Mark Pope’s admission of a “poor job” raises more serious concerns regarding Kentucky’s readiness.

Mark Pope accepted full responsibility for Kentucky’s 84–70 loss to Georgetown, acknowledging that his team wasn’t properly prepared for the defensive scheme they faced

The defeat was more than just a preseason setback — it exposed how unready the Wildcats were for a strategy their coach already anticipated. After the game, Pope admitted that Georgetown’s “Aggie switch” defense — a system where defenders switch on wing handoffs and rotate from the opposite corner to block drives and cutting lanes — completely disrupted Kentucky’s offense. The Wildcats shot just 33% from the field and committed 15 turnovers in a disjointed effort.

When asked about the poor execution, Pope didn’t make excuses. “Ideally, you can do it in practice,” he said. “I just did a poor job.”

His honesty raises another concern: if the coaching staff expected this kind of defense, why wasn’t the team better prepared for it? NCAA rules limiting practice time — 20 hours a week with a required day off — may play a role. With a new roster and limited hours to install offensive and defensive systems, simulating every possible defensive scheme becomes nearly impossible.

Still, the lack of preparation suggests a deeper issue. Kentucky may have to learn and adapt during live competition instead of in practice, which could be risky as the season progresses. The loss served as both a warning and a lesson — and now that Georgetown has revealed a successful blueprint, every opponent left on Kentucky’s schedule is likely taking notes.