As the calendar inches closer to the start of the college basketball season, the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team is entering a critical phase—transitioning from foundational summer workouts to intense, focused practice sessions aimed at preparing for a grueling 2025 campaign.
Head Coach Mark Pope has made it clear: this team isn’t just working hard, they’re working with purpose. Over the past few weeks, practices inside the Joe Craft Center have taken on a new level of urgency. With a roster composed of seasoned veterans, explosive transfers, and hungry freshmen, Pope is pushing his players to understand that the margin for error in the SEC is razor-thin—and that now is the time to tighten every detail.
Unlike in years past, this Kentucky squad is being built around pace, versatility, and toughness. Pope’s practice sessions have emphasized situational drills, defensive rotations, and late-game execution. The team is also spending considerable time on communication—both on the court and in the film room.
“We’re not just trying to get in shape or run plays,” said assistant coach Cody Fueger. “We’re trying to form an identity. Defense-first. Team-first. That’s what Coach Pope demands every single day.”
With several transfers and a strong recruiting class, meshing individual talents into a collective unit has been a central goal this preseason. The staff has tailored practices to promote chemistry—often pairing veterans with newcomers and rotating lineups to find combinations that click.
Players like Otega Oweh and Amari Williams have emerged as vocal leaders in practice, while freshman guards are being pushed to compete against older, more physical teammates in scrimmages. The message is clear: nothing is guaranteed, and playing time will be earned, not given.
Kentucky’s coaching staff has paid special attention to defensive fundamentals and conditioning drills, understanding that early-season games are often won through hustle and execution. From defensive closeouts to rebounding battles, every rep is tracked, and every mistake corrected on the spot.
“Coach Pope holds us accountable in every drill,” said sophomore wing Justin Edwards. “If we’re not locked in, we start over. He wants us ready—not just to compete, but to dominate.”
With the season opener on the horizon, Kentucky’s practices will only intensify. Scrimmages are becoming more competitive, scouting reports more detailed, and expectations more defined. Pope and his staff know that the work done in July and August will echo into March.
The Wildcats aren’t just going through the motions—they’re building something. And if these practices are any indication, Kentucky won’t just be ready when the lights come on this fall—they’ll be dangerous.
