When Kentucky Radio Network basketball commentator Jack Givens attended his first UK basketball practice under new coach Mark Pope, he noticed a “whole lot of guys as opposed to the 18-year-olds we’ve seen coming in.” Givens recently joined Tom Leach on The Leach Report, and the former UK All-American expressed excitement about Pope’s experience on his squad. “The people who are large and powerful and know how to utilise it, they’re quick and don’t waste any time, and they know what needs to be done. Givens told Leach, “I recognised it pretty fast about this team—and that’s a good thing.”
He enjoyed how the older guys spoke a lot, even during practice. “That’s going to be good,” Givens stated. “I’ve seen a number of extremely outstanding players, but I have yet to see a genuinely good team. There is a distinction. “It will take some time.”Everyone is currently in the stage of trying to be polite, including teams. They want to pass the ball, get it to this man and that guy, and make sure everyone participates.” According to Givens, Pope’s offence is based on getting the ball to midcourt in three seconds and shooting whatever open shots that come your way. “This gives the defence less time to prepare. You can’t zone this team when the offense is really working,” Givens said.
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