As Mark Pope enters his second season as Kentucky’s head coach, he’s already focused on ways to strengthen and toughen his team for the 2025-26 season. One of his top priorities is improving physicality, a key factor in SEC basketball that often influences the outcome of games. The Wildcats learned just how critical strength and toughness are during their Sweet 16 loss to Tennessee, where they were outmuscled on the boards, being outrebounded 34-24 and giving up 19 second-chance points.
Competing in the SEC requires dominance in the paint, battling through contact, and holding position on the boards—all areas where Kentucky struggled last season. To address this, Pope is considering the use of football blocking dummies in basketball practice. The goal is to help players adjust to absorbing and delivering contact, a crucial part of SEC play.
The conference is known for its physicality, and teams that can’t match that intensity often fall short. By incorporating blocking dummies, players would practice finishing at the rim while enduring simulated contact, fighting for rebounds against resistance, and maintaining balance amid physical challenges. Some basketball programs have already adopted football-inspired training methods to enhance conditioning and toughness, and Pope aims to do the same to prepare his team for the physical demands of SEC competition.
- Mark Pope
This approach also presents an interesting possibility for collaboration with Mark Stoops and the Kentucky football team. Stoops has developed a reputation for creating a tough, physical culture within his program, and Pope could potentially explore joint training sessions or tailored strength programs that benefit both teams.
Football players are trained to absorb hits and maintain balance, skills that could translate effectively to basketball in the right context. Pope is determined to build a tougher mindset within his team for next season. Whether through football-style drills, increasing physical contact in practice, or fostering a stronger mentality, Kentucky is gearing up to be more physical and ready for another run at SEC and NCAA Tournament glory.
Leave a Reply