Hello HOB. Happy MLK Day to all y'all. I'll be following along with the coach's weekly radio show again tonight and sharing all the main talking points here in this thread for those who may not be able to catch the show live. Things get underway at 6 ET. Stay tuned...
* They have a new look tonight if you're following along with the streams. JMI and UK have partnered on a new studio downtown near Rupp Arena. It looks really nice. I guess they might be doing more shows from over there now.
* Pope says they saw a lot of good things and bad things in the loss to Alabama. On the good side, their "hit rate" on boxing out and getting bodies on people in rebounding was their 2nd highest % of the season, even though Bama got some offensive rebounds. Sometimes it just bounced their way. They don't want to fixate on the bad, but one of the things they have spent "an insane amount of time on" since the loss is studying their foul issues. Went back and studied all of them going back five games to see if there are trends where they can get better, schematically and individually. Putting the opponent on the FT line way too much and not getting there enough themselves. Adds that he doesn't want to talk about them publicly because the opponent may always be keeping tabs on you, but they think they've found some things that will help.
* On MLK Day, Pope shares one of his favorite King quotes: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness." Says the team visited the memorial sites and Ebenezer Baptist Church while they were in Atlanta to play Duke.
* Officiating comes up again... Pope says it is surprising at times, but it's also teaching us a lot. The two losses in SEC play, we got abused, and we failed to perform in the FT disparity category. We have to grow there. Caller noted that that's something his teams always have done well, not putting the opponent on the FT line. Pope adds that it's interesting that they're one of the best in the country in that aspect in non-conference play. (cough, cough) ... Notes that these FT stoppages also disrupt the energy and flow of the game, which is something that we thrive on.
* On Kerr Kriisa... He's getting to the point where they'll know more "in the next few weeks" about whether this is something that will turn the corner or become a longer thing. But he noted that everything to date has been completely as expected.
* Caller asks what his pregame hype song is... Pope laughs and says he doesn't have one. Talks about how much time they spend going over things, he really doesn't have a chance. Next thing you know, they're off to play. Admits, though, that Kenny G used to be his pregame go-to music to calm himself down. LOL
* Listener wants to know if he's seen the women's team play yet... Pope says he has not, but he's following "from a distance." Coach Brooks and the women's team are crushing it. I've been working in my office at times, and I just hear the fans going crazy in there.
* Caller wants to know how much time they spend on FTs in practice... Pope says a lot, but the focus right now is not giving the opponents opportunities to shoot FTs. But they have had sessions this season that can range anywhere from 10-40 minutes where FTs are the focus. A lot of individual work being done, too, on their own with an assistant coach. Leach notes a drill they do where they shoot FTs in total silence. It's the only 3-4 minute stretch during their entire week where guys are in total silence. All you hear is the ball bouncing or the net swishing. Joked that it's hard to let Jay Bilas watch during that part of practice because he can't go 4 minutes without talking. (I'm assuming Bilas would say touche`. LOL)
* Caller asks what Pope's favorite part of being a CBB coach is... Says this is the best job in the game, being around the people here at Kentucky, the type of players that want to come here, the fan base, all the generational relationships that mean so much. I just love it.
* Caller thanks Pope because his wife is back into UK basketball again. He's been a fan for 40+ years, but she had dropped off a bit. She loves it as much as him now because of Pope. Pope says it's easy to cheer for this group of guys. Special players, "and they have even more in store."
* Listener wants to know what Andrew Carr's back situation is. Pope says he can't get too specific because of HIPA rules, but they met with a specialist today and is trying a new treatment they feel good about. Backs and bigs can be a tough thing. "Andrew's gutting it out... There were times in that game you could see it on his face." Expresses confidence that it's getting better.
* Listener wants to know how often they practice at Rupp... Says they get in there every day before a game, and they also do a shootaround there. Pope says the players may not want to practice there because if they do something wrong, it's harder to run the stairs at Rupp than the court at Craft Center. LOL
* Ball-screen defense is still a big point of emphasis, Pope says. Alabama gave them something "creative" and unique to look at with some ball-screen action off the sides. Credited Nate Oats and his staff for that new look.
