Kentucky head coach Mark Pope is preparing his team for a challenging road trip to face the No. 14 Mississippi State Bulldogs this weekend. After a tough loss to Georgia, the Wildcats will need to regroup and refine their play to take on one of the SEC’s most physical and talented teams. Mississippi State enters the matchup with a 14-1 record, showcasing their strength both offensively and defensively.
Pope acknowledged that Mississippi State presents a unique challenge, especially with their aggressive playstyle. “They’re a really, really physical team, and they do a great job of wearing you down,” Pope said during his press conference. The Bulldogs, led by head coach Chris Jans, rank near the top of the conference in offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers, making them a tough opponent for any team in the league.
One area of focus for Pope and his staff is Kentucky’s ability to handle physical play, especially after their struggles against Georgia. “We have to be more physical, especially on the glass,” Pope noted. Kentucky has lost the rebounding battle in four straight games, and Mississippi State’s top-30 ranking in offensive rebounding only adds to the challenge. “We’ve got to find ways to compete on the boards and maintain our physicality throughout the game.”
Another key area for Kentucky is ball protection. Although the Wildcats committed 14 turnovers against Georgia, Pope remains confident in his team’s ball-handling abilities. “We’ve been really good with ball protection this season, and we just have to do a better job of it in games like these,” he said.
The Wildcats will also need to stay mentally sharp and avoid getting distracted by the physical nature of the game or officiating. Pope emphasized the importance of staying focused on the task at hand and responding positively to adversity. “We’ve got to trust each other, stay locked in, and not let frustrations derail us,” Pope added.
With Kentucky heading into another tough road environment, Pope’s message is clear: The Wildcats must match Mississippi State’s intensity and focus on the fundamentals to have a chance at securing a crucial SEC victory.
