The volume was noticeably higher at Kentucky’s latest summer practice — and it wasn’t coming from Mark Pope.
According to multiple eyewitnesses and media attendees, assistant coach Cody Fueger was shockingly vocal and hands-on during drills, drawing more attention than usual with his animated directions and intense court presence. And now, speculation is swirling that a major system tweak could be in the works.
Typically reserved and quietly efficient, Fueger’s sudden shift in tone didn’t go unnoticed. He was seen stopping drills, re-positioning players on the fly, and even calling out specific offensive sets with an authority that made it clear: this wasn’t just coaching — it was installing.
> “It felt like he was running the show for a bit,” said one insider at the practice. “And the stuff they were repping looked different — spacing, pace, even who was handling the ball.”
Kentucky’s early practices have been all about establishing intensity, defensive identity, and communication. But today’s session hinted at something deeper — an evolution of Mark Pope’s offensive system, possibly with a new wrinkle influenced heavily by his assistants.
Some fans think the coaching staff is experimenting with more motion concepts, quicker read-and-react actions, or even a small-ball lineup philosophy that could change the way Kentucky attacks this season. Observers noted more ball movement, off-ball cuts, and multiple guards initiating offense — a stark contrast from the post-heavy actions Kentucky used at times last year.
> “You could tell it wasn’t just normal teaching,” one student manager told a fan site. “It looked like installation mode — and the players were locked in.”
Online, speculation exploded. Was this Fueger preparing to run the offense if Pope delegates more duties? Was the team testing out a Euro-style spacing scheme? Or could it be tied to maximizing the unique skill sets of newcomers like Reed Sheppard, Otega Oweh, or Amari Williams?
Mark Pope didn’t address the shift directly afterward, but when asked about how involved his assistants are in scheming, he simply smirked and said:
> “Let’s just say everyone on this staff has a voice — and sometimes, you’ll hear it loud and clear.”
With the season months away, it’s too early to call it a full-on system overhaul. But if today’s practice was any indication, Kentucky might not just be reloading talent — they might be reimagining how they play.
And fans? They’re already bracing for a very different brand of Wildcat basketball.
