Can you smell the NIT berths from here?
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I’m just happy the all time wins record is coming back home where it belongs with this hire
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I'm smellin something alright.
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This is going to be GOLDEN, almost like Brad Daugherty at North Carolina!
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Mark Pope -- from back-to-back fifth-place finishes in the WCC to the Kentucky job in 12 months!https://t.co/l3RqkU9088

— Jeff Eisenberg (@JeffEisenberg) April 12, 2024

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24k people on Matt Jones Twitter space listing to him right now.
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Me included
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Roses by comparison. :-)
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Let's take a live look into Mitch Barnhart's office right now...


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I don’t think Pope is a bad coach, but not the hire I’d have made now.

He’s someone I’d go after in 5 years if he has more success.
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Bring back Billie Gillespie
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Spin zone:

Kentucky hired a head coach, who in his first year in the Big 12 won at and had the same record as Kansas.
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True, but big picture wise, this is underwhelming. You're probably just dizzy from spinning this so hard.

Seriously, Kentucky is one of the best college basketball programs in the country. They could have and should have done better. This guy is not going to restore them to prominence.
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I don’t have a problem going with a coach is unproven, but would like to have seen at least some tournament success (at least one second weekend appearance).

His teams 3 of the last 5 years finished with a higher KenPom than Kentucky, so make of that as you will.

My main concern is his recruiting, which I know at BYU he is under restrictions as to who he can get. I think he’s a good coach scheme wise and will know how to deal with community, boosters, and fanbase.

But Barnhart (the AD) put him in a shit situation where if he doesn’t win immediately (second weekend by year 2), he’s going to face a lot of pressure. I think Pope can be successful in Lexington but he’ll need more time than someone like Pearl would.
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