Mark Pope, No. 4 Kentucky Brace for Stern Test vs. No. 7 Gonzaga
Mark Pope’s history against Gonzaga as a coach has been challenging, to say the least. The new Kentucky coach, formerly of BYU, is 1-9 all-time against Mark Few and the Bulldogs. On Saturday night, Pope and the No. 4 Wildcats face No. 7 Gonzaga in the Battle in Seattle, hoping to reverse his fortunes.
Pope’s Familiar Struggles with Gonzaga
During his tenure at BYU, Pope went 1-8 against Gonzaga. His lone victory came during his first season in 2019-20, a 91-78 upset over the then-No. 2 Bulldogs. Despite the familiarity between the two programs, Pope acknowledges the challenge ahead.
“I’m really familiar with them. Coach (Few) is really familiar with me and the way we approach the game,” Pope said. “Hopefully, we’ll start to even that out a little bit.”
Wildcats Look to Rebound
Kentucky (7-1) enters the game coming off its first loss of the season, a 70-66 defeat at Clemson. Despite the stumble, the Wildcats have impressive wins on their resume, including a victory over then-No. 6 Duke.
In the Clemson loss, the Wildcats shot just 38.1 percent from the field and struggled from deep, going 7 of 27 from 3-point range. Otega Oweh led the team with 17 points, while Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively.
“One loss doesn’t define our season,” Robinson said. “The ultimate goal is to win a national championship and this is just one step in it.”
Robinson, a transfer from BYU, is well-acquainted with Gonzaga, having faced them twice last season and scoring 17 and 10 points in those meetings.
Gonzaga Riding Momentum
The Bulldogs (7-1) are fresh off a 90-65 victory over Davidson in the fifth-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Their only loss this season came in overtime to West Virginia.
Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard is leading the nation with 10.8 assists per game while also averaging 10.6 points. Nolan Hickman, who has made a team-high 18 3-pointers, is eager for the matchup, especially since he’s a Seattle native and former Kentucky commit.
“It’s my senior year so I want to end every (game) with a bang, but especially this one back at home, in the hometown, backyard, definitely,” Hickman said.
Key Matchups
Kentucky will need to contend with Gonzaga’s balanced attack. Ben Gregg is coming off a career-best 24-point game against Davidson, while Graham Ike, who had 23 points in Gonzaga’s win over Kentucky last season, continues to be a force inside.
The Wildcats will look to their leading scorer Oweh, who averages 17 points per game, and hope for more efficiency from beyond the arc to challenge Gonzaga’s high-powered offense.
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Battle in Seattle History
Gonzaga has a strong history in the Battle in Seattle, holding a 9-5 all-time record in the event. This game marks the fourth meeting between the Bulldogs and Wildcats, with Gonzaga leading the series 2-1, including an 89-85 win in Lexington last season.
What’s at Stake
Both teams have been tested early in the season, with Gonzaga earning wins over then-No. 8 Baylor and then-No. 14 Indiana, while Kentucky seeks another signature win to solidify its top-five ranking. The showdown promises to be a significant benchmark for both programs as they navigate their challenging non-conference schedules.