Kentucky’s Mark Pope Considers Bold Strategy to Strengthen Team for Upcoming Season
As Mark Pope enters his second season as head coach at Kentucky, he’s already brainstorming innovative methods to fortify his team for the 2025-26 campaign. A key focus is enhancing physicality, a crucial component in SEC basketball that often proves decisive in games.
The Wildcats experienced firsthand the significance of strength and toughness during their Sweet 16 defeat to Tennessee, where they were outmuscled on the boards, losing the rebounding battle 34-24 and surrendering 19 second-chance points. To compete in the SEC, teams must battle in the paint, absorb contact, and dominate the boards – areas where Kentucky showed vulnerability last season. To address these weaknesses, Pope is contemplating the inclusion of football blocking dummies into basketball practices.
The rationale behind this unorthodox approach is to acclimate players to absorbing and delivering physical contact. The SEC is known for its intense, physical style of play, and teams that fail to match this level of physicality often find themselves outmatched. By integrating football-inspired drills, Pope hopes to have his players finish plays through contact at the rim, fight for contested rebounds, and maintain their balance and body control in the face of physical resistance.
In recent years, a number of basketball programs have experimented with football-style training to enhance physical conditioning and toughness. Pope’s goal is to integrate elements from football to ready his team for the daily physical demands of SEC play. Whether it’s post defense, finishing at the rim, or battling for rebounds, Pope aims to ensure his players are mentally and physically equipped for the tough battles they’ll face in conference play.
An intriguing aspect of this strategy is the potential collaboration with Mark Stoops and the Kentucky football program. Stoops has developed a strong, physical culture within his team, and if Pope chooses to work with the football staff, it could lead to joint training sessions or tailored strength programs that benefit both sports. Football players are well-trained to absorb hits, maintain balance, and use physicality to their advantage—skills that could prove invaluable for basketball players if adapted properly.
Pope has made his intentions clear: he wants Kentucky to be tougher and more resilient next season. Whether through football drills, increased physical contact in practice, or fostering a more aggressive mindset, the Wildcats are preparing to get stronger, tougher, and more battle-ready for another shot at SEC and NCAA Tournament glory.
