Mark Pope unleashes after Kentucky basketball loss to Georgia ” It’s unacceptable for us.”

Following a tough 82-69 road loss to Georgia, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope didn’t mince words as he assessed his team’s performance. The Wildcats struggled mightily, particularly on the boards and in converting scoring opportunities, leaving Pope frustrated but introspective.

Rebounding Woes Continue

“It’s back-to-back games where we give up 15 offensive rebounds,” Pope said postgame. “That’s a real bell we’ve got to ring. It’s unacceptable for us. It’s a sign of distraction somehow.”

Kentucky’s inability to control the glass has been a glaring issue, and against Georgia, it proved to be the Wildcats’ undoing. Despite improved ball-screen defense, Kentucky couldn’t secure the defensive rebounds needed to limit second-chance points, allowing the Bulldogs to dictate the pace and rhythm of the game.

“There were so many uncharacteristic plays on the court tonight,” Pope added. “As a decision-making team, those are manifestations of some distraction. For us, rooting that out and getting better at focusing on the moment is crucial.”

Offensive Struggles and a Slow Cadence

Shooting woes plagued Kentucky, as they managed just 37.5% from the field and an abysmal 24% from beyond the arc. Pope acknowledged the challenge of maintaining focus in the face of missed shots.

We’re a free-shooting team, meaning that we don’t carry the outcome of makes and misses with us,” Pope explained. “But right now, that’s an issue for all of our guys.”

The pace of the game also troubled Pope. Kentucky’s transition game, typically a strength, was stifled by Georgia’s physicality and the Wildcats’ own lack of execution.

“The cadence of the game got pretty slow,” Pope noted. “What I was feeling the most was we lost a little bit in transition. It was so hard to actually get a defensive rebound where it wasn’t a foul.”

For Pope, the key to addressing Kentucky’s struggles lies in a renewed focus on the fundamentals and building better habits.

“Sometimes, when you start on a project, you take 10 steps backward before you make progress,” Pope said. “It feels like that’s what we’ve done. It’s almost like the more we talk about it, the more we drill it, the more of a challenge it is.”

Pope emphasized the need for his team to be “insanely hyper-focused” in critical moments, particularly on rebounding and defensive positioning.

Looking Ahead

The loss marks Kentucky’s third to unranked opponents this season, a concerning trend for a team with championship aspirations. With another tough road game at Mississippi State looming, the Wildcats will need to regroup quickly to avoid a 1-2 start in SEC play.