After Bye Week, Cats Preparing for Murray State
The Kentucky football team did not play on Saturday, and that week off allowed the team to get healthy in preparation for the season’s final three games. On Monday, UK head coach Mark Stoops said he thought the week allowed his team to do some things that they needed to do.
“Good to get back after the bye week,” Stoops said. “I think it was really beneficial for our team mentally, physically. Just an opportunity to get better. We still have a quarter of the season left, so it’s up to us how we decide to finish. I trust our team, I believe in our team.”
Stoops has seen his team go on the road to beat a Top 10 Ole Miss team, but he has also seen them lose to teams that the Cats seemingly could have beaten. Does he use games like the Ole Miss win as motivation?
“I think they pretty much know that. I don’t need it for motivation,” he said. “But as we talk today, it will be part of the choice we make in how we finish the season.”
In its last game, Kentucky fought hard against a Top 10 Tennessee squad before falling 28-18 in Knoxville. Stoops liked the way his offense performed against a stout UT defense.
“I was encouraged with the way they competed, played,” Stoops said. “Physically, I thought we showed up a little bit against high-level competition in a tough environment. I was encouraged by Brock’s performance in a very tough environment, tough defense. We have to be able to compete at that level all the time.”
Stoops and his Cats take on intrastate rival Murray State on Saturday at Kroger Field. The UK head coach and his team began preparation for the Racers on Monday, going through the process that it will take to get a win.
“All we’re concerned about is today’s practice and this week and trying to get a victory the best way we can,” Stoops said. “I’ve been saying it, but we need to walk off the field with a victory.”
Murray State has struggled to a 1-9 record this season. The Racers lost to Southeastern Conference opponent Missouri 51-0 in week one. Despite this record, Stoops and his team know that they cannot look past anyone.
“We don’t ever assume anything,” Stoops said. “I think you know our team. We need to go play. We’ve shown that we can play with anybody but we can also lose to anybody and there’s a lot of teams like that. So, we always respect our opponents.”
Stoops hopes that the Cats will work on themselves and fix what needs to be fixed before Saturday.
“Anybody will tell you, it truly is about us and our mentality and how we prepare and how we play,” he said.
The Cats will be focused on getting better and preparing for Murray State on Saturday. Stoops and the Cats hope that their preparation will lead to UK getting back in the win column this week.
