Mark Pope breaks down broken clipboard moment with Brandon Garrison, what it means

Mark Pope smashed his clipboard and benched Brandon Garrison over a lack of effort during Tuesday’s 36-point win over NC Central. By Saturday night, he was providing crucial minutes in Kentucky‘s 72-60 win over Indiana.

To the UK headman, it’s all about response. It’s clear Garrison proved something to Pope between then and now.

“I wish I could tell you I know how every player is going to react to every confrontation or conversation I have with them, but you don’t,” Pope said postgame. “It’s just like your children, you don’t. So, I’m left with just real pride. Like, (Garrison’s) mom should be really proud. His inner circle should be really proud. Because there’s something inside him.

“Listen, there’s no way to hide from any spotlight here at Kentucky. Every single little moment of our game and interactions is blown up.  Which is one of the great things about this place. There were 100 reasons why BG could have gone to the corner and complained to a teammate or called out to coaches or hung up his jersey or come be a pouty guy in practice. There were 100 reasons why that could have been his reaction. But due to what’s inside him and how he wants to be a father example to his son and how he wants to make his mom proud and how badly he wants to be successful.”

Pope benched Garrison in the first half against NC Central after turning the ball over and jogging up the court during the ensuing fast break. Pope appeared to shout something at Garrison, and he wouldn’t see the court again until Saturday vs. Indiana.

In response, he showed up at practice as pope revealed that Garrison won every conditioning drill this week. It showed on Saturday, as he was driving the ball to the rim and catching lobs while producing six momentum-shifting points and five key rebounds.

“I didn’t tell him to do that. I did not pre-prep him to do that. That was just his response,” Pope said. 

“We don’t always respond the right way, but he responded the right way and I’m super proud of him.  I’m happy for him.  And our job is to win, that’s it.  But those things are really special to me.  They are really special. That’s going to be in his pocket.  That’s going to be a little part of his DNA. It doesn’t mean he’s going to respond right all the time but there’s a way better chance next time in life, in basketball, in whatever. He’s going to have a chance to respond better and that’s how you become a great man. It’s pretty cool.”