UK trainer Mark Pope supports extending the schedule to 40 games, looks forward to summer scrimmages
Kentucky Basketball Gears Up for Exhibition Games and Scrimmages
Kentucky men's basketball team is set to host Purdue and Georgetown in a pair of exhibition games at Rupp Arena in October, marking the start of an exciting season.
Coach Mark Pope has been vocal about the benefits of playing real games with real minutes and stats, and he believes that these exhibition matches will provide valuable opportunities for his team.
In line with this, Pope has expressed a desire for a 40-game season in college basketball, an increase from the current 31 games. Starting this season, college teams will be allowed to play 32 games, a step in the right direction.
Pope also values the relationships built between current and former Kentucky players as an important part of the Kentucky experience. To this end, he organized a scrimmage against La Familia, a team of former Kentucky players, during their eight-week summer workouts.
La Familia, a team of overseas professionals in their mid-to-late 20s, reached the quarterfinals of The Basketball Tournament before losing to Eberlein Drive last Tuesday. The scrimmage against La Familia provided an opportunity for the current squad to meet former Kentucky players, including Archie Goodwin, Willie Cauley-Stein, and the Harrison twins.
The scrimmage against La Familia was a competitive game, with Kentucky winning by a close margin, 61-55, during a three-quarter format aimed at simulating The Basketball Tournament environment. The game served as a useful tuneup rather than a polished performance for the Wildcats.
Pope highlighted several key takeaways from the scrimmage, emphasizing its value beyond just the final score. He pointed to the scrimmage as an opportunity for valuable repetitions, leadership growth, and learning experiences for his players in summer practices leading into the season.
Pope sees this game as a strategic stepping stone that helps his young Kentucky team gain confidence against experienced competition, improve cohesion, and prepare mentally and physically for the upcoming season. The scrimmage showed areas requiring development but reinforced the team’s competitive potential moving forward.
Moreover, Pope would like to see summer league scrimmage games adopted and approved by the NCAA for future summer schedules. He believes that scrimmaging against veteran players like La Familia provides an environment that helps guide his team during their off-season workouts.
With the increased number of games allowed in the season, many collegiate teams could play between 35-40 games in a single season, including postseason games. The winner of The Basketball Tournament receives a $1 million prize, adding an extra incentive for teams to perform well in these exhibition matches.
As the season approaches, Coach Mark Pope and his team are focused on growth, readiness, and building strong relationships, both on and off the court. With their sights set on a successful season, the Wildcats are ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead.
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The Kentucky men's basketball team, gearing up for exhibition games, plans to incorporate more games into their season, such as the possible 40-game season proposal, to enhance their performance and provide ample opportunities for growth. During the summer, Coach Mark Pope organized a scrimmage against a team of former Kentucky players, which served as a beneficial tune-up and a chance to build relationships within the broader Kentucky basketball community.
