Even if John Calipari is no longer there, the Kentucky Wildcats are still the Kentucky Wildcats. As such, theyāre expected to perform at a championship-caliber level.
Nonetheless, things wonāt get much easier for them on Friday. They will square off against the Alabama Crimson Tide, one of the most frenetic and electrifying teams in all of college basketball.
Thatās why Mark Pope doesnāt want his team to rest on their laurels. When asked about his upcoming opponents, he raved about their potency and ability to push the pace.
Mark Pope claims Alabama is āPotentā
āAlabama right now is, of course, theyāve always been so potent, demanding shooting guardsā space, their pace is elite,ā Pope said. āI donāt know if the metrics change every but they are one of the fastest-playing teams in the country.ā
Mark Pope of the Kentucky Wildcats.
That kind of fast-paced offense will definitely put the Wildcatsā defense to the test. There will be no time to celebrate a big play; everybody will have to get back on defense right away:
āAnd when you break down their possession usage in the first six seconds and second six seconds of the shot clock, after makes, thatās actually when theyāre the most, they punish you,ā Pope continued.
The Crimson Tide also has a proficient bench that averages 35.1 points per game. That could pose a threat to Popeās team, as theyāve struggled without the starters at times.
