Mark Pope's Black Friday shopping list

Kentucky basketball and Black Friday have something in common this year. Just as shoppers hunt for deals to complete their holidays, finding that perfect gift; or that new big screen TV, Mark Pope and the Wildcats are on the lookout to fine-tune their game for a championship run. With the season in full swing, Pope shopping list will ensure Kentucky is peaking by March.

Let's take a look to see what Pope will be shopping for:

1. Rebounding is the doorbuster

Pope isn’t shy about targeting offensive rebounds. “We’d like to be a 30% offensive rebounding percentage team,” he said. That translates to roughly 14 offensive boards per game. Currently, the Cats are falling short of that mark, and improving here could mean dominating possessions. The idea is that so many three's create a lot of long rebounds, getting that many per game will allow the Cats to shoot even more.

2. Turnovers—handle with care

Turnovers are like that shiny gadget you don’t want to break. 10 per game is not terrible, but the Cats can get sloppy at times. Getting that number down under 10 while improving the rebounding means Kentucky would be elite on the offensive end. As the season gets more competitive, this is a stat to watch.

3. Consistent Defensive Communication

Defensive talk is a non-negotiable on Pope’s Black Friday list. “You can do it once, but can you do it every time down the floor?” he asked on his call-in show, which you can listen to here. Consistency on defense, especially against high-caliber offenses, will be critical as the SEC has Alabama and Auburn are both flying high offensively right now.

4. Unlimited 3-point shooting

Another Pope dream item? 35 three-point attempts per game. Kentucky’s shooters have the green light, and their accuracy can stretch defenses to the breaking point. Keep firing, Cats!

5. Amari Williams’ Growth

Kentucky’s offense revolves around Amari Williams at times, who is learning to navigate double teams and unique defensive schemes. Pope emphasized the importance of his development as he thinks he will grow each game seeing new things.

Additional stocking stuffers

Kentucky leads the nation in defensive rebounds per game, averaging 35.. That foundation has anchored the Cats as they push through growing pains learning the new system, and playing together. Keep in mind this team has yet to be together for a full year.

As Pope said, “It’s a race to the Final Four.” The Wildcats are shopping for progress, and if they check these items off, they’ll be contenders come tournament time in March.