These 14 plays represent moments where the team, not an individual, created a basket through executing the offensive principles that Mark Pope and Cody Fueger teach.
"There were several late possession possessions in the first half where we didn't just try and like go fix it the way that these guys have always fixed it their whole life," Pope continued. "They fixed it our way." That is a move that this team has learned pretty quickly, and will only get better at it as the season goes on.
This is a crucial distinction, learning it now helps the team grow as the season goes on. Instead of reverting to "hero ball" where one player trying to beat his man off the dribble, the team relied on Pope's system of cuts and screens to generate points. That, to Pope, is a massive sign of growth and buy-in. While he acknowledged they "got away from that a little bit" in the second half, the fact they used the system as a solution under pressure was "a good sign for us." It's proof that the players are not just learning the plays but are beginning to trust them.
Now all that needs to happen is the shot making.
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