Mark Pope says Kerr Kriisa was brilliant in scoreless night: "He's special."

On the surface, Kerr Kriisa is averaging just 3.0 points per game on 23.8 percent shooting and 26.3 percent from three — all career lows for a player with four years of high-major experience. He’s had two scoreless outings in five games, including his most recent zero-point effort on 0-2 shooting against one of the worst teams in college basketball, Jackson State.

So why is it that Mark Pope called his 12 minutes against the Tigers ‘special’ while saying he is ‘the best pace guy in college basketball’? Well, he led Kentucky with seven assists, just as he’s done through five games with 26 total — nine more than anyone else on the team despite playing the eighth-most minutes.

He came in with 93 starts in the Pac-12 and Big 12. Now he’s a star bench piece who not only accepts his role, but loves every second of it both on and off the floor.

“He was that way from the beginning too, I think he knew exactly what he was walking into and I think he loves it,” Pope said following Kentucky’s 108-59 win over Jackson State. “I’m telling you, Kerr Kriisa, I don’t know if we get him walking in our doors every year. I’m enjoying and savoring every second I get to coach him because he’s really unique, he’s bringing so much to our team.”

On the floor, he’s been a dynamic playmaker who is always a threat to drill a three if you give him an inch of space. The no-look passes have been flashy and fun, but he’s also been just wildly unselfish passing up wide-open shots for better looks.

That’s easier said than done, but Kriisa is happy to do it.

“He’s got this incredible commitment,” Pope said. “I think it was probably the first Blue and White scrimmage, we all sat down and I mentioned that Kerr promised he was going to be the best pace guy in college basketball. He has lived up to that every second he’s been on the floor, every single game, right? That’s an incredible consistent determination that is beautiful too. He’s got both of those vibes going on in a really special package.

“He’s special, and he was special tonight, if you think about it. Seven assists, zero points? Let’s go, he’s cool with that. Dude is going to put up 20 one night when we need him to, too.”

It’s also what he brings as a leader and the energy he provides, whether he’s putting points on the board or not.

“It’s just his energy. It’s crazy that he didn’t score because it feels like he did,” Ansley Almonor said. “His energy when he gets on the court, you feel it. It’s a new energy, a new vibe. He brings so much pace and energy and joy. He also brings joy to the court, too, so it’s great to have him on the court.”

Take the Duke game, for instance. Kriisa hit two big threes while pulling down a pair of rebounds in 17 minutes in the Champions Classic victory. His impact was felt beyond the stats, though, changing the game in his own unique way — the only way Kerr Kriisa knows how.

The Blue Devils had picked up some momentum back in the second half, so the fifth-year senior threw a curveball at his teammates in the huddle. That helped flip things in the Wildcats’ favor, one of several contributing factors in the team’s push for a comeback victory.

“It’s interesting. I don’t know if you guys notice this but we were in the second half we kind of made a run — this was back in the Duke game. We were somewhere in the second half and we made a run early and Duke kind of came back and pushed us up to seven, eight, or nine,” Pope said. “We were a little stymied for a moment and we came to a media timeout. We were walking to the huddle and Kerr was pushing everybody, just shoving them, right?

“He just refuses to accept whatever the common vibe is. He’s going to be contrary to it. It’s really important and our guys receive it really well. And it just keeps everybody really sharp.”

That’s why Pope has been recruiting him for “I think seven years or something” dating back to his time as an overseas prospect. He’s not just been as advertised, but better.

“He’s really special,” he said. “He’s got a really unique skill set and personality and he brings defiance and a swag and an insistence for a team.”

Not bad for a 23-year-old averaging 3.0 points per game.