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Does Mark Pope have to have a big first year at Kentucky if he wants to attract elite recruits in the 2025 class to Kentucky?
That’s the question I asked ESPN recruiting director Paul Biancardi even as Pope is still trying to fill out his roster for next season.
“It’s hard to predict if you will win games in the (NCAA) tournament because you have got to get in and then it depends a lot on who you are matched up with,” said Biancardi. “There are also always a lot of underlying issues with a lot of kids in the tournament. High profile kids can be thinking about the NBA and that takes an edge away. Some kids are thinking about where they will go (for next season) after the season ends.”
Biancardi thinks Kentucky “should be able” to make the NCAA Tournament.
“When they do, they will have a chance to win a game. Pope is a proven coach,” Biancardi said. “You have a big animal, a big monster there in Kentucky that wants to get fed every year and it’s tough to keep fans happy. I don’t know if you can ever really keep Kentucky fans happy unless you make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
“Mark is a proven head coach. You know how much he loves Kentucky. He knows how much winning in March means. He knows what lies ahead and he’ll be ready for that.”
Pope has reached out to several high school juniors, including former Woodford County star Jasper Johnson and Great Crossing 7-footer Malachi Moreno.
Biancardi knows Pope has to keep focusing on the transfer portal and the few high school seniors who might be left he could recruit for next season.
“He still has plenty of time to dive into the rising seniors. Pope and his staff will be able to go out and there is plenty of time for him to work on the 2025 class and bring some really good players to Kentucky,” Biancardi said.
16 Responses
Mark is doing all of the right things. The Kentucky program is in good hands.
My biggest 2 dark horses on this years team. I think will be Chandler. He has a perfect form btw and he’s hungry on the court. I think he has a bigger role than what we getting credit for and my other out of the transfers is Carr. I think he’s the perfect 4 in popes system. He is much better than khalifa was for pope last year. He has gotten gradually better ever year in all of his stats. Even when he went from mid major to a power 5 team his stats kept improving. He’s headed for a big year.
Another excellent article! I don’t there is any ‘pressure’ to quickly address Juniors (unless the staff knows of some special cases) because filling out the 1st class is high priority & not yet complete.
Many super & almost super KY HS Juniors are going to be holding off committing until after they meet with Pope (&/or 1 of his elite Assistant Coaches) to find out if & when they can expect to get PT (obviously they have to work hard & be on board with UK plans).
I am excited for the upcoming season! This is the first time in a long time that I’ve been excited about Kentucky basketball and what it can become with this team. I know all the players by name, and believe in their abilities to be winners for Kentucky the fans , Mark Pope and prove to themselves they deserve to wear Kentucky across their chest. I think that it would make a great story NCAA champions!
It’s just EXCITING to know UK BB is no longer sailing away from the Gold Standard once established & maintained by Rupp, Hall & Pitino !!!
Totally Agree! UK Basketball will no longer be a farm team for the NBA and fans will fall in Love with teams like early years before old what’s his name fell in love with himself!
old what’s his name –
I like it !!!
The change came 9 years too late.
AMEN!!!
Pope signed Noah! Two Kentucky all-state kids on our roster. They are both excellent shooters and should thrive in Pope’s offense when given the chance.
Trent Noah has grown up loving the Cats!!!!
This is exactly how Rupp, Hall, and Pitino excelled with this program, by tapping into the love of the Wildcats that the people of Kentucky hold dear.
Yes! Pope has put KENTUCKY back into UK BB!!!
Genuine WildCat players who are not just biding time to go pro.
Rupp, Hall, Pitino, Pope – will soon be known as the 4 great UK BB coaches
There’s going to be a lot of guys searching for moola in the portal bc they ain’t going pro. Hopefully those players end up at at Memphis. We know who we are. It’s called the "Kentucky" effect. Go Cats!!!
If they don’t really wanna be here let them go elsewhere. This is our team too!!
The fraud did not recruit Noah.
I have heard that the fraud did not want to recruit Perry, but felt "forced" to do so
I have long believed that the fraud did not want to recruit Reed Sheppard, and the way he treated the best freshman in the land last season confirms my belief.
It seems he does not want Kentucky boys because they just might be sons of basketball bennies.
The fraud is a disgrace!!!!!
Well I agree with all of the above comments, it’s going to be a pleasure having Coach Pope no more, haven’t seen him, they’re not computers, we’re so young, no more camp cal, no more tweaks. Just a coach getting his team ready to smash our fraud has been last coach.