The end of the John Calipari era in Kentucky unfolded far differently than anybody ever envisioned. Following the team’s second inexcusable first-round NCAA Tournament meltdown in the past three years, fans and analysts alike were beginning to seriously question whether or not the program should start looking in another direction.
Sure, the 15-year head man had brought Kentucky back to the pinnacle of the sport, but it was becoming apparent that his philosophies were becoming outdated. The days of being able to win or even compete for a national title with a team of talented one-and-done freshmen were gone, but Calipari seemed hesitant to adjust.
Both he and Kentucky’s administration appeared to see the writing on the wall and came to an agreement that allowed both parties to part ways amicably. Cal decided to leave for Arkansas, which in turn allowed the Wildcats to avoid his buyout. With a defining chapter in Kentucky’s rich history closed, attention turned to who would next be tasked with leading the Wildcats.
After a month-long coaching search which saw names like UConn’s Dan Hurley and Baylor’s Scott Drew floated around, Kentucky eventually settled on BYU’s Mark Pope. Pope had strong connections to the Bluegrass state, as he was part of Kentucky’s 1996 national championship-winning team. Still, the hire split the fanbase, as Pope lacked the pedigree of the bigger names that were supposedly linked to the job.
Pope had never led a team past the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and many questioned if the jump from BYU to Kentucky was too much too soon. What these critics didn’t know at the time, though, was that Pope understood what it takes in the modern era of college athletics to build a competitive roster.
With much of Kentucky’s prior talent either following Calipari to Arkansas or declaring for the NBA draft, Pope turned to the transfer portal to construct his squad. He brought in several seasoned veterans from across the nation, but more importantly, he brought in players he knew would fit together.
Guys like Koby Brea and Amari Williams came in from smaller mid-major programs, while Andrew Carr transferred in from Wake Forest and the team’s current leading scorer, Otega Oweh, came from Oklahoma. Few questioned the experience this group brought to the table, but there were concerns over whether or not they had the talent to compete in arguably the nation’s deepest conference.
These concerns were wiped away last week, though, as Kentucky went toe-to-toe with national-title favorite Duke on Nov. 12 and came away with a 77-72 victory. The Wildcats’ new additions played a key role in the win, and the team looked like a well-oiled machine that had been playing together for the past four years.
Any Wildcats fan will tell you that in years past under Calipari, a game like that was a likely loss. A team of inexperienced freshmen in their first major game on national TV would have folded under the pressure. Instead, the seasoned group of veterans that Pope collected played off each others’ strengths and looked the part of national-championship contenders.
Pope’s construction of this roster has proven that Calipari’s philosophies are outdated. To win a national title in this day and age, you need more than just overwhelming talent. You need veteran leadership, and more importantly, you need a roster that plays off each member’s strengths.
Pope seems to understand this in a way that Calipari either couldn’t or wouldn’t. Calipari will always be celebrated in Kentucky basketball, but it’s clear now that Pope is the way forward.
