Mark Pope Reflects on Kentucky’s Shooting Struggles: Charting the Course for a Sharper 2025-26 Wildcats Offense
LEXINGTON, KY — The echoes of missed three-pointers still reverberate through the rafters of Rupp Arena. It’s early May, and Mark Pope stands alone under the arc in the practice gym, spinning a worn basketball in his hands. The silence is punctuated only by the soft squeak of sneakers on hardwood as assistant coaches prep drills in the distance.
The 2024-25 season didn’t end in disaster, but it didn’t end in satisfaction either. Kentucky’s storied program—built on shooting excellence and elite talent—found itself outgunned too often. Cold stretches from deep and a disjointed half-court offense marred key matchups. Pope knows it. He’s lived it.
Now, he’s rewriting the script.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well enough. That’s the brutal truth,” Pope says, his voice a blend of candor and conviction. “We had stretches where we couldn’t punish teams sagging off, and in this era of space-and-pace, that’s lethal—to yourself.”
Pope, entering his second year as head coach at Kentucky, has always believed in tempo and range. As a former BYU coach, his teams were among the nation’s best in three-point attempts and efficiency. But in Lexington, where the pressure is generational and the lights burn white-hot, the execution didn’t match the blueprint—yet.
He points to the data with an analytical sharpness. “We were bottom third in the SEC in 3-point percentage in conference play. And when you’re trying to space the floor for dynamic guards or stretch bigs, that’s like running through molasses.”
But lessons have been learned. The offseason is already humming with activity. The transfer portal has yielded two sharpshooting wings—one from Creighton, another from UC Irvine—both boasting 40% clips from deep and the kind of quick trigger Pope covets. A five-star combo guard is arriving in June, already known for pulling up from NBA range with fearless consistency.
But it’s not just about the shooters. It’s the system. Pope is retooling Kentucky’s offense with precision. Expect more off-ball movement, staggered screens, and a faster pace in early offense. He’s studying EuroLeague film at 3 a.m., obsessing over how shooters like Vasilije Micić and Markus Howard use space and timing like weapons.
“This year, the ball will move faster than the defense can react,” Pope promises. “There will be less standing, more cutting. If we’re not getting open shots, we’re not running it right.”
He speaks like a coach on a mission—not just to restore Kentucky’s dominance, but to evolve it.
In the practice gym, the sound of swishes begins to fill the air. A freshman sinks five straight from the corner. Pope nods, then grabs a marker and sketches another set on the whiteboard beside the court.
“It’s about rhythm. And it’s about confidence. You can’t teach swagger, but you can build the environment that breeds it.”
Mark Pope isn’t running from the struggles of last season. He’s dissecting them, repurposing them, and using them as fuel. Kentucky’s next iteration may still be in development, but make no mistake—the Wildcats are aiming to become the deadliest shooting team in the SEC.
And this time, Mark Pope intends to hit the mark.
