Mark Pope: Trent Noah is ‘made different,’ has upside

Trent Noah played well at times in his spots off the bench last season as a true freshman for Kentucky. That’s now just the first part of him becoming a “legend” in the bluegrass for Mark Pope.

Pope spoke highly of Noah again at an offseason press conference this month, going into his sophomore year with the Wildcats. He continued to rave about what this experience is and can be for Noah, both on and off the court, especially as an in-state product out of Harlan.

“I’ll tell you what. It would, it’s going to be impossible for me to love Trent Noah any more than I do right now – even if he gains the 18 pounds, right?” Pope said. “He’s got a chance, guys. Like, you know, doing it here is different than doing it anywhere else and being a Kentucky legend is different than being anything anywhere else. And Trent Noah is made different, man. He just is made different. He is a joy.”

“You can’t buy what it means to come to the University of Kentucky and to grow into what you can become, doing it here. You can’t buy it, actually, during the process. You can’t replicate it anywhere else. And then, for the next 30 and 40 and 50 years of your life, there’s just nothing that can compare to it. And so, I’m excited to watch Trent Noah,” Pope continued. “I just, I know how this is going to turn out. I know how it’s going to turn out in the next couple of years and I know how it’s going to turn out 30 years from now and I’m happy for him. I’m so happy for him because there’s some part of him that can see it and feel it and taste it and cares about it and it’s going to be really special.”

Noah, the fifth all-time leading scorer in the state’s history, flipped to Kentucky last offseason following the coaching change to Pope. He’d then go on to make 24 appearances as a reserve in which he averaged 2.7 points (45.1% FG, 33.3% 3PT) and 1.9 rebounds per game, upping those at least statistically to 3.2 points (43.6% FG, 25.5% 3PT) and 2.4 rebounds from New Year’s Eve on as he made more appearances during conference play.

Noah, now named ‘The Mountain Mamba’ by BBN, proved he could be a contributor, both now and as his career continues. That should only continue now into his second season with what he knows now as compared to what he did in his first, specifically in a program where Pope notes year twos as key.

“He’s coming back as a vet. It’s one of the things that is hardest, I think. One of the things I think is really challenging as a player is, you know, you come in as a freshman and everybody is older than you and everybody knows more than you, and you can get tricked into thinking that that’s your college experience because it’s the only one you have. And the magical thing about year two is you’re like, wow, everything is different,” Pope said. “Like, I’m the guy who knows what film session is like. I’m the guy who knows what practice is like. I’m the guy who knows what an individual workout is like. I’m the guy who knows what running through the SEC is like. I’m the one who knows what BBN is like. And, it’s beautiful thing, man, getting to year two and especially doing it in our system. And so, Trent Noah is working really hard also and he’s incredibly focused.”

Pope continues to speak highly of Noah in the present and for his future with Kentucky. That starts with his continued development going into the tip-off of his sophomore season as one of a handful of returners for UK.

“I love that kid so much,” Pope said.