Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope has a bold plan to reshape college basketball: expand the season to 40 games. In an era where the sport is rapidly evolving with NIL deals, revenue sharing, and conference realignments, Pope believes a longer season would enhance the product for players, fans, and programs alike.
Pope outlined his vision, emphasizing the importance of multi-team events (MTEs) like the Maui Invitational, which he calls “an unbelievable experience to grow your team.” Events like Maui offer teams early challenges against elite competition while providing fans with marquee matchups and vacations. However, Pope acknowledges the tradeoffs. “It’s not a standalone prospect,” he said. “There’s other things that are really important to the success of our program … and we’re just trying to figure all that out.”
His solution is clear: “Let’s get to 40 games. And you know what? It’s fine if you want to make four or six of those preseason games, like, in the league. Great. Make more exhibition games—I’m all in.” Pope argues that stretching the schedule would allow programs to balance home revenue opportunities while participating in special tournaments.
THE 2024 MAUI INVITATIONAL IS THE GREATEST EVENT OF OUR LIVES @MarkTitusShow
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 28, 2024
Historically, not all coaches share Pope’s enthusiasm. UConn’s Dan Hurley famously soured on MTEs after an 0-3 performance at Maui, vowing to never schedule one again. Even John Calipari avoided such tournaments during his tenure, favoring control over his team’s non-conference slate.
Dan Hurley says he’ll never do a three game MTE again after going 0-3 in the Maui Invitational. 😭
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) December 1, 2024
Despite this, fans overwhelmingly love MTEs for their electric atmospheres and high-profile matchups, while players gain valuable experience. One option is an NIL fueled MTE, like the one that was in Vegas.
Our @MattNorlander explains how this NIL-driven Las Vegas college basketball event, 'Players Era Festival', will work.
"There's never been anything like this. It is quite clearly a big noisemaker. … The event itself poses an existential threat to the MTE model." pic.twitter.com/8oTKLVmNkS
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) May 8, 2024
Pope though sees a longer season as a win for everyone. Not only would it create additional revenue streams, but it would better prepare players for professional careers. “When I went to the league, by the All-Star break, I was like, ‘This is insanity!’ We played 10 more games already than I had in my whole college career,” he said. Expanding to 40 games, Pope believes, would bridge that gap. Allowing players to play half an NBA season while in college gives players a better understanding of the NBA games; becuase if a team wins their conference tourney and goes deep in the NCAA, you could get to 50 games.
Ultimately, Pope’s vision seeks to strike a balance. Programs wouldn’t sacrifice home-game revenue, but they’d also have the flexibility to participate in prestigious events like Maui. “It’s great for fans. It’s great for basketball,” Pope said. “That’s the solution I’m pushing for.”
If Pope’s plan gains traction, college basketball could offer even more must-see games, greater fan engagement, and unforgettable experiences for players. That is something the sport desperately needs in this ever-changing era with fans worrying over the professionalism of college sports.
Again On a recent episode of College Hoops Today with Jon Rothstein
Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope shared his thoughts on the season thus far and the journey of coaching his alma mater. With 11 games under his belt, Pope expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Wildcats. “I’m blessed,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do. Blessed to coach good young men who want to get better.”
A Team with Heart
Pope couldn’t help but praise the camaraderie within his squad. When asked about how the team has come together, he said, “The guys blow me away every day. They all want to be here and have a common goal.” He attributed the team’s early success to their character and work ethic. “We have the right guys, good guys. We are not perfect, we have so much growing to do… We have guys that show up every single day,” he added. You can see him balancing praise with work, it is a fascinating balance he walks.
Frustrations and Growth
Pope emphasized his commitment to improving the team’s shooting, especially from beyond the arc. Reflecting on their wins over Duke and Gonzaga despite lackluster shooting nights, he admitted, “I’m really frustrated we aren’t shooting more threes. You bring that up with the Duke and Gonzaga wins… we should be shooting the ball more. We are working on that, we are going to get there.” Despite the struggles, he praised his players’ resilience, saying, “It tells us two things: we have guys that are able to digest a lot of frustration and turn it into fight. We have guys that are in this for each other.”
Surreal Moments at Kentucky
Every day as Kentucky’s head coach feels like a dream for Pope. “Every day as the head coach of the University of Kentucky is surreal. Jon, I kid you not… There is only one person in this world that gets to have this job.” Reflecting on the team’s legacy, Pope mentioned the Kentucky Legends Project, a testament to the program’s storied history which you can read about here
A Return to Madison Square Garden
As Kentucky prepares for a marquee matchup at Madison Square Garden with Ohio State, Pope couldn’t hide his excitement. “As a kid who grew up in New York… I don’t care where you grow up, is there a better place in the world to play a basketball game?” He shared a humorous anecdote about his game-day attire: “Lee Ann, my wife, who is the director of all things here, made a deal. She said when we go to Seattle you can wear a quarter zip. When we go to Atlanta to play Duke, you can wear a quarter zip. But when we go to Madison Square Garden, you are not walking in there in a quarter zip.”
Building Rivalries and Honoring the Past
Pope also hinted at plans for a series with Rick Pitino’s St. John’s team. “We are trying everything… It’s a work in progress. My biggest thing is I gotta find a way to get Coach into Rupp next year… He is so iconic and deeply loved by BBN. We gotta get him back in the gym.” Sounds like they are still trying to work it out
SEC Dominance and Future Goals
Looking ahead, Pope acknowledged the strength of the SEC saying “It’s going to be a bloodbath”, with 13 of the top 16 teams ranked in the top 30 of the NET. However, Pope seems like he wants that challenge, “Come on, man. It is so awesome,” Pope said. “This league is just insanity right now. As an athlete and as a coach… you’d be sad if you were playing in another league. This is what you dream of.”
For Pope, Kentucky’s ceiling will depend on key improvements. “In a very, very specific sense, our movement off the ball and why and how and the reads we are making away from the ball is going to be the thing that dictates our season,” he explained. On defense, the team must improve “ball screen defense” and “switching 1 through 5.”
From gratitude to growth, Mark Pope’s reflections offer a window into the challenges and excitement of leading Kentucky basketball. For Big Blue Nation, the journey is just getting started.
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