What did Mark Pope and Buzz Williams have to say after Kentucky basketball's win?

In a hard-fought battle against Texas A&M, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope shared his pride in his team’s resilience and adaptability during his postgame press conference. The Wildcats secured a 81-69 victory in Rupp Arena, defeating a top-15 opponent in a game where offensive rhythm was not really present.

“Buzz [Williams] is just one of one, man,” Pope said, commending the Aggies' head coach. “He’s a culture guy, and he gets his guys to play hard and grind it out. They’re down a really important piece and still playing elite-level basketball. That’s a real credit to him and those guys.”

Williams, in his own postgame remarks, returned the favor by calling Kentucky “the best job in college basketball” and noting the Wildcats are “good enough to win the national title.”

Winning Without a Flow

Kentucky's win was a testament to their ability to grind out victories without playing their best. “We never felt great,” Pope admitted. “There was no three-minute run where we felt like we really got into a flow. For our guys to win that game is really important. I like the way we can win in different ways.”

The Wildcats' shooting woes were evident early, starting 1-for-11 from three-point range before finishing a respectable 33% from deep. Pope attributed their persistence to their daily practice habits. “We do this drill called the Bucks Drill where we’ve got to get to 140 points, and it teaches the guys to keep going no matter what,” he explained. “Even when shots weren’t falling, we stayed in the offense and found ways to make it work.”

Robinson's Career Stretch

Jaxson Robinson delivered another standout performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Combined with his 27-point outing against Mississippi State earlier in the week, this marks a great two game stretch for the star.

“The best thing for Jaxson tonight was how he handled missing his first three or four shots,” Pope said. “He could’ve started questioning if he was having a night or not, but instead, he turned that slow start into a productive night.”

His contributions extended beyond scoring, as he anchored the team defensively and made crucial plays late in the game. “It’s not just the points; it’s the defensive plays, the blind cuts, and the eight rebounds. He’s showing resilience and making IQ plays that set him apart.”

Dominance on the Glass

Rebounding was a focal point for Kentucky, and Pope credited assistant coach Matt Santoro for spearheading their success. “We believe what you focus on broadens,” Pope said. “Matt live-stats every practice segment, tracking not just rebounds but block-outs and effort. Our guys have embraced it.”

Amari Johnson exemplified that effort with his physical dominance on the boards. “He looked like a man-child on the glass,” Pope said. “He’s learning to use his physicality in a way he couldn’t before, and it’s making a huge difference.”

A National Contender

With wins over two top-15 opponents in a week, Kentucky has established itself as a force to be reckoned with this season.

“We’ve got so much room to grow,” Pope concluded. “That’s the exciting part. We’re finding ways to win now, and we’re only going to get better.” Getting a lot better indeed.