Top college basketball coach told not to yell at his players any more in bizarre doctor's order
It's been a taxing start to the season for Mark Pope and his University of Kentucky Wildcats.
After being ranked ninth in the preseason, the blue blood program has suffered big loss after big loss - putting their viability for March Madness in slight risk.
Pope has been vocally critical of his team many times. But now, his doctors are asking him to be a little less vocal.
On Monday, Pope revealed to reporters that he had been ordered not to speak over a conversational volume for the next few days due to vocal strain.
'It's been a pretty emotional several weeks,' Pope said. 'And it's been taxing on my voice.'
Thankfully for Pope, his team has over a week off - allowing him to fully rest his voice for the time being.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope has been told to not yell at his team due to vocal chord strain
Kentucky has lost to every ranked opponent they've faced so far in a rocky start to the season
The Wildcats have limped through their non-conference schedule - having failed to earn themselves a victory over any of the top teams they've faced.
After beginning the season 2-0, they lost by eight to in-state rivals Louisville.
Two games later, the Wildcats lost again by 17 points to the then-No.17 ranked Michigan State.
Kentucky began its December with back-to-back ranked losses. First, they fell to fellow blue bloods North Carolina.
But they followed that up with an embarrassing 35 point loss to No. 11 Gonzaga for their fourth defeat on the calendar.
The Wildcats' final chance to notch a non-conference ranked win comes this Saturday in Atlanta when they take on No. 22 ranked St. John's.
