We’re going to learn plenty about Kentucky in the coming weeks with college basketball season starting in October, but what about the Wildcats’ competition? Can Mark Pope keep the program atop the SEC standings in year one? What about the non-conference schedule — particularly that bitter in-state rivalry?

Let’s bounce around the schedule and hit on some of the key names of interest in today’s edition of 4-Point Play.

John Calipari brings the process to Fayetteville

Coach Cal held court ahead of Arkansas’ Tip-Off Tour — a meet-and-greet with the Razorbacks across the state with proceeds going to the program’s NIL efforts. From there, they’ll compete in exhibition matchups against Kansas and TCU with the former being a game for charity.

How are things looking in Fayetteville going into Calipari’s debut season? As we heard essentially every preseason during his time in Lexington, it’s going to be a process with this group, but he likes his team.

“I’m excited that we’re starting, that we’re getting underway, that we’re piecing a team together, that we’ve begun to build the culture. There are always the ups and downs,” Calipari said. “It normally takes my programs two or three years to really get stuff established the way you want it. You try to win as many as you can, you try to see what level each team is. I’ve had to do it with new teams every year, wherever I’ve been. I’m not the guy, ‘We’re going to do this.’ That isn’t who I am.

“I’m a grinder. I get a team and we develop conditioning, defense, team play, doing it together, sustaining that effort. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing with this group. We’ve got a great group, they’re listening and they’re responsive. … We’re going to play fast, we’re going to be unselfish. You’re going to get hit in the mouth, but you’re hoping they swing. You’re hoping they learn from that experience. Shoot, I want to win every game I coach, but when you’re building and you’re doing this, you’ve got to throw them into the fire and see where they are right now.”

Bruce Pearl loves his defense (but hates the offense)

How about another top competitor in the SEC? Auburn is always in the conversation, but what does Pearl think about his team to open the practice schedule this fall?

“The offense is behind the defense. I think that we’re either really good defensively or we’re really bad offensively, I couldn’t even tell you which one it is right now,” Pearl said. “I don’t want to give our defense all that much credit, but the defense is ahead of the offense. Just getting the guys to understand that timing and execution, spacing, it’s all really important in what we do. There’s a tendency to not pay such close attention to detail, especially when you begin to expand your playbook to get ready to play. We’ve got a lot to do, we have a lot of tightening up to do.”

Pearl says he knows less about this Auburn team than most he’s had over the years going into the season. In fact, only one Tiger has claimed a starting spot in the lineup with the other four up for grabs.

“It’ll be great if we could see some consistency of performance. It’s been a bit like the Dow Jones — a little bit up and down,” he added. “I’m trying to find out who’s gonna start at point guard, who’s going to start at the two and three. I think the only position where it’s been established is most likely Johni Broome at the five. We’re at the beginning of October and there are four spots wide open.”

Alabama, Tennessee and LSU Practice Highlights

Bouncing around the SEC, how about some extended highlights from the first week of practice for some of Kentucky’s biggest conference foes (and LSU)?

They’ve been conveniently made available to us on YouTube — 18 minutes for Alabama, six and a half for Tennessee, plus another 32 minutes for LSU if you’re a real SEC basketball sicko.

Meanwhile, we’re six days away from Kentucky Pro Day, seven away from UK Media Day and 10 away from Big Blue Madness.

We’ll get our fill soon enough.

Louisville is ‘one of the most improved teams in college basketball’

There was nowhere to go but up for the Cardinals after an absolute train wreck of a two-year stint for Kenny Payne at Louisville. Now, Pat Kelsey has taken over the program with a hard reset, hoping to get things back on the rails with a brand new staff and roster.

How quickly will they be able to do it? CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein believes it’ll happen sooner rather than later after attending practice on Tuesday, calling Louisville “one of the most improved teams in college basketball” in 2024-25.

“The energy and intensity in Pat Kelsey’s practice on Tuesday was second to none,” he said. “The Cards also have a deceptively good backcourt with Wisconsin transfer Chucky Hepburn and Washington transfer Koren Johnson. Louisville has a brand new team, but Louisville will be one of the most improved teams in college basketball during the 2024-25 season. If the Cards can stay healthy, they look like a potential bubble team to monitor in the ACC during the upcoming year.”

ROTHSTEIN REACTION: LOUISVILLE. pic.twitter.com/2pF2vD5f8H

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 1, 2024

Rothstein made his way to Lexington to attend Mark Pope’s practice at the Joe Craft Center, so keep your eyes peeled for that update shortly.

The post 4-Point Play: Scouting Kentucky’s competition in 2024-25 appeared first on On3.