INDIANAPOLIS — On Thursday, head coach Mark Pope and Kentucky players spoke ahead of their NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup against Tennessee on Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium (7:39 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS/TruTV).
Opening Remarks
In an unexpected turn of events, I can hardly believe I am sitting here with Bill Benner. While we don’t know each other well, his late brother, David Benner, was one of my favorite people in the world. He was the longtime information director for the Indiana Pacers and one of the greatest human beings. I loved him, and we deeply miss him. So, being here with you is a pleasure.
We are thrilled to be here, competing in this incredible venue in a beautiful city for the NCAA Tournament. Moving forward in the tournament is truly exciting.
On His Time in Indianapolis and Playing for Larry Bird
MARK POPE: Come on, I’m the most blessed human being in the world that I got to be here on those great Indiana Pacers teams in this tremendous city, playing for Larry Bird and Rick Carlisle and the whole crew. I’ll never forget it.
The Pacers drafted me. It was my first two years here until Coach Bird fired me. And it was two of the most fun, incredible years of my entire life getting to play with these guys, with Reggie and Jack and Chris and the Davis boys, come on, Rik Smits. It just doesn’t get any better, in epic contests, in a really tremendous era of basketball.
To do that here in Indianapolis is special to me. This is where I met my wife and we started our life. It’s a really special city to me.
On Team Chemistry and Its Impact on Performance
MARK POPE: I think joy in the gym is a principle that’s really, really important to us. I think we play better when we work hard to find joy in the process because this can be a grind also. It can be mentally and emotionally taxing and exhausting. And the pressure can be immense.
But finding the joy in it, I think, actually helps us perform better. It helps us be more focused. I think it helps us be looser. It helps us, enables us to be better decision makers. It takes us from our limbic system to our frontal cortex literally, in a real sense, and helps us be decision makers, which is such a crucial part of what we do on the court.
Also, it is, what’s the point? What’s the point of all this if you’re not building relationships that are going to last forever and if you’re not enjoying every moment. If you can’t be here in this city in the Sweet 16, with this group of guys, if you can’t enjoy that, then you need to find another thing to do.
I love that the guys are enjoying it. And I love that they’re taking in every single moment. They came here for a reason. They’re very focused on that reason. But their love of each other is showing through is actually a strength for us.
On the Kentucky-Indiana Rivalry Resuming
MARK POPE: Am I allowed to talk about this? I assume I am?
So I have such beautiful memories of Kentucky-Indiana in the RCA Dome and looking up in the arena and seeing the aisleway where it was split, where it was all blue/white all across the arena on one side and all red and white on the other side of the stadium.
And I love everything about it. I think these rivalries are really special in college basketball. I think this rivalry has incredible history. I think it’s great for college basketball. There’s nothing about it that’s not great. I’m really excited about it.
On Facing Tennessee for the Third Time This Season
MARK POPE: If we really parse details, there’s certainly, maybe the emotional advantage of winning two that you feel like you know you can. There’s the strategic side of coming to know to consider you might have a better idea of, if you’re going to make changes, a better idea of how and why.
But I think that’s like the .1 percent. I think mostly this is a free-standing game. This is a great Tennessee team. It’s one of the top teams in the country. It’s the best defensive team in the country. They have one of the best offensive teams in the country.
Rick Barnes is, if not the best, one of the best coaches in all of college basketball right now. He’s one of the people that I really, really admire. 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 about him.
I think he lives his life by a moral code and a moral compass. And I think he sets an incredible example for the rest of us in the profession. I think he sets a great example for everybody. I don’t know what advantage comes from it. I just know it’s two great teams playing together in the Sweet 16, trying to get to the Elite Eight. And that’s exactly what you would expect at this point in the tournament. We can’t wait to get to it.
On Mid-Majors and the Future of College Basketball
MARK POPE: Yes. I mean, I think the answer is yes. We had No. 1 seeds that were one missed shot, one made shot away from going down. So there’s been all the drama.
I expect that will continue because the reason is because there are so many talented players. There are so many incredibly talented players. And there are so many incredibly talented coaches.
I think this tournament is one of the great things in all of sports. And I think it’s because it’s a pure meritocracy once you start playing. Once you start playing, doesn’t matter what your budget is, doesn’t matter if you came in on a bus or flew in on a plane. Doesn’t matter if you don’t have 17 different uniforms or if you have only one. Doesn’t matter if you have holes in your shoes or your 75th new pair. I think this incredible event is only going to get better and better.
On Playing in Lucas Oil Stadium
MARK POPE: I think it’s a great building. One of my coaches, Alvin Brooks, loves this building like no place on the planet because he hoisted a trophy here. I think it’s a really special venue.
What’s interesting, a lot of times, in the older stadiums you would walk in it would be really, really light. You kind of got caught up in the background. In our first experience in here this morning, the background kind of fades away so it feels a lot more intimate maybe than it is. I think it’s an incredible venue. I think it’s a special place, and we can’t wait to play.
We’ll see how things unfold as we move forward. But you always want to be in the most competitive league. There’s no doubt about it. This league has been remarkable—a blessing and a challenge for all of us. And that’s exactly what you want.
Q. You’ve stressed the importance of players maintaining composure, staying level-headed, and managing emotions throughout the year. How do you think they’ve handled that? Also, some coaches, including Rick Pitino, have suggested eliminating postgame handshakes. Do you have strong opinions on that?
MARK POPE: I do. Honestly, I’m a terrible sport. I’d prefer to skip the handshake line when I lose and keep it when I win! (Laughter).
I hate losing, guys. I’m working on it—I have a whole psychology team helping me improve. Hopefully, I won’t have to deal with it too often.
We all have moments where we wonder why we do things, but those aren’t our best moments. At the end of the day, athletics should be about more than just winning, even though we take winning very seriously. It demands everything from you because you’re competing against others who are giving everything they have.
But athletes chase the impossible. Can we be fierce competitors, fight to win, and still walk through the handshake line with respect? It’s a tough ask, but I like tough challenges. If we’re going to win at the highest level, we should strive for more. This is one small way we can do that.
I’d like to be mature enough—and I’m not yet—to always pursue things bigger than just basketball.
Q. Injuries have been a recurring issue this season. You mentioned losing sleep before games. How has this adversity shaped the team? And can you talk about Lamont’s resilience in getting here?
MARK POPE: Every experience, good or bad, is a learning opportunity. My staff constantly reminds me to pause and ask, “How can this make us better?”
Injuries have been painful and challenging, but they’ve also helped us grow. Young players have stepped up, others have adapted to new roles, and we’ve had to rethink our entire game plan. Losing Kerr Kriisa, for example, completely altered our approach. But growth comes from adversity, and our team has embraced that.
Adversity is a gift. The real challenge would be sitting on a beach with no struggles—how would you grow? We’re obsessed with improvement, and these injuries have pushed us in that direction.
Q. What about Lamont?
MARK POPE: I’ve spoken about Lamont a lot. As a coach, it’s like being a parent—you love seeing your players surpass your own abilities. Lamont has taken on challenges no player should have to face, yet he remains focused on helping his team. His commitment, resilience, and leadership are inspiring.
This is why I love sports. It’s about more than winning. It’s about pushing limits and doing something greater. Lamont embodies that. He’s not just winning—he’s doing more than winning.
Kentucky Players
Q. Koby, you’ve beaten Tennessee twice. What needs to change to make it happen a third time?
KOBY BREA: Nothing really. We just need to stay true to ourselves, trust each other, and stick to our game plan. Tennessee is a strong team, and we respect them, but we’re approaching this matchup just like the first two.
Q. Lamont, you’re about to play in a game you’ve always dreamed of. Do you guys think about Jaxson and Kerr, who aren’t able to play?
LAMONT BUTLER: All the time. It’s tough not having them on the court, but they’ve been great leaders off it—encouraging us, giving feedback, and helping the team in every way they can. We play hard for them.
Q. Koby, Tennessee has a top-tier defense, yet you shot 50% from three against them. What’s the key to replicating that success?
KOBY BREA: Our coaches scout defenses well. Tennessee is strong, but we’ve faced similar styles before. We’ll keep doing what we do, adjust where needed, and prepare for any changes they make.
Q. Andrew, Milicic had success shooting threes against you. How do you plan to limit him this time?
ANDREW CARR: He’s a great shooter. He wasn’t hitting at a high percentage before playing us, so we adjusted our approach. Now, our focus is on contesting every shot and keeping him uncomfortable.
Q. Otega, your brother plays in the NFL. How does it feel playing in a stadium like this, and does it give you bragging rights over him?
OTEGA OWEH: It’s cool. I’ve never played in a football stadium before. If I win here before he plays here, I’ll definitely brag about it! He’s been a great source of advice, and I’m excited he’ll be here to support me.
Q. Andrew, your team seems relaxed and confident. Is that a part of your mindset?
ANDREW CARR: Absolutely. We trust each other and enjoy being together. That brings confidence and allows us to stay calm in big moments.
Q. Otega, Tennessee has struggled to contain you. Can they stop you this time?
OTEGA OWEH: I hope not! I just bring energy and play my game. We’ll see what happens, but my focus is on winning.
Q. Andrew and Amari, this team has great chemistry despite coming together recently. What helped you bond so quickly?
ANDREW CARR: Spending time together in the summer, getting to know each other, and sharing common interests. When everyone is new, it creates an opportunity to build strong relationships fast. It feels like playing in the park as kids—just having fun competing
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