Thoughts after a good night’s sleep (baby slept til 6:30!):
- It’s a new era. Only Self, Izzo, Cal and Sampson are left from the old guard and only two of those guys are still elite. Hurley, Oats, Lloyd- not exactly surefire guys at hire.
- This is essentially in line with what Duke and UNC did, although Pope has more experience. But high-character unproven alumni at the biggest jobs in college basketball. Mixed bag so far for them but neither has been a disaster.
- I think you’d have to put high level recruiting as the #1 question. You can’t compare recruiting in Utah with anywhere else in the country let alone here. That said- even recruiting is in a revolution. Elite high school recruits aren’t what they once were. Can you handle the portal? NIL is big there and the lure of the Kentucky brand is probably a big sell to a lot of these midmajor guys ready to jump. Maybe Bama as a model here.
- Offense will be fun. Not worried. Pope is a wizard there. Well respected.
- Defense - I’ll have to research.
- CEO role- Pope is quoted as loving this aspect of coaching. Obviously UK is a different animal but he’s smart, personable and saw Pitino first hand. I don’t think that part will be too big.
- That said, it’s about winning when it matters and he’s facing a fanbase on edge. This isn’t 1989 with the cute Bambinos. He has to come strong.
- Interesting how after 20 years of hating Pitino and the animosity there, we’re back with huge ties.
- I think Pope will win the press conference and BJW will be in. My Dad is all aboard because of the Pitino ties. I think that will be common.
- Pope will also get the nerds. His offense and use of analytics already has a lot of them in.
- Regarding Mitch - people in general have no time for self righteousness. They don’t like it with piety or wokeness or whatever. When it appears you’re letting your “type” of person get the biggest focus of a job like this over more qualified candidates who may have flags, it’s going to make people itate.
- The biggest concerns, IMO:
1) Getting a roster set for this year. BBN has no patience and particularly now, Pope cannot start slowly.
2) If he isn’t up for it, it’s going to suck turning on a guy we’ve all loved for years.
- It’s a new era. Only Self, Izzo, Cal and Sampson are left from the old guard and only two of those guys are still elite. Hurley, Oats, Lloyd- not exactly surefire guys at hire.
- This is essentially in line with what Duke and UNC did, although Pope has more experience. But high-character unproven alumni at the biggest jobs in college basketball. Mixed bag so far for them but neither has been a disaster.
- I think you’d have to put high level recruiting as the #1 question. You can’t compare recruiting in Utah with anywhere else in the country let alone here. That said- even recruiting is in a revolution. Elite high school recruits aren’t what they once were. Can you handle the portal? NIL is big there and the lure of the Kentucky brand is probably a big sell to a lot of these midmajor guys ready to jump. Maybe Bama as a model here.
- Offense will be fun. Not worried. Pope is a wizard there. Well respected.
- Defense - I’ll have to research.
- CEO role- Pope is quoted as loving this aspect of coaching. Obviously UK is a different animal but he’s smart, personable and saw Pitino first hand. I don’t think that part will be too big.
- That said, it’s about winning when it matters and he’s facing a fanbase on edge. This isn’t 1989 with the cute Bambinos. He has to come strong.
- Interesting how after 20 years of hating Pitino and the animosity there, we’re back with huge ties.
- I think Pope will win the press conference and BJW will be in. My Dad is all aboard because of the Pitino ties. I think that will be common.
- Pope will also get the nerds. His offense and use of analytics already has a lot of them in.
- Regarding Mitch - people in general have no time for self righteousness. They don’t like it with piety or wokeness or whatever. When it appears you’re letting your “type” of person get the biggest focus of a job like this over more qualified candidates who may have flags, it’s going to make people itate.
- The biggest concerns, IMO:
1) Getting a roster set for this year. BBN has no patience and particularly now, Pope cannot start slowly.
2) If he isn’t up for it, it’s going to suck turning on a guy we’ve all loved for years.