UK leans on experience in statement win vs

• Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff WriterNov 13, 2024, 02:01 AM ET

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  • Basketball recruiting expert.
  • Joined ESPN in 2014.
  • Graduate of University of Delaware.ATLANTA– When Mark Pope

arrived at Kentucky in April, there was a clean slate from a lineup viewpoint. One freshman kept his commitment from the John Calipari period, however that was it. Pope had the ability to select each player on his roster for several years 1– and he made it clear from the start what he wanted: college experience.”When you’re hiring high school kids, you’re spending a lot of time predicting,”Pope told ESPN over the summer season.” It’s a lot easier to hire guys that have played in college. … We’re going to go handpick the guys that we really see making the plays that we make.”Pope wound up signing eight players who were at least 21. In his very first big game as Kentucky’s head coach, Tuesday night against Duke in the Champions Classic, Pope began 5 21 -or 22-year-olds. The Blue Devils, by comparison, didn’t start a player over 20. And it was that experience that assisted the Wildcats come away with an early-season declaration triumph, a come-from-behind 77-72 win. It was Kentucky’s very first Champions Classic win considering that 2020. Editor’s Picks 2 Associated “I like our group,”Pope stated.”If we had lost this game, I would still like our group. …

This group

is unique. And they’ve been that method before we played a game. In the summertime, the guys were so intentional. These guys– no one understood each other. And they’ve been very deliberate about learning more about each other. 3 or four weeks into the summer, I had guys doing incredibly generous, gracious acts of kindness for their colleagues.”I believe that wins. I actually think it wins in the end.”Duke led by 10 points in the first half and as numerous as 9 points in the second half, but Kentucky fought back behind a set of veteran power-conference transfers, Andrew Carr from Wake Forest and Otega Oweh from Oklahoma. Carr struck two 3-pointers early, however it was two three-point plays down the stretch that swung the momentum. One tied ball game with 3:57 left, the second offered the Wildcats a two-point lead with 1:49 to go. He ended up with 17 points.”I think it’s simply sort of the flow of the game, “Carr stated.”That occurs with the manner in which we play. It’s a lot of reading and responding and we attempt to capitalize

of how the defense is securing us. They were changing sometimes, and simply wanted to attempt and continue to be aggressive. I was able to get in the lane, play off 2 feet and able to convert on those plays. “On the other hand, Oweh made the winning plays in the last minute. With 12 seconds left, he took the ball from Cooper Flagg and made the consent totally free tosses. And after Lamont Butler missed a totally free

toss with 5 seconds left that would have clinched the game, Oweh grabbed the offending rebound and iced the win with two complimentary tosses. He had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.Another feature of Pope’s roster building and construction was its focus on 3-point shooting. A top priority in his portal search was finding players who might make outdoors shots. Last season was the very first time Kentucky completed in the leading 100 nationally in 3-point percentage since 2016 and just the 4th time considering that Calipari took control of in 2009. In the Wildcats ‘previous 4 Champions Classic games– all losses– they shot a combined 29-for-102 from 3-point range, 28.4%. On Tuesday, they shot 10-for-25 from beyond the arc, 40%. It’s perfectly in line with the 24-for-60 Kentucky shot in its wins over Wright State and Bucknell to begin the season.What stood out about the Wildcats’strong surface versus Duke, nevertheless, was the method they attacked the basket in

the 2nd half. After making the very first five 3s of the game, they missed their next 8 efforts and had a hard time to generate half-court offense in the very first half.

So late in the game, Kentucky started going more aggressively at the rim, utilizing huge men Amari Williams and Brandon Garrison to initiate offense and get Duke in difficult rotations. Heaven Devils had miscommunications on multiple possessions defensively late in the game, causing open Kentucky chances.”I was actually pleased with the method the guys came out in the second half,” Pope stated.”The last 10 minutes of the very first half was really aggravating. We quit 46 points. That’s not particular people. We had 7 turnovers. That’s not particular people. … But what I was really proud of was guys went and beinged in the locker room and all it was positive. The guys do most of the repairing before I even act.” Defensively, Kentucky had the ability to take Duke out of its rhythm, and the Blue Devils began to have problem with turnovers and boundary shooting– along with the health of 2 crucial players. Freshman huge male Khaman Maluach handled cramping issues for most of the second half, and essential reserve Sion James left the game because of a shoulder injury after taking a hard hit on a screen.After turning the ball over just when in the very first half and getting constant production from guards Tyrese Proctor and Kon Knueppel– even extending the lead after Flagg went to the bench with 2 fouls– Duke’s supporting cast went cold and the Blue Devils’offense fell almost completely on Flagg.The projected No. 1 NBA draft choice reacted with a fantastic proving, completing with 26 points,

12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. He struck a midrange jumper to stop a Kentucky run with 7:33 to go, then struck 2 complimentary throws with 4:18 delegated put Duke up three. On back-to-back ownerships with 2 minutes left, Flagg hit a bucket-and-foul and a layup to tie the score.But on the final 2 Duke possessions, Flagg turned the ball over with a chance to connect ball game or

take the lead.” [We wanted] the ball in his hands,”Duke coach Jon Scheyer said.”I think they knew that was taking place too and I’m OK with that. We’re going to remain in these moments a lot together. … He’s got to touch it and [I] trust that good things are going to occur.”He willed us because game. He willed us. Especially down the stretch.”