As a Kentucky fan, my entire feed is Fire Mark Pope, just like it was Fire Cal before. I would love for Pope to prove the doubters wrong. But since this sport of college basketball is a business now more than ever, Iโd expect business decisions to be made sooner rather than later
The Pope offseason whiffs were next-levelโฆ every guy crushing it. How about Kusturica and UCLA tonight? Reminds me of this epic beatdown. Feels like 100 years ago. Who has the keys to the Time Machine?
Top-ranked Kentucky races out to a 24-0 lead, takes a 41-7 lead into the locker room and leads by as many as 44 points in an 83-44 demolition of UCLA at the 2014 CBS Sports Classic in Chicago.
At $6 million in reported annual NIL, Milan Momcilovic (the best three-point shooter in the nation) is making $187,500 per regular-season game. Well deserved, but Kentucky must scheme up a way to get him more than ZERO three-point attempts in the first half of a marquee game.
Milan Momcilovic is making upwards of $6 million (maybe $6.5M) to play for Kentucky this year. That's more than Mark Pope, who's making $5.5 million to coach. Even if Pope won the National Championship, his bonuses max out at $700,000 for the year.
Crazy times in this business.
Iโve seen this picture floating around, and man, Iโve never seen such a sad facial expression from Mark Pope during my time on the beat.
Having to shake the hand of a generational talent that you couldnโt secure AFTER he punked you has to be the worst feeling in the world.
Iโm not pulling the plug on the season after game three, but tonight showed no indication that Pope has it โfigured outโ at Kentucky.
In that same breath, I applaud the amount of care that he has for his state and how much he values the members of #BBN.
Pope is giving it his all each and every day, and trust me, he hates to fail the fanbase that he loves with all of his heart.
Unfortunate that this pattern continues.
๐ธ : Michael Reaves | Getty Images