* They have a new look tonight if you're following along with the streams. JMI and UK have partnered on a new studio downtown near Rupp Arena. It looks really nice. I guess they might be doing more shows from over there now.
* Pope says they saw a lot of good things and bad things in the loss to Alabama. On the good side, their "hit rate" on boxing out and getting bodies on people in rebounding was their 2nd highest % of the season, even though Bama got some offensive rebounds. Sometimes it just bounced their way. They don't want to fixate on the bad, but one of the things they have spent "an insane amount of time on" since the loss is studying their foul issues. Went back and studied all of them going back five games to see if there are trends where they can get better, schematically and individually. Putting the opponent on the FT line way too much and not getting there enough themselves. Adds that he doesn't want to talk about them publicly because the opponent may always be keeping tabs on you, but they think they've found some things that will help.
* On MLK Day, Pope shares one of his favorite King quotes: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness." Says the team visited the memorial sites and Ebenezer Baptist Church while they were in Atlanta to play Duke.
* Officiating comes up again... Pope says it is surprising at times, but it's also teaching us a lot. The two losses in SEC play, we got abused, and we failed to perform in the FT disparity category. We have to grow there. Caller noted that that's something his teams always have done well, not putting the opponent on the FT line. Pope adds that it's interesting that they're one of the best in the country in that aspect in non-conference play. (cough, cough) ... Notes that these FT stoppages also disrupt the energy and flow of the game, which is something that we thrive on.
* On Kerr Kriisa... He's getting to the point where they'll know more "in the next few weeks" about whether this is something that will turn the corner or become a longer thing. But he noted that everything to date has been completely as expected.
* Caller asks what his pregame hype song is... Pope laughs and says he doesn't have one. Talks about how much time they spend going over things, he really doesn't have a chance. Next thing you know, they're off to play. Admits, though, that Kenny G used to be his pregame go-to music to calm himself down. LOL
* Listener wants to know if he's seen the women's team play yet... Pope says he has not, but he's following "from a distance." Coach Brooks and the women's team are crushing it. I've been working in my office at times, and I just hear the fans going crazy in there.
* Caller wants to know how much time they spend on FTs in practice... Pope says a lot, but the focus right now is not giving the opponents opportunities to shoot FTs. But they have had sessions this season that can range anywhere from 10-40 minutes where FTs are the focus. A lot of individual work being done, too, on their own with an assistant coach. Leach notes a drill they do where they shoot FTs in total silence. It's the only 3-4 minute stretch during their entire week where guys are in total silence. All you hear is the ball bouncing or the net swishing. Joked that it's hard to let Jay Bilas watch during that part of practice because he can't go 4 minutes without talking. (I'm assuming Bilas would say touche`. LOL)
* Caller asks what Pope's favorite part of being a CBB coach is... Says this is the best job in the game, being around the people here at Kentucky, the type of players that want to come here, the fan base, all the generational relationships that mean so much. I just love it.
* Caller thanks Pope because his wife is back into UK basketball again. He's been a fan for 40+ years, but she had dropped off a bit. She loves it as much as him now because of Pope. Pope says it's easy to cheer for this group of guys. Special players, "and they have even more in store."
* Listener wants to know what Andrew Carr's back situation is. Pope says he can't get too specific because of HIPA rules, but they met with a specialist today and is trying a new treatment they feel good about. Backs and bigs can be a tough thing. "Andrew's gutting it out... There were times in that game you could see it on his face." Expresses confidence that it's getting better.
* Listener wants to know how often they practice at Rupp... Says they get in there every day before a game, and they also do a shootaround there. Pope says the players may not want to practice there because if they do something wrong, it's harder to run the stairs at Rupp than the court at Craft Center. LOL
* Ball-screen defense is still a big point of emphasis, Pope says. Alabama gave them something "creative" and unique to look at with some ball-screen action off the sides. Credited Nate Oats and his staff for that new look.
