UK coach “Mark Pope” have been addressed violently for constantly handling over microphone to players to give the opening statement for press conferences

INDIANAPOLIS The first words spoken at the postgame media conference following Mark Pope’s first NCAA Tournament win as a college head coach weren’t by Pope, though they should have been. At the NCAA Tournament, coaches — win or lose — are prompted by a press conference moderator to deliver an opening statement. Questions then follow for the players who are also present at the press conference, before the players are released back to the team locker room and questions are then asked to the coach. That’s the normal order of things. You may have noticed by now, but Pope doesn’t exactly do things the normal way. This brings us to last Friday night, and the postgame media gathering that took place after No. 3 seed Kentucky dispatched No. 14 seed Troy for the first NCAA Tournament victory of Pope’s head coaching career. “So we are scheduled to have an opening statement by Kentucky coach Mark Pope,” the press conference moderator began. “There might be a change in plans.” Sure enough, it was Kentucky freshman guard Collin Chandler who then delivered a short opening statement recapping the Wildcats’ win over the Trojans. It was more of the same on Sunday night, with fifth-year center Amari Williams — a soft-spoken member of this UK team — delivering the opening statement after a second-round March Madness win over Illinois. This isn’t new for the Cats this season. When circumstances and settings have allowed, Pope has prompted his players this season to deliver opening statements to begin press conferences. Andrew Carr spoke first after UK’s November triumph over Duke in Atlanta. Jaxson Robinson had the honor of doing so after UK’s thrilling overtime win over Gonzaga in December in Seattle. When the Wildcats closed the regular season with a win at Missouri, it was Koby Brea’s turn to speak first. Plenty of UK players have gotten their turn at the microphone after games this season. But, the background of this practice from Pope is still a mystery.

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