Something’s different in Lexington — and Mark Pope just confirmed it. For the first time in a while, Kentucky basketball practices are starting to feel like Kentucky basketball again.
After a tough, injury-filled season where practices were more about survival than competition, Pope says this year’s squad is built differently — and it shows every day in the gym.
> “We couldn’t do that last year,” Pope admitted. “We were so down on bodies that we basically had to go good against coaches most of the second half of the season.”
He’s not exaggerating. Last year, Lamont Butler spent much of the stretch run hurt, Jaxson Robinson went down late, Kerr Kriisa left before conference play even started, and Andrew Carr battled back issues. With so few healthy players, high-intensity practices were nearly impossible.
This season, though, the script has flipped. Depth. Size. Physicality. Versatility. Kentucky finally has all of it — and it’s changing the energy behind closed doors.
> “Practice is so fun,” Pope said with a grin. “It gets salty and competitive and guys get angry — it’s actually fun.”
That’s music to the ears of Kentucky fans who’ve been waiting for signs that the culture is back. Iron is sharpening iron again, and Pope believes that’s exactly how this team will grow into something special.
> “We wanted to be able to go good versus good,” he said. “Our practices are high-level and elite, and our guys are getting better. That’ll come through as the season goes on.”
The message is clear: Kentucky’s edge is back. Players are battling for minutes, the intensity is real, and Pope’s vision of a tough, disciplined, high-competition environment is taking shape.
It’s early, but if this is how Kentucky practices look — fans might want to get ready for how they’ll play.
