The Joe Craft Center was alive with the familiar squeak of sneakers and the sharp thud of basketballs, a symphony of preparation for the Kentucky Wildcats’ highly anticipated 2025-26 season. Observers today witnessed something distinct, a repetitive emphasis that went beyond standard drills. Throughout practice, Mark Pope and his coaching staff hammered away at one specific offensive action, drilling it with an intensity that suggested it wasn’t just a play, but potentially the play, the very heartbeat of Kentucky’s new offensive identity.
What we observed today, repeated endlessly in half-court sets, was a sophisticated, multi-layered action designed to leverage the unique talents on this Kentucky roster, particularly the versatility of Jayden Quaintance and the shooting prowess surrounding him. It wasn’t a simple pick-and-roll, nor a static isolation set. This was a fluid, interconnected movement designed to create multiple scoring opportunities from different angles.
Here’s how it unfolded, time and again:
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Point Forward Entry: The sequence consistently began with the ball being entered into the high post or elbow area to a versatile big man, primarily Jayden Quaintance. This immediately puts pressure on the opposing defense, forcing their big to guard out of the paint and use their mobility. Quaintance, with his developing handle and passing vision, acted as the “point forward” – initiating the offense from a unique position. He looked incredibly comfortable distributing from this spot, showcasing touch and awareness beyond his years.
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High-Low Action (The Primary Threat): As Quaintance received the ball at the elbow, the other big man (likely a player like Amari Williams or a stretch-five) would dive hard to the low block, sealing their defender. This created a direct high-low passing opportunity, and Quaintance delivered several crisp bounce passes for easy layups or dunks. This high-low feed is the bread and butter of the action, leveraging Kentucky’s size and Quaintance’s playmaking.
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The Split Cut (The Deception): Simultaneously, or just moments after the high-low pass was feigned or executed, a guard (often Otega Oweh or Jasper Johnson) would initiate a “split cut” on the weak side. This involved two perimeter players crisscrossing each other, using each other as screens, often cutting towards the basket or popping out for a three-pointer. The beauty of this is its misdirection: while the defense is reacting to Quaintance and the diving big, the split cut creates separation on the perimeter.
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Pop-Out or Backdoor Cut (The Secondary Threat): Depending on how the defense reacted to the split cut, the guards would either:
- Pop-out for a Three: If their defender got caught on the screen, they’d flare out to the three-point line, ready for a kick-out pass from Quaintance or the low-post player. We saw Koby Brea absolutely feasting on these opportunities, catching and shooting with lightning quickness.
- Backdoor Cut: If their defender overplayed the screen or was too focused on the ball-handler, the cutting guard would execute a sharp backdoor cut to the basket for a quick layup. This requires excellent timing and communication, which the Wildcats demonstrated even in these early summer sessions.
- Leveraging Jayden Quaintance’s Versatility: This play is clearly designed to maximize Quaintance’s unique skillset. He’s not just a rim-runner; he’s a passer, a ball-handler, and a developing shooter. Positioning him at the high post allows him to orchestrate the offense, make reads, and engage multiple defenders. This is the hallmark of a modern big man offense, similar to what we see with Nikola Jokic or Domantas Sabonis in the NBA. It’s a departure from the traditional post-up big, highlighting Pope’s forward-thinking approach.
- Emphasizing Spacing and Shooting: Pope’s offensive philosophy at BYU was predicated on elite spacing and high-volume three-point shooting. This action, with its constant movement and split cuts, naturally creates open looks from beyond the arc. Having sharpshooters like Koby Brea, who thrived in this system, and other capable shooters on the roster, makes this play incredibly dangerous. If defenses collapse on Quaintance or the diving big, the kick-out for three is wide open.
- Creating Multiple Attacking Options: The brilliance of this play lies in its layered threats. It can result in:
- A high-low post entry for a dunk/layup.
- A kick-out three-pointer from the split cut.
- A backdoor cut for a layup.
- Quaintance himself attacking the basket if his defender gives him too much space. This forces the defense to make multiple quick decisions, and if they make the wrong one, the Wildcats punish them.
- Mark Pope’s “Pop Rule” Integration: This action perfectly embodies Pope’s “Pop Rule” philosophy (borrowed from Gregg Popovich), which emphasizes quick decision-making – players must make a read and execute within 0.5 seconds of receiving the ball. The fluidity of the high-low split cut demands this rapid processing, preventing the ball from sticking and keeping the defense constantly reacting. The players looked accustomed to this pace, making quick passes and decisive cuts.
- Capitalizing on Athleticism and Length: Kentucky’s roster is filled with long, athletic players who can excel in motion. The constant cutting and movement inherent in this play exploit that athleticism, making it difficult for slower or less disciplined defenses to keep up.
If this “high-low split cut with point forward entry” indeed becomes Kentucky’s new favorite play, it signals several key aspects of Pope’s offensive strategy for the 2025-26 season:
- A More Versatile and Unpredictable Offense: Gone might be the days of heavy isolation or predictable pick-and-roll. This action is dynamic, allowing for various scoring threats and keeping defenses guessing.
- Quaintance as a Primary Offensive Hub: This strategy positions Jayden Quaintance not just as a scorer or rebounder, but as a central playmaker, similar to how he was used at Arizona State, but now amplified by better surrounding talent. This will be crucial for his development and his NBA draft stock.
- Emphasis on High-IQ Basketball: The success of this play relies on players making smart reads and having good court awareness. It will demand unselfishness and excellent communication.
- Potential for High Efficiency: If executed consistently, this play should generate a high volume of quality shots, both at the rim and from three-point range, leading to an incredibly efficient offense.
Of course, no single play defines an entire season. Coach Pope will undoubtedly have numerous offensive sets and variations. However, the sheer repetition and the detailed coaching points observed today suggest that this high-low split cut with a point forward entry is a cornerstone. It’s a foundational piece designed to unlock the immense potential of this Kentucky roster, creating an offense that is both modern and incredibly difficult to guard.
The echoes of the Big Blue Nation’s anticipation reverberate through the practice facility. What we observed today may well be the blueprint for Kentucky’s assault on the NCAA Tournament. If the Wildcats can master this complex yet fluid action, leveraging the unique talents of Jayden Quaintance and the sharpshooters around him, they might just be preparing a spectacular resurgence, one perfectly executed high-low split cut at a time.
