> “That’s when I knew certain things weren’t going to slide.” — Amari Williams
Welcome to the new era of Kentucky basketball — and it’s coming in HOT.
Former Wildcat Amari Williams has pulled back the curtain on what it was like playing under Mark Pope, Kentucky’s new head coach — and let’s just say, things got real the moment someone stepped out of line.
In a story that’s now catching fire across social media, Williams shared a jaw-dropping moment from last season that sounds like it was ripped straight from the playbook of Rick Pitino — the Hall of Fame coach known for pushing his players to the absolute limit.
One Player Was Late. The Whole Team Paid the Price.
Williams recounted a particularly brutal punishment during practice that left the team completely gassed — physically and mentally. The reason? A teammate showed up late.
Most coaches might issue a verbal warning. Maybe some quick sprints. Not Mark Pope.
Instead, Pope ordered the entire team to run seventeen straight “17s.”
For those unfamiliar, a “17” is one of the most grueling conditioning drills in basketball. Players sprint across the width of the court 17 times — all in one go. And Pope made them do it 17 times in a row.
Let that sink in.
That’s 289 full-court width sprints — with virtually no breaks.
Williams recalled the moment vividly:
> “That’s when I knew certain things weren’t going to slide,” he said.
Watch the clip here
Discipline Is Back in Lexington
This wasn’t just a conditioning session — it was a message.
Pope, in his first year as Kentucky’s head coach, is making it clear that accountability, discipline, and effort aren’t optional. It’s a shift that many fans have been begging for, especially after recent seasons that lacked the grit and identity the program once had under legends like Pitino.
And make no mistake — Pope knows exactly what he’s doing.
Having played under Rick Majerus at Utah and with coaching influences from the Pitino-Calipari coaching tree, Pope is combining old-school toughness with a modern game plan. It’s a style built on structure, conditioning, and no excuses — the kind of culture that builds championships.
Fans Are Loving It — And Players Are Taking Notice
While the punishment may have been extreme, it sent a powerful signal — and players like Amari Williams took note.
“That was a turning point,” Williams hinted. “You could feel the shift in
