4-Point Play: Kentucky's first practice on the new floor at Rupp Arena

Rupp Arena was reserved almost exclusively for game days under John Calipari — and that means the games only. There were some logistics and access issues with the venue being off-campus and owned by the city of Lexington rather than the University of Kentucky itself, but it also came down to preference for Coach Cal more often than not. Even walkthroughs took place at the Joe Craft Center leading up to home games, the team not arriving at the venue until a few hours before tip-off.

We don’t know what the game day routine will be for Kentucky under Mark Pope, but we do know the Wildcats practiced and scrimmaged at Rupp Arena early Friday morning, using the new floor for the very first time.

The team got ready in the game locker room, made the Cat Walk down the hall, out the tunnel, and to the floor for their unofficial debuts on their home court.

📍@Rupp_Arena pic.twitter.com/2EbRqe7DkN

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 12, 2024

Give me more practices at Rupp Arena

1998 national championship coach Tubby Smith was in attendance, continuing Mark Pope’s trend of bringing back special guests for practice. Jack “Goose” Givens, Cameron Mills and Shagari Alleyne are among the previous attendees while a long list of VIPs will be there when La Familia — Kentucky’s alumni TBT squad — takes the floor with the current Wildcats next week, all former players invited back to celebrate the program’s rich history.

Hard to ask for a better appetizer than a Rupp Arena debut on the new floor with Tubby breaking down the huddle.

Thanks for stopping by @CoachTubbySmith! pic.twitter.com/ooYJF52dEd

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 12, 2024

Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh left practice thinking ahead to the real stuff later this fall, doing it all in front of a sold-out crowd for live game action.

“We just finished morning practice here in Rupp Arena,” Oweh said. “We’re so excited for you all to pack this out and win some games here. Let’s go.”

.@OtegaOweh closing out practice from @Rupp_Arena pic.twitter.com/4gvBegpMLm

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 12, 2024

Oh, and we got some brief practice highlights. Let’s obsess over the film, shall we?

For starters, we have slow-mo clips of Travis Perry and Trent Noah knocking down threes, something they did plenty of during their respective runs to the state championship game back in March. They certainly have the upper hand on their peers at Rupp for now.

From there, you get a simple free throw from Lamont Butler before getting to the fun stuff, starting with a transition look from Kerr Kriisa to Perry for a left-wing three. And then in a live scrimmage setting, Jaxson Robinson finds Kriisa at the top of the key for a contested three off the catch. Dagger.

A jump ball to wrap up the string of clips gives us some blue and white lineups to work with, as well. On the blue squad, it’s Amari Williams jumping with Kriisa, Travis Perry, Otega Oweh and Andrew Carr with Brandon Garrison jumping for the white with Lamont Butler, Trent Noah, Jaxson Robinson and Ansley Almonor. Koby Brea and Collin Chandler are not featured, but were seen working out earlier in the week.

It’s not a ton, but it’s something.

First practice on the new floor at Rupp 👀😼

(IG: @KentuckyMBB) pic.twitter.com/bv9dKJ3pHO

— KSR (@KSRonX) July 12, 2024

Are we going to do this for every clip and highlight shared by Kentucky leading up to the season? Yes, yes we will.

Mikhail McLean returns to Lexington following Olympic push

Also in attendance for Kentucky’s practice at Rupp? Assistant coach Mikhail McLean, who is back from Spain after nearly making history with The Bahamas National Team.

McLean, who serves as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator of The Bahamas, helped lead his home country to the finals of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. They were one win away from punching a ticket to their first-ever appearance in the Olympics, potentially ending a 62-year drought for the nation.

Unfortunately for McLean and The Bahamas, they fell to Spain in the winner-takes-all battle, losing 86-78 in a heartbreaker. It was a historic run winning three games in five days to open the event, but the squad featuring NBA veterans Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon couldn’t get over the hump.

It’s bittersweet for McLean, who was a few buckets away from earning a trip to the 2024 Paris Olympics, but now gets to begin his next chapter at Kentucky under Mark Pope for good. He hasn’t been around much since taking the job — and for good reason — but is now able to settle in and make a home out of Lexington.

Coaches continue to make their recruiting rounds

Pope was with Jason Hart in Rock Hill, S.C. at the Adidas 3SSB’s Palmetto Road Championship to open the live period on Thursday. Elsewhere, Alvin Brooks III was in Phoenix at the Puma NXT Circuit PRO16 Finals while Cody Fueger was in Atlanta at the NBA Global Academy Games.

Where are the Kentucky coaches today? Some are here, some are there — but they’re everywhere.

For starters, we know Pope returned home to Lexington for practice at Rupp Arena early Friday morning, that wrapping up around 9:30 a.m. ET. That aligns with the first game set at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in North Augusta tipping off at 12 p.m. ET, that event running from July 12-21. It’s safe to assume we’ll be seeing the Kentucky head coach at the Riverview Park Activities Center at some point this afternoon.

Among the top targets in attendance? AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Jasper Johnson, Cayden Boozer, Tounde Yessoufou and Acaden Lewis, among dozens of others.

Elsewhere Fueger joined Hart in Rock Hill for 3SSB, watching the likes of Darryn Peterson, Nate Ament, Mikel Brown, Malachi Moreno, Braylon Mullins, Nikola Bundalo, JJ Mandaquit and Kaden Magwood. As for Brooks, he’s still in Phoenix for the Puma kids, checking out the likes of Chris Cenac, Eric Reibe and Kingston Flemings.

And those are just the 2025 targets. They’ll be checking out the 2026s and beyond at these stops, as well, as they divide and conquer as a four-man recruiting staff both this weekend and next.

A percentage of Rupp Arena TBT ticket sales goes to Club Blue NIL

Speaking of recruiting, how about helping Kentucky’s future efforts by enjoying past Wildcats at Rupp Arena? That’s possible thanks to Club Blue’s partnership with The Basketball Tournament.

La Familia makes its debut with TBT next week, an opportunity for fans to see the likes of Aaron Harrison, Willie Cauley-Stein and Eric Bledsoe in blue and white again right back where it all started in Lexington. The best part? A percentage of each Rupp Arena TBT ticket goes to support Club Blue NIL, giving Kentucky better opportunities to grow under Mark Pope.

Oh, and Club Blue subscribers also get an extra 15 percent off their purchase by using the code under the merch tab in their member portal. You can also subscribe now to help Kentucky’s NIL efforts beyond the TBT event in Lexington.

“What we’re talking about is the most important thing. Listen, Club Blue is real. This is the focal point of our whole NIL life right now,” Coach Pope said.

Buy La Familia tickets for The Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena here.