BIRMINGHAM, Al. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- First year head coaches Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks are projected to have their Kentucky basketball teams finish eighth in the SEC this season. The annual media poll has the Cats as middle of the pack teams as the seasons for both teams are days away. Pope at the Podium “It reminds me of 30 years ago when I played in this league. It’s so dominant,” said Pope on how the SEC has become a top league in the nation. “(The SEC) has three teams with venues in the top five in country in terms of attendance. Right now it is a gauntlet that is to be respected and feared a little bit.” Pope is spot on. The SEC has nine teams in the first AP Top 25 poll of the season. The Wildcats are ranked 23rd. Guard Jaxson Robinson is coming into the SEC after following Pope from BYU in the offseason. Last year’s Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year says that he needs to prepare for the physicality of the conference amongst other things. “Just getting my teammates involved, making plays off of the bounce, showing more aggressiveness, being more assertive,” said Robinson. The Beginning of Brooks Head women’s basketball Coach Kenny Brooks will be accompanied by Georgia Amoore and Dazia Lawrence on October 16 for SEC Tipoff in Birmingham. The Wildcats will be starting their media duties at 11:30 a.m. ET. Quotes from Brooks and the student athletes will be published when they become available. Categories: More Sports, Solid Blue, Sports Tags: Basketball, brooks, Kentucky, Pope, SEC