After a tough 20-point loss to Ohio State, Mark Pope and his Wildcats are back on track. The defensive lapses that were painfully evident earlier are now patched up, and the team seems laser-focused on what’s next: the SEC. With a solid game plan, a feel-good 88-54 win over Brown, and a few experimental lineups, it’s clear Pope is all in. 

Pope’s squad jumped nearly 10 spots in KenPom’s defensive efficiency rankings after this game, proving they’re ready to take on tougher competition. And offensively? They didn’t disappoint either, dropping 88 points on 63 possessions and racking up 33 points off turnovers. 

The HC is mixing things up to find the perfect winning formula. “We’re putting different guys together, just trying to figure out how they feel,” Pope said. This past week, he focused on pairing players like Ansley and Amari or Andrew and BG to see how they gel. And it’s paying off.

But they have bigger matchups ahead. If you thought non-conference play was tough, wait until Kentucky faces the likes of Auburn, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss. “Every game is going to feel like a toss-up,” Pope admitted, emphasizing that execution and emotional resilience will be key. 

In fact, Pope likened the SEC schedule to having “a little bit of an NBA feel,” where there’s no time to get too high or too low. One day you’re playing the number three team in the country; two days later, it’s the number one team. “It’s going to come down to execution and durability,” he explained after the win against Brown.

Surviving this brutal schedule will require not just skill but also mental toughness—a trait Pope is actively instilling in his squad. The SEC schedule is packed with must-watch games. First up is Texas A&M in mid-January. This will be huge for the Wildcats, as they face a ranked Aggies team led by star guard Wade Taylor IV. 

Then, in early February, Kentucky heads to Ole Miss, where Chris Beard’s up-and-coming squad will give them a tough fight. Finally, in March, the Wildcats take on Auburn, a top-ten team with a long-standing Rupp Arena drought. Beating Bruce Pearl’s Tigers at home could give Kentucky a massive momentum boost heading into the SEC Tournament.

Mark Pope’s Kentucky fills defensive gaps

It’s not just about offense—defense wins championships, and Kentucky seems to be buying into that mantra. Earlier this season, defensive struggles cost them dearly, especially in their loss to Clemson, where they gave up 15 points on rejected screens. 

Then things were down both offensively and defensively in the recent Ohio game. But things are looking up. In the Brown game, Kentucky showed just how much progress they’ve made, holding their opponent to 0.81 points per possession and forcing a slew of turnovers. 

They forced 23 turnovers in just 67 possessions—that’s a whopping 34.3% turnover rate. Not only that, but they also held the Bears to just 23.8% shooting from deep and 58.8% at the rim. With the SEC season just around the corner, Wildcats are trending in the right direction. And they are clicking defensively and finding their offensive groove.

So, what’s next for this squad? Only time will tell.