Mark Pope has no idea who will give Kentucky its spark each night and he loves it
It was Andrew Carr Collin Chandler in the Blue-White Preseason Event. Then it was Jaxson Robinson firing away in the two exhibition games against Kentucky Wesleyan and Minnesota State for a combined 45 points. How about Otega Oweh in the season opener vs. Wright State? He went for a team-high 21 points in that one while Koby Brea added 18 points as a close second.
Tonight vs. Bucknell? Brea again, going for 20 points off the bench, though Kerr Kriisa 's 12-assist effort was pretty special, too.
That's not even accounting for Lamont Butler 's consistent all-around play up to this point or Amari Williams' status as a double-double machine — plus the role guys off the bench.
Point being, Mark Pope has no idea who will step up for Kentucky on a given night or where that spark will come from. And he likes it that way. It's a testament to the team's depth and unselfishness, part of the reason why he believes this team has what it takes to be special.
"The game is – when you have guys that are about winning, you have the luxury of reading the game and figuring out what the game is telling you and how you are going to actually attack the game," Pope said Saturday. "You don't walk in and try to force and impose your will stubbornly on the game and try to twist it into knots to try to get where you are going. You actually get to go see how a team is guarding and say, 'OK, great, let's go.' Or see what's cooking tonight."
Pope started talking about this team's unselfishness — another night of 23 assists on 38 made baskets, in case you're curious — before backtracking on that phrasing.
"I don't like unselfish, actually. That's not the right way to describe it," he said.
Instead, the way this team plays and the passion they play with, their desire to put others before themselves and total comfort in big performances for teammates is the focus.
It's bigger than unselfishness. It's a love for something beyond individual success.
"We have a group of guys that love each other and they love walking in this gym in front of BBN," Pope said. "They love putting out Kentucky jersey on their chest. They love making each other look good. They love cheering for each other. And when you have a group like that, it can be really fun. I think our fan base is going to feel that more and more from this team and that's pretty special."
It's been a special start for Pope and his first group in Lexington. Now the first real challenge awaits with Duke on Tuesday.
Who will step up in that one?
