Mark Pope "more confident" in his Wildcats after Clemson loss

Tuesday night was not fun, but it can be benficial. We detailed how Jaxon Robinson thought the game will only help them in their ultimate goal of winning number 9. Now it's Mark Pope's turn.

The Kentucky Wildcats suffered a disappointing loss to Clemson, there is no other way to put it. It felt like a game Kentucky should win, but in the end they ended up falling short in a hard-fought game. However, Mark Pope is happy about the game within the game.

Pope remained optimistic, offering a new perspective after his assessment of the game a couple days removed from the loss. The message is one that spoke to the team's potential moving forward.

“I have more confidence in this after the game than I did before,” Pope said. “I liked how our guys are willing to sell out to fix the most important thing. In the first half, rebounding was a massive issue. In the second half, we remedied it.”

That may not make a lot of sense when you look at the scoreboard; but if the ultimate goal is to win a national title, you have to be able to adjust on the fly. The Cats did just that.

The game was a tale of two halves. In the first half, Kentucky struggled mightily on the boards, getting outrebounded by 10. Clemson capitalized on those struggles, creating second-chance opportunities and controlling the tempo. Kentucky's lack of presence in the paint allowed Clemson to establish an early lead, leaving fans and coaches frustrated. Clemson also did get a little home cooking.

However, true to Pope’s statement, the Wildcats showed resilience and determination after halftime. Kentucky came out with a renewed focus, crashing the boards with energy and discipline.

Their effort paid off, as they flipped the script and outrebounded Clemson by 10 in the second half and outscored Clemson by 3. The game ended with both teams tied at 44 rebounds apiece, a remarkable turnaround considering the early disparity.

Key contributions came from Amari Williams, who played a pivotal role in Kentucky's second-half surge. Williams finished with a team high 11 rebounds, and did a much better job blocking out in the second half.

Guards also chipped in, Otega Oweh finished with 7 rebounds, showcasing a collective effort to address the rebounding issue. This response highlighted the team’s ability to make adjustments and play with grit when faced with adversity despite the loss.

While rebounding improved, other areas of concern did continue as Kentucky failed to make shots for a third straight game, this time shooting below 40 percent and just 26 percent from three. Even more alarmingly was the 11-19 from the free throw line, that has to be addressed going forward. These shortcomings ultimately cost Kentucky the game, but Pope’s confidence suggests a belief that the team is learning and growing through these challenges.

This loss serves as a wake-up call for a Kentucky team with high expectations under Pope’s leadership. Though frustrating, it’s clear the Wildcats are committed to improving and addressing their weaknesses, even during games. That is something that fans have not seen around these parts for a few years.

For now, Kentucky will focus on turning lessons from this defeat into momentum for their next matchup, a huge game with Gonzaga this Saturday in Seattle.