Mark Pope challenged Kentucky's bigs to shut down Noah Williamson by getting under their skin from

Mark Pope Challenged BYU's Bigs to Get Under Noah Williamson's Skin to Shut Him Down

BYU's Mark Pope challenged his big players to get under Noah Williamson's skin to shut him down

On a Zoom call with reporters on Tuesday, Pope was asked how he planned to defend Williamson, who is averaging 24.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Pope said that he would challenge his big players to get under Williamson's skin and make him uncomfortable.

Pope's strategy paid off as Williamson had one of his worst games of the season against BYU

Williamson finished with just 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting, and he was also held to just 4 rebounds. Williamson was clearly frustrated throughout the game, and he was seen arguing with Pope on several occasions.

Pope's strategy is a common one used by teams to try to slow down Williamson

Williamson is one of the most talented players in the country, but he is also still a teenager. He can be emotional at times, and he is known to get frustrated when things are not going his way. Pope's strategy of getting under Williamson's skin was effective in slowing him down, and it is a strategy that other teams will likely try to use in the future.

Pope's challenge to his big players was a risky one, but it paid off

If Williamson had gotten hot, BYU could have been in trouble. However, Pope's players were able to stay disciplined and they were able to frustrate Williamson. Pope's strategy was a risky one, but it paid off in the end.

BYU's win over Kentucky was a big one for the Cougars

It was BYU's first win over Kentucky since 1999, and it was a big win for the Cougars' NCAA Tournament hopes. Pope's challenge to his big players was a key factor in the win, and it showed that Pope is not afraid to take risks.