Mark Pope liked Kentucky's improvements defensively against No. 6 Duke

Kentucky made some important adjustments at halftime.

Oct 23, 2024; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks with center Amari Williams (22) during the second half against the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images / Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Kentucky pulled off a big statement win on Tuesday against No. 6 Duke in the Champions Classic, but it did not come easy. With the Wildcats down nine at halftime, Mark Pope and the staff needed to make some adjustments, and they did, especially on the defensive end of the ball.

That's exactly where Pope says the Wildcats improved on the most in that second half, saying they were much more dialed in on that end of the floor, mostly with switching on ball screens.

"I think they had a really good sense on the defensive end. ...You know, we're not a team that gives up 46 points in the first half. We just don't do that. That's not our standard. That's not the way we play. I think the guys had addressed those issues by the time we got in the locker room."

- Pope on defensive adjustments.

Speaking of defensive improvements, a guy who is mostly known for his offensive skills, Koby Brea, made some big plays defensively, and Pope says he can really keep improving in that area throughout the season.

"I thought Koby (Brea) made some big time defensive plays. I thought he had some terrific defense, and there's space for him to grow. It's both. From him, we've got a bunch of film and a bunch of data about where he was really terrific, and some space where he can really just grow. I still think that he has more defensive game in the tank where he can continue to grow into an elite defender. He had some moments where he was really effective."

- Pope on Koby Brea's defense.

With how well Kentucky plays on offense with the tempo, shooting, and the overall style in general, it's pretty encouraging to see just how well they played on the defensive end of the ball, and even more so with all of the adjustments they made on that end of the floor against Duke.