Five takeaways from interviews with Kentucky’s new men’s basketball players

Over the past few weeks we’ve had the opportunity to meet Kentucky basketball’s roster of a dozen new players. Question-and-answer sessions. Three players at a time in a media group setting.

We met the final trio on Tuesday at the Joe Craft Center, so here are five takeaways from Mark Pope’s first group of Wildcats.

1. The team chemistry is real

We’re talking about nine transfers and three true freshmen who did not know each other before arriving. Yet, by all accounts, this group has had no trouble bonding.

“I feel like our chemistry is super high and through the roof,” freshman Trent Noah, the former Harlan County star, said Tuesday. “I feel like that’s a compliment to our coaches and who we brought in. We’re all kind of similar guys.”

Still, is it a surprise how quickly bonds have formed?

“Not necessarily,” said BYU transfer Jaxson Robinson. “It’s an older group of guys. Everybody is bringing different experiences, figuring out ways to come together and be a real team.”

2. The offense is free-flowing

Don’t expect this team to run plays on offense. They aren’t any. Pope’s philosophy relies on advancing the ball quickly up the court — three seconds to move past midcourt — then players reading off each other.

“There’s no limits,” Robinson said. “Coach Pope doesn’t put restrictions on anybody. That’s exactly how the game of basketball is supposed to be played.”

“He gives us the system to run, but he kind of like let’s it just flow on our own,” said Dayton transfer Koby Brea. “I’ve never been around that. Most of the coaches, they try to hold you back a little bit, run their sets and run their plays. He’s like, ‘I’m going to give you a whole lot of stuff and you guys take care of the rest.’”

3. There is a bond with the head coach

Robinson is the only Wildcat who has previously played for Pope. Yet the players have talked about how they have enjoyed learning about their sometimes goofy — Pope donning a football helmet during a conditioning session at Kroger Field was mentioned multiple times — and genuine coach.

“He’s an exceptional person,” Noah said. He’s good to just sit down and talk to. He’s an incredible basketball mind, but an incredible person, as well.”

“Just watching him on TV, you see what kind of coach he is. He’s really loud,” Brea said. “But I didn’t know that he gives that much confidence to his players, how freely and open he is to his players creating for themselves and for others.”

4. The buy-in to Kentucky basketball

The new players received a taste of Kentucky basketball Monday night when the group attended the UK-Louisville TBT game at Freedom Hall.

“It was crazy,” Robinson said. “Having all those fans there, seeing what it means to the state of Kentucky. It was a great atmosphere and I’m excited to get out there and play in front of these Kentucky fans.”

“I definitely think they were in a shock a little bit,” Noah said of his teammates. “That’s just what Kentucky basketball is, and it’s on a smaller scale. I feel like whenever it gets to the season it’s going to be times a hundred.”

Said Brea, “I loved every single part of it.”

5. Chips on their shoulder

Nearly all the players gave a common reason for coming to Kentucky: The desire to prove they can play at the highest level.

Robinson played one year at Texas A&M and one year at Arkansas before his last two seasons at BYU. Does his return to the SEC come with a chip on his shoulder?

“Yeah, 100 percent,” Robinson said. “I feel like I have a lot to prove, not only to people on the outside world but myself, knowing I’m coming back in the SEC for a third time. There are a lot of games I’ve got circled on my calendar.”

Take Amari Williams, who was twice his conference’s defensive player of the year at Drexel.

“Just proving to everyone that I can play at this level,” said the 6-foot-10 center. “That’s something that I have in the back of my mind every game.”

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