Is Mark Pope's job at risk if Kentucky fails in NCAA Tournament?
· Yahoo Sports
Perhaps no coach in the country has faced as much pressure this season as Kentucky Wildcats leader Mark Pope. His team was expected to be a national championship contender before the season started, but injuries and inconsistent play led to a 19-12 regular season record and ninth place finish in the SEC. They also failed to make it past the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament and wound up as a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
As the season began to unravel, most of Big Blue Nation's ire fell on Pope. The roster construction, his in-game lineup moves, and his ability to get the most out of his players were all questioned. In addition, his inability to land any of the top 2026 recruits only made things worse.
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A lot of fans have called for his job, but is it actually in danger?
It seems likely that he'll get a third season, but there are enough factors to at least make it a question. For one, long-time athletic director Mitch Barnhart is retiring so depending on who replaces him, Pope may not have a connection with his boss. The new guy may want to bring in his own pick.
That situation could be exacerbated if Kentucky ends the season with a disastrous first round loss to Santa Clara. If that happens, there will be a loud outcry from Wildcats fans. Prior to John Calipari, Billy Gillispie was fired after two seasons of coming in below expectations.
Pope does have some good will left over from last season's surprising Sweet 16 appearance. That might buy him a third season, no matter how this year ends, especially considering the injuries he has dealt with. However, he could use a win or two during March Madness to ensure that. Another early exit will have Big Blue Nation ready to move on.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope needs NCAA Tournament win