Kentucky employed Mark Pope this offseason to be the Wildcat’s new head coach, and up to now, it appears to have been a house run rent. Pope has put collectively an elite staff stuffed with veteran gamers that ought to have the ability to make a run within the NCAA Event. Pope additionally simply landed his first recruit within the 2025 class, Malachi Moreno, who’s the primary heart within the class.
Whereas at first, some Kentucky followers may need questioned the rent, these followers have circled shortly, and issues are wanting up in Lexington.
Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander of CBS Sports activities requested 100 Division 1 coaches their ideas on the brand new school basketball hires, and these coaches appear excessive on what Coach Pope brings to Lexington.
Listed here are two quotes Parrish and Norlander obtained from present D1 head basketball coaches about Kentucky’s rent of Pope.
“He isn’t a man that is in search of a microphone each 10 minutes to state his case. He would not make loads of excuses. Basketball is what drives him. Underrated recruiter, superb expertise evaluator and is aware of easy methods to keep forward of the curve offensively and be inconceivable to protect in area. Makes use of his personnel like a surgeon. Everybody on the ground is de facto good at one thing they usually’ll purchase into that position.”
– Random D1 Coach
“I do know this is not the man Kentucky followers thought they had been going to exchange Cal with — however he is already received them over. He’ll be tremendous there. And he actually is a superb offensive coach. So not solely will he be good there, however they will be enjoyable to observe. He won’t dominate the recruiting rankings like Cal did as a result of a number of faculties are utilizing NIL. However he’ll get good gamers and win large.”
– Random D1 Coach
Listening to his friends sing the praises of Coach Pope ought to give Kentucky followers hope that this rent goes to finish up being a grand slam. Coach Pope has received over Huge Blue Nation and his 2024-25 roster is able to show to the world Kentucky basketball is again to hanging banners.
