WATCH: Mark Pope talks rematch with Alabama, the "ultimate challenge" of Kentucky's improving defense

Alabama outlasted Kentucky last month in Lexington, winning a very entertaining game 102-97. Can the Cats upset the Crimson Tide tomorrow in Tuscaloosa? Mark Pope sat down with reporters today to talk about it.

“I think they’re a little more cohesive,” Pope said of Alabama since the first meeting on Jan. 18. “I think they’re more creative within the structures of the actions that they’re running. I think they’ve gotten better.”

As you know, Kentucky’s been dealing with injuries since that first game, down Lamont Butler (shoulder), Jaxson Robinson (wrist), and Andrew Carr (back) in stretches. The shorthanded Cats seemed to turn a corner in the second half against Vanderbilt Wednesday night and have been much better defensively over the last few games, but Pope knows the challenge that awaits in Tuscaloosa.

“Well, Alabama is a whole — you know, that’s a whole new situation right there. Like I said, they’re one of, if not, the most explosive offensive teams in the country. They challenge you in so many different ways, and it’s the ultimate challenge for your defense, individually and team-wise. It’ll challenge us in new ways.”

Pope rattled off some numbers to back up Kentucky’s defensive improvement. After the loss to Ole Miss, Kentucky was No. 112 in KenPom defensive efficiency. Today, the Cats are No. 69. If you look at Bart Torvik’s rankings, Kentucky has the 14th-best defense in the country over the last four games.

“We’re really proud of the progress we made,” Pope said. “It’s incredibly important and we need to keep growing and improving if we’re going to be the team that we’d like to be as we go into the postseason, and Alabama poses the biggest challenge defensively that we could you know that will probably face the season.”

More from Pope on injuries, the Crimson Tide, Andrew Carr’s progress, and bamboo below.

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