Jack Pilgrim discusses No. 11 A&M's matchup against No. 8 Kentucky

No. 11 Texas A&M basketball hits the road tonight to face off against No. 8 Kentucky. KSR basketball beat writer Jack Pilgrim joined Tuesday's edition of TexAgs Live to discuss the Wildcats' new culture under Mark Pope and what we can expect to see at Rupp Arena.

Key notes from Jack Pilgrim’s interview

• Kentucky has a ton of very good players, but there isn’t a future lottery pick like we were used to seeing under John Calipari. It's a veteran-led, portal-exclusive group. The guys know they're not going into the NBA Draft, so they're pouring everything into this. That's the vibe of this group; it's one last ride as super seniors. That's different, and we're not used to it. It has been a substantial culture change under Mark Pope, but it has been a lot of fun with the results so far.
   
• There is a push of importance on the little things. Last year, when Kentucky lost to UNC Wilmington, the feeling was, "Who cares? We're building toward March." There was an effort under Pope to say that Tuesday's game vs. Texas A&M matters just as much as any other game, whether it be in November or at the SEC Tournament. Kentucky wasn't winning the bigger events under Calipari, like the Champions Classic, and now Pope has pushed his chips in because the fan base is so passionate. He wants to reward them by giving it Kentucky's best shot. The talent isn't where it was under Calipari, so that has been an adjustment. We're figuring out what the ceiling is for this team while understanding the floor is extremely high.
   
• This team has flaws, but they try to play the game the right way. I've been covering this program since 2016, and I have not felt the vibe and energy of this fan base at this level.
   
• Pope wants a perfect mixture for getting the top players in the country. They're pushing for five-stars and McDonald's All-Americans, but they don't want to get away from the culture. They've signed players knowing they'll be two-, three- or four-year guys. They're getting the "dudes" but making additions in the portal and trying to develop from within. How important is a Caleb Wilson in the recruiting? He's extremely important, but people in the program will say it's not as important as bringing back an Otega Oweh next year to help with the culture.
   
• By having a solid relationship with Calipari, the staff and understanding the day-to-day culture of when he was here, you hear that the engagement and locked-in nature changed during COVID-19. It was the first time he had ever kicked his feet up. That has spread like wildfire throughout his coaching staff and support staff. There was a lack of accountability and lots of pointing fingers. That culture was there for his last couple of years, and we saw the results on the floor. When he made the move to Fayetteville, there was no shock that it hadn't gotten off to a good start. The people around him have failed him more than what Calipari himself has done as a coach. He's locked into a certain way he wants to coach and recruit, and he hasn't adapted. The transfer portal era has hit him hard. It's different things that have led to this. If he's looking for a long-term change, it starts with his staff. This is the weakest his staff has been, and that's no secret.
   
• Jaxson Robinson is a beautiful kid. He has it in him, but the confidence is something they're pouring into him. He's a pro talent but has to trust the process and put in the work. He was the sixth man of the year in the Big 12 last year. Do they need to let him be the spark plug off the bench? Pope is trusting the process with Robinson, and that's what made the story at Mississippi State so cool. He could've gone pro, but he came back to college to prove he could do it at Kentucky. They've had a heart-to-heart, and they trust Robinson. Mississippi State was his breakthrough. He's a cool kid to talk to. We've been waiting for that moment, and it'll be a cool reuniting at Rupp Arena tonight.
   
• This is a read-and-react offense. It's zoom-action heavy. I asked, “How many plays do they call in a game?” It's impossible to say because they have the foundation set with tree branches and branches. The team doesn't even know what's coming next, let alone what the opposing defense knows. It leads to some chaos at times when things break down. When we've seen this team play at its worst — at Clemson, at Ohio State, at Georgia — physicality can get them off their natural, organic sets. You can make them uncomfortable, which leads to bad shots and inefficiencies. It's fun to watch, but there are downsides to it.
   
• Andrew Carr was upgraded last night to "probable." Pope said he'll be a game-time decision. Pope expects him to play, but he's dealing with a nagging back issue. When it flares up, it really bothers him. He played through this issue at Starkville, and it's something they’re monitoring. With offensive rebounding, the battle of the glass has been a big talking point in this matchup. You need Carr at his very best. He's the straw that stirs the drink, and a lot of the offense runs through him. He's a crucial piece to this matchup tonight.
   
• Wade Taylor IV was one of the final goodbyes to Calipari last year. Without him, I like the guard matchup for Kentucky with Lamont Bulter and Robinson. With the frontcourt, you never know what you're going to get. "Soft" has been a word thrown around with this group, and they had to answer that bell in Starkville. Pope told them that. A&M is tougher than Mississippi State. The No. 1 offensive rebounding efficiency is somewhere that you can gash Kentucky.
   
• Amari Williams is a guy that, when he's humming, has that motor. He's a 7-foot, 260-pound freak of nature athlete, but there are times he plays like he's 6-foot-7, 290-pounds. They have taken advantage of beating some lesser teams to pad their rebounding stats. But when you've seen them against tougher teams in the frontcourt, they have struggled. It might come down to Henry Coleman III vs. Williams. If A&M's frontcourt has a substantial win, you could steal the win in Rupp Arena. If Kentucky makes 16 3-pointers like they did vs. Mississippi State, they can beat anybody.