Kentucky basketball: Mark Pope discusses win over Minnesota State
Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope was happy with his team’s second half performance to get the win over Minnesota State in an exhibition game.
Sam Upshaw Jr.
LEXINGTON — Kerr Kriisa didn’t participate in Kentucky basketball‘s revamped Blue-White preseason event at Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 18. He also was glued to UK’s bench five days later, when it opened the preseason with a 71-point rout of Kentucky Wesleyan in a home exhibition.
Kriisa’s nagging hamstring injury finally healed enough for him to take the floor in last week’s exhibition win over Minnesota State Mankato. A fifth-year senior guard, Kriisa played 16 minutes, scoring three points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out six assists — and no turnovers.
Yet as Kentucky gears up for its 2024-25 opener — it will double as Mark Pope‘s debut as the Wildcats‘ coach — tonight versus Wright State, Kerr’s preseason reps (or lack thereof) never was a concern.
“He’s a vet’s vet,” Pope said. “He started two and a half years at Arizona on great teams, and started in the Big 12 last year for a whole season. So it’s not like we’re putting a rookie out there.”
Pope did find one reason Kerr’s appearance last week was crucial, though.
“The challenge for our guys (is), ‘Can you keep up?’ right? Kerr is racing down the floor so fast that he’s like, ‘Where is everyone? Catch up, boys,'” Pope said. “And that’s something we need. So it was good to see that and feel that. And our guys are going to really, really enjoy playing with him.”
Here’s what you need to know to follow along from home:
UK and Wright State are slated to tip off at 7 p.m. today at Rupp Arena.
Betting odds: Kentucky is a 19-point home favorite (-110) on DraftKings, which set the over-under at159 points (-110). The money line odds areUK -3200, Wright State +1400.
The contest between the Wildcats and Raiders will air on ESPNU. Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) will have the call.
Authenticated subscribers can access ESPNU via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
You also can stream ESPNU on Fubo, which offers a free trial here.
Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.
You can also listen online via UKAthletics.com.
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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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