Kentucky head coach Mark Pope isn’t dwelling on his team’s previous success against Tennessee as the Wildcats prepare for a high-stakes Sweet 16 showdown. Having already beaten the Volunteers twice this season, Kentucky enters Friday’s matchup with confidence, but Pope believes this game is a fresh challenge.
“If we really parse details, there’s certainly, maybe, the emotional advantage of winning two that you feel like you know you can,” Pope said. “But I think that’s like the 0.1 percent. Mostly, this is a free-standing game.”
Pope recognizes the difficulty of beating a team three times in one season, especially when that team is as talented as Tennessee. The Volunteers boast one of the best defenses in the nation, an elite offensive attack, and an experienced head coach in Rick Barnes. Pope had high praise for Barnes, calling him one of the best coaches in college basketball and someone he admires deeply.
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“Rick Barnes is, if not the best, one of the best coaches in all of college basketball right now,” Pope said. “I admire him because he puts together great teams every year. And I admire him because, everything I know about him, he’s a way better man than he is a basketball coach. When you’re one of the best basketball coaches, that’s saying a lot.”
While Kentucky found success from beyond the arc in its first two meetings with Tennessee, Pope knows adjustments will be necessary. The Volunteers, who rank among the best defensive teams in the country, will likely focus on limiting the Wildcats’ perimeter looks. In Kentucky’s two wins, they shot 50% from three, an efficiency level that will be difficult to replicate against a team of Tennessee’s caliber.
On the flip side, Tennessee will be looking to make its own adjustments. Barnes’ squad has struggled to find consistent outside shooting against Kentucky, and its ability to make shots could be a determining factor. Additionally, the Volunteers will need to improve their perimeter defense to contain Kentucky’s three-point shooting.
At the end of the day, Pope sees Friday’s matchup as two elite teams battling for a spot in the Elite Eight.
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“It’s two great teams playing together in the Sweet 16, trying to get to the Elite Eight,” Pope said. “That’s exactly what you would expect at this point in the tournament. We can’t wait to get to it.”
Kentucky and Tennessee will face off on Friday night in Indianapolis with a trip to the regional final on the line.
