Yes, Mark Pope is the man for work in Kentucky. He is the blow in the arm that this program needed because he turned the page of John Calipari’s race in Lexington. It is the right voice that pushes the right buttons and has exceeded early expectations with a list that he has gathered within a short time and no recruitment basis. If you were to tell me that the Wildcats would have six wins in the best 15 victories and the big victories against Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida and Tennessee, classified in the top 15 to open the month of February, I would probably kiss you on the mouth .
If you are on the fence – or one of the Dorks waiting for each misstep with a say because you like to live in misery – can I suggest listening to the CAL coach, of everyone? It sounds crazy, I know, but listen to it for a second.
“What Kentucky does and how they do it – Mark Pope does a great job. Not a good job, an excellent job, ”said Calipari. “What did they do today?” You know what, we have them today. Share something, the next game. It’s a game. If someone takes it more than that, you’re crazy. It’s a game. If I take it different with my team, I’m crazy. We just needed to win, friends. Whether it was Kentucky or anyone, we just needed to win. »»
You with me? Now is not the time to convince you that all of this has been an imposture and the Wildcats are fraud and the pope is simply not the guy because he is too nice or something else. Breathe deeply and have a nuanced conversation with me.
For the first time since he took the job in April, Mark Pope did not understand the mission coaching against the Razorbacks.
The day he was presented as head coach, Pope clearly indicated that he had embraced the future criticisms who would be, joking that all that the fans said would not come close to what his teammates of the national champion of 1996 would tell him along the way.
“They will destroy me whenever something is wrong,” he said.
If this is the case, the group cat certainly appeared in the early hours of Sunday morning after watching Calipari cut the circles around him on the floor of his home. In an environment of all time Rupp Arena with students who have been camping since Friday evening, celebrity appearances ranging from Tubby Smith to Jasper Johnson to Randall Cobb to Tim Couch, he personally failed. While the Arkansas won in confidence both on the ground and as a staff on the bench, the moment was too big for Kentucky, something that we have not seen much this season. Where they responded to the bell again and again in the biggest places, they endeavored in it, looking at this deficit at halftime from a jumper to two digits by the died of the television of the second half. It would never come back below six points the rest of the path, the razorbacks controlling the game until the final buzzer without a real punch. Whenever the Wildcats tried, they returned with a greater response.
By taking a team that had scored more than 70 points in a single dry match, the Kentucky granted 89 points out of 55/52/75 with 13 points made to 3 points after reaching 7.3 per game. The defense was once again a serious problem, which led the Pope to admit that he “probably has (need) to be more daring” and “take other shots and be aggressive”.
Given its importance, it was the game to do so.
Rotation was a disaster with absolutely exasperating alignments, prolonged sections of non -factors playing and essential seated – more talking about “we ended up with three tired guys at the same time” and general wear in a league where Everyone is tired and struck. The Arkansas is eight scholarship holders and a starting game leader for the year, but Johnell Davis (38), DJ Wagner (37) and Adou Thiero (34) all seemed to do very well with their minutes. A team trained by the guy who played for Rick Pitino should not have problems with the management of the loads at stake.
Given its importance, it was the game to give your five best than anything they could manage and win.
Even the little things like Trent Noah stay in sweats all night after playing his best basketball of the season during the upset victory in Knoxville, his role by seeing a significant jump in the last two games, and he book. “He has played well and there is certainly space for him and it’s my job to find the right space,” said Pope.
Again, given its importance, it was the game to find the right space. Not that Noah was the difference in a victory or a loss, but if we were going to shake everything that could, should, could, it is, it is on the list which is unfortunately too long.
Not often, Kentucky has felt exceptionally prepared in the past two years under the coach CAL and his staff. Tonight, the Arkansas felt more prepared and better trained, performing a formidable match plan and playing with a desire that you felt from the opening tip. There was an investment on the side of the razorbacks that you simply do not feel with the Wildcats, and it is incredibly discouraging since the importance of this game.
Whether the Arkansas could or become runners of the world, Big Blue Nation wanted this game more than any other on the calendar. They poured everything into it, the turning point from the first day, some dropping hundreds of dollars otherwise thousands To assist at this time once in generation of Calipari which dates back to this door. It was an atmosphere that we will all remember for a very long time, but unfortunately, this electricity will come next to a huge gray cloud with a two -digit defeat at home against the guy you replaced.
1-5 against the power not classified four schools is not enough, of course, but that the record of 6-1 against the opponents TOP-15 helps to counter this. Losing This One, however, is a pill that BBN did not even imagine that it should swallow. This crowd appeared in search of a celebration to dance to the tomb of the coach Cal and left with the renowned temple by launching a last quick ball for the good of time.
Pope’s mission was to get this ground out of the park. Instead, he withdrew the swing, receiving his own hoots when he went after his predecessor won his fair share while walking.
“It keeps surprising me. It was incredible, ”said Pope. “So much juice in the gymnasium. It’s bbn and a place like no other.
This moment turned out to be too large.