After a season with defensive challenges in 2024, Mark Pope is spearheading a comprehensive overhaul of Kentucky's defensive strategy. His vision for the upcoming season is clear: a more aggressive, mobile, and relentless defensive unit aiming for elite national rankings. Suffice to say, this team will look vastly different than last year's.
Addressing past defensive shortcomings
Pope openly acknowledged the defensive struggles that happened last year. "There were some some personnel changes that hurt us defensively... the first half of the season, we were pretty we were really good defensively and then we just had a major fallout.