Kentucky at Vanderbilt – Uk Athletics

Kentucky’s head coach Mark Pope was asked on Thursday during his weekly press conference if he had a special memory of Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, where his cats will meet Vanderbilt on Saturday. Pope said that one moment clearly separated over the rest.

“I ran in and dunked it,” Pope said of his memorable moment. “If I remember right, I barely got it over the rim and got a mistake. And then coach P (Rick Pitino) stood right there, and then I had to go and bend him with his chest. And I don’t think Coach was super happy about it, but I’ve always loved the configuration of the gym since that moment. I think it’s a great place. ”

Memorial Gymnasium is known for its unique setup. From a gaming floor that is elevated to the team benches in the end zones, it is not the normal configuration that the teams are used to seeing.

In addition to an unconventional setup, it is difficult to play on Vanderbilt this year because Commodores has a much improved team. Commodores is 15-4 overall and 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference. On the most recent Saturday at Memorial Gym, ‘Dores disturbed No. 6 Tennessee. Pope admires what Vandy staff have been able to do in a short time.

“What an incredible job the staff have done to build that team,” Pope said. “They play incredibly hard and they have had some real work and hardness in their games. They start with five guys on the floor who can really shoot it. They force you to guard a lot of space. They are really physical on the glass. They play at a huge pace. “

Pope’s Cats embrace to walk on the road and into hostile environments in SEC. It is something that the team should learn, but which has now accepted.

“I think the guys know better now,” Pope said. “I think our guys right now can’t wait to get out on the road again and experience another crazy environment and find a way to win.”

The cats have been a bit knocked up and Pope was grateful for the week his team had to heal some of its suffering.

“It’s better than it was a few days ago,” Pope said. “Everyone is going to play injured and play with injured guys. We are better off. I’m really grateful for this week.”

The Cats will meet one of the college basketball’s most unique setting on Saturday and will receive a rising Vanderbilt team. It is a role that Pope’s Cats welcomes and embraces.