Mark Pope explains why Kentucky doesn't have a traditional General Manager

[EKYCat]

I don't think it's a feeling threatened thing at all. I just feel as if he doesn't believe that he's close to either of those guys. In someone like Wall's case, I'm not sure he has a college degree, so he would not be eligible for a position.

Coach K seemed to hire a very specific type of former player. Very few of these guys went on to pro careers and many transitioned almost immediately to coaching at Duke. Amaker the year after he graduated. Collins 4 years after he graduated after a stint as an assistant at Seton Hall. Wojo a year after he graduated. Scheyer 3 years after he graduated and a stint in Europe. Bilas 3 years after he graduated and a stint in Europe. Someone like Dawkins is an exception. I also think it helps that they had the same HC for 42 years and he hired guys that played for him. In that same time frame, UK had 6 coaches. UK coaches tend to not stay long enough to get their guys in those type of positions.

With Crawford, I'm not sure he would be considered if his son wasn't one of the top HS players out there.

I agree here. Also, I'd call Pope "In House" as he's an alumni. It's not working out, if you ask me. Very few schools have success going the alumni route. I think Duke is the exception, not the rule.

[WeWant9]

Start em off young lol lol.... I would just feel better to know we have someone who's connected in today's game of basketball particularly the next level. Still can't understand why Pope isn't after Wall or Rondo to help at Kentucky unless he just feels threatened by their presence if they was on his staff??

With all the history and all the alumni of Kentucky basketball, I just can't understand why we don't run this thing like Duke does in many ways, in house support? It must be a whole lot of chiefs and not enough indians in Lexington. From Issell to all the modern day players and connections, i suppose you have in house beef from