Mark Pope stepped to the podium after Kentucky basketball’s 83-82 escape against Oklahoma beaming with pride and a touch of relief. The No. 17 Wildcats (19-9, 8-7 SEC) had just dodged a bullet in Norman, and Pope’s postgame presser was a masterclass in dissecting chaos, praising resilience, and eyeing the postseason road ahead. Now, let's jump into Pope’s raw take on a night Kentucky danced through the weirdness.
A Wild Atmosphere and a Worthy Foe
“What a great atmosphere it was in here tonight,” Pope opened, tipping his cap to the charged Lloyd Noble Center vibe ). He didn’t stop there—Oklahoma’s effort earned his respect: “They’re scratching and clawing, just coming off a really big win for them. They played really, really hard.” Pope saw that Oklahoma was desperate for a win, they just could not reach out and get it.
Oweh and Garrison: Heroes in the Storm
“I was proud of how our guys responded, and especially these two guys—Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison—I thought were absolutely terrific tonight,” Pope said, spotlighting his stars. Why highlight them? Oweh’s late-game magic and Garrison’s defensive stand turned chaos into victory—Pope knew their clutch plays were the difference. “Otega getting downhill has been really incredible, and both those guys made great decisions down the stretch,” he explained, detailing a final play with “no timeouts left.” He’d called a “2-4-5 ram” after the last timeout—Oweh drove, Garrison popped for spacing and their instincts sealed it.
Weirdness Defined: Lineups and Injuries
“Listen… there’s a lot of weirdness going into this game,” Pope said, twice noting it from shootaround to pregame talks. Why? Injuries and roster flux—Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler returned from wrist and shoulder woes, “We had a roster transformation with those two guys coming back… then foul issues, both bigs in foul trouble early, Lamont fouling out,” he elaborated. The lineup shuffle—starters shifting, health shaky—mirrored a March Madness crucible. “This had all the makings of a first-round NCAA game—all the weirdness,” he said, tying it to the late start, Oweh and Garrison’s homecoming, and Norman’s raucous crowd.
Capturing Experience for the Stretch Run
“I think our guys captured a little added experience tonight that they will call back on,” Pope mused when asked if the win sparks consistency. Why not call it momentum? “It’s that time of year—we’re down to the final few games, then postseason play,” he countered—focus trumps streaks with Auburn looming Saturday. “We anticipated the frustration… they rallied,” he added, proud of their poise when down six or seven—a lesson for March’s chippiness.
Injury Updates: A Morning-After Mystery
On Jaxson Robinson’s wrist and Andrew Carr’s back, Pope was cautious: “Jax’s wrist didn’t respond great tonight… I think Andrew’s doing OK… We’ll see—the morning after, we’ll know more.” Lamont Butler? “He’s been pretty good the last week, 10 days maybe.” Why the uncertainty? Pope’s managing a banged-up roster—Butler’s shoulder brace limits him, but his return runway (four games left) fuels hope. “They were dying to get back—they’d been cleared,” he said of Butler and Robinson.
Fears’ Flash: A Nod to OU’s Star
Pope couldn’t ignore Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears: “You love guards who can get wherever they want… he’s a really special talent.” Why praise him? Fears’ havoc—6 assists vs. UK, 10 vs. Mississippi State, “He’s doing it by causing a lot of havoc—16 assists in two games, that’s pretty special,” Pope said, respecting the freshman’s flair.
Pope’s Pulse: Grit Over Glory
Pope’s takeaway? Resilience trumps polish. “We’re trying to capture that and roll into postseason play with a huge focus on this game that meant something,” he said—Oklahoma’s stakes (Oweh’s return) and Kentucky’s fight (19-9) fueled a win BBN won’t forget.