Mark Pope reveals three areas Kentucky will need to up its game after Minnesota State exhibition win
Kentucky coach Mark Pope identified three areas the Wildcats need to improve following their 98-67 exhibition game win over reigning Division II champions Minnesota State on Oct. 29 at the Rupp Arena.
Pope lamented the team's lack of offensive rebounding, defensive slip-ups and early turnovers against the Mavericks, saying that the Wildcats need consistency to progress in the 2024-25 college basketball season.
The Wildcats won the rebounding battle against Minnesota State, 39-37, but only grabbed six offensive boards. Mark Pope was disappointed with the lack of effort in crashing the boards, and he hopes the team will step up in the regular season opener against Wright State on Monday. (From 13:35)
"We’ve got to have a presence on the offensive glass," Pope said in a media interaction Thursday. "I think there were some times we got lackadaisical on the defensive glass, so I’d like to get much, much better there. Much more sure there."
The veteran coach also pointed to the team's defensive lapses that resulted in clean looks by their rivals in both exhibition games.
"The early help is to get to the early recovery and a lot of times we were dancing recovering to the gap instead of recovering to the shooter. That's really important, it’s a place we have to grow." he said.
Pope wants to improve Kentucky's offensive execution in their season opener and avoid the early turnovers they committed against Minnesota State.
"I felt like our navigation through zooms and trips and staggers was a little bit stubborn more than it was slippery and clever, and really confident," Wildcats coach Mark Pope said. "Really confident that you actually can reroute. That’s the space I really want to grow in, we’ve got a bunch of areas we’re excited to grow," he added.
Mark Pope and the No. 23-ranked Kentucky will have one day to come up with better plays against Wright State and open the season on a bright note.
Mark Pope's Kentucky secures four-star guard Acaden Lewis' commitment
Mark Pope continues to strengthen his Kentucky Wildcats lineup for the future by securing his third commitment in the Class of 2025.
On Saturday, Pope received positive news, securing the commitment of four-star point guard Acaden Lewis.
Lewis chose Kentucky over an elite group of suitors that included Duke and defending back-to-back national champion UConn.
The Sidwell Friends standout follows No. 13-ranked recruit Jasper Johnson and No. 37 prospect Malachi Moreno. Lewis is looking forward to having Mark Pope as his coach, who developed a relationship with the 6-foot-2 guard during the recruitment period.
"Pope is not only a great basketball mind but a genuine person," Lewis said. "He's impressed me talking basketball and also his philanthropy efforts have impressed and intrigued me as well."
Lewis, who will possibly replace transfer guards Lamont Butler and Kerr Kriisa, averaged 16.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in the Nike EYBL, playing for Team Durant.