Pope Says N'Diaye Keeps Shooting Open Looks
Kentucky coach Mark Pope says forward Ousmane N'Diaye will keep taking every open shot despite a cold exhibition stretch.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Basketball
Kentucky coach Mark Pope said forward Ousmane N'Diaye will keep shooting all open shots after he struggled through three exhibition games. N'Diaye shot 32.1 percent from the field and 21.1 percent from three-point range during that stretch.
Why it matters
Pope said the team needs high open-shot volume to reach its goal of 35 threes per game. N'Diaye's shooting will be watched closely as Kentucky builds toward the season opener against Manhattan.
N'Diaye averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.0 block over three exhibition games while playing 25 minutes per game. Pope cited summer shooting in the 75-plus percent range, but exhibition play has not yet matched that level.
The players
Mark Pope
Mark Pope is the third-year head coach of the Kentucky men's basketball program, known for his emphasis on high-volume perimeter shooting.
Ousmane N'Diaye
Ousmane N'Diaye is a Kentucky forward from Senegal who started at the four position during exhibition play.
The details
N'Diaye has taken the second-most shots on Kentucky, both overall and from the perimeter. Pope said the team shoots every open shot and will not turn down an open look, and said N'Diaye's live-game attempts have been good ones even when they did not fall.
Timeline
Exhibition period, prior to the regular season: N'Diaye played three exhibition games with reduced shooting efficiency.
Season opener against Manhattan: Pope commented on N'Diaye's shooting to KSR before the opener.
The Tech Race
Kentucky's push for 35 threes per game places it within the modern college basketball trend toward maximum three-point volume. N'Diaye, a big man, is being asked to fit that model even though his exhibition shooting has lagged.
Fantasy managers and bettors tracking Kentucky should weigh N'Diaye's 21.1 percent three-point shooting against his 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. His playing time as the starting four makes him a consistent source of volume even when shots are not falling.
The takeaway
Open looks matter most when a team is built around perimeter volume, so a player's shooting numbers can recover with repetition. Kentucky's approach shows that taking the shot is part of the plan even when results lag early.
What happens next
Kentucky opens its regular season against Manhattan, the next scheduled test of N'Diaye's shooting.
Further reading
Explore more Kentucky Basketball coverage for context on the team's shooting approach.
Source note: This article includes information reported by On3.
