After an unforgettable 106-100 win against No. 6 Florida, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats were full of emotion and insight. Playing in front of a packed house at Rupp Arena, the Wildcats showcased their grit, resilience, and Rupp was raucous. It wasn’t just a game—it was a battle that left players, coaches, and fans all buzzing.

Mark Pope

“If you guys did not have fun tonight, you should quit right now and find a new job.”

Pope emphasized the lessons learned from the matchup:
“We learned we’ve got to be a lot more physical; we learned it’s going to be life or death on the boards night after night. I couldn’t be more proud of our guys. They just battled, battled, and battled.”

Koby Brea

One of the night’s stars, Koby Brea, was pivotal in the Wildcats’ victory, draining seven three-pointers en route to a team-high 23 points.

“Honestly, it felt amazing—just being able to look up into the stands. The whole gym was crowded, and everybody was super excited and loud about the game. I think that’s the loudest I’ve probably heard it all year. It was unbelievable to just be in that atmosphere and play against such a good opponent.”

Brea also had high praise for Pope, saying, “He’s such a great human, man… We want to do good for him.”

Amari Williams

Amari Williams, another key contributor, spoke about the challenge that opposing teams have defending the Cats and the unpredictability of Kentucky’s offense.

“It’s just tough for other teams to know who is going to have that night and how they are going to guard us. It was great having that.”

Lamont Butler

Lamont Butler played a crucial role with his defensive intensity and clutch plays. He also raved about the energy from Big Blue Nation.

“I think Koby deserves —he was hot tonight. But it was a great effort from everyone. I try to do my part. At the end of the game, it was just a winning mentality.”

On defending Florida’s dynamic guards, Butler said:

“The guards that they have are big time, really good guards. They score at a high rate, and they did that tonight. I just try to go out there and make it difficult and impossible. We got that win—that’s all that matters.”

Grit and Grind

Florida may have outrebounded Kentucky early, but the Wildcats tightened up when it mattered most, winning the second-half rebounding battle 23-18. Kentucky also had three separate 10(or more)-0 runs, showcasing their ability to dominate stretches of the game.

With their third top-10 win of the season, Kentucky improved to 3-0 against elite competition and 12-2 overall.