Last month, SMU shocked the college basketball world when it fired Rob Lanier after a 20-win season. The move opens the door for Andy Enfield to leave USC And fill that void. Then Eric Musselman left Arkansas replace Enfieldand John Calipari Sign a huge deal with Razorbacks, what brought us hereopening time Kentucky.
Early rumors suggested that Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart would rush for the fences. And he did.
But UConn head coach Dan Hurley, fresh off back-to-back NCAA titles, say no after reportedly being offered a huge salary. Then Scott Drew decided to stay in Waco In Baylor. It’s unclear whether other candidates, such as Billy Donovan, have been seriously approached.
Regardless, it seems like Barnhart wants to get an experienced coach with a history of winning.
Mark Pope was never mentioned until it appeared Kentucky had failed to attract its top candidates. Pope, who won a national championship as a player at Kentucky in 1996, has a solid coaching record following his time at Utah Valley And BYU. But let’s be honest: This is a big difference from Calipari.
The expectation is that Kentucky will make a splash with its next coach. Right now, there are more questions than answers about the expected hiring of Pope as the Wildcats’ next head coach.
Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf try to answer some of those questions, including what the move means for Pope, Kentucky and BYU.
What compelled Mark Pope to take the Kentucky job? Why did Kentucky offer him the job?
Myron Medcalf: Mitch Barnhart has a wish list of who to coach. I’m sure he’ll admit that he never thought he’d end up with Pope. There’s nothing wrong with Pope. He is a good coach with a solid track record at this point in his career. But this is Kentucky, arguably the top job in college basketball. Although Pope has ties to the school, this is a significant promotion for a guy who coached at Utah Valley and BYU but never won an NCAA tournament game. But Barnhart might prefer a younger manager – Pope is 51 – and the familiarity of when his top options fail.
Jeff Borzello: Kentucky clearly had big changes in the hours and days after John Calipari left for Arkansas. Jay Wright quickly left the job, as did Hurley and Donovan. Kentucky reached out to Nate Oats, who released a statement saying he was in Alabama. Shaka Smart is on the list; he didn’t leave either. Drew considered the decision for a day but turned it down. Kentucky reached out to Hurley again and offered him a huge salary – but he once again decided to stay. And that leaves Pope as the next name on the list, a former Kentucky player who won a national championship in Lexington. The potential targets at the next level are all flawed in one way or another, and Pope’s ties to the school and understanding of expectations give him an advantage.
Is this a good fit?
Medcalf: Pope has won a national championship and he understands Kentucky basketball, including its passionate fan base. Besides? It’s hard to see how this fits with what Kentucky wants: a big-name coach who can continue to attract elite players and compete for national championships. Maybe one day Pope will do that. He’s chasing a guy who has attracted the top recruiting classes in the country and, at his best, made the Finals all but one year from 2010-11 to 2014-15. and won a national title. The expectation is to make Kentucky a contender again. This is not a rebuild.
Borzello: It’s an interesting fit, one that fits better with Duke hiring Jon Scheyer and North Carolina hiring Hubert Davis than Arkansas hiring John Calipari. Pope doesn’t have the resume that some other prospects possess, having never won an NCAA tournament game or a regular season title and only spending one year coaching in one conference high level. But he is well known, especially in Lexington, and he will understand what being Kentucky’s head coach entails. However, the expectations will be high from day one, which is something he hasn’t dealt with during his time at Utah Valley and BYU.
What was Pope’s first job in Lexington?
Medcalf: A coach is often asked to win the press conference and make an instant impression on the fan base. But I think there will be a lot of backlash. If he is personable, it will help his cause. The only real way to address the negative reactions would be to assemble top talent from both the transfer portal and the high school ranks – from uncommitted players. However, his window is small. His words won’t matter as much as his recruiting class.
Borzello: The same goes for whoever replaces Calipari: Rebuild the roster. Since Calipari left for Arkansas, Rob Dillingham turn professional, Aaron Bradshaw have entered the portal and three of the program’s six 2024 commits have reopened their recruiting. There aren’t many opportunities left for Pope, especially with several other players expected to head to the NBA. And unlike Scott Drew or Dan Hurley, Pope is unlikely to bring many Kentucky-level players to the Wildcats.
What’s next for BYU?
Medcalf: BYU is in good hands with a supportive fan base. It also has strong advocates who support the program. A lot of coaches would wonder, but Mark Madsen — who is now at Cal — seems to make the most sense. Like Pope, Madsen also had a successful stint in Utah Valley before moving to Berkeley last summer. He has local connections and he played in the NBA for a long time. Madsen seems like the right person.
Borzello: BYU will likely have a fairly short list to replace Pope. Madsen will be in, although he was bought out and it’s unclear whether he wants to leave Berkeley after one season. A few other names to watch: UNLV assistant coach Barret Peery, Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Alex Jensen and Utah assistant coach Chris Burgess.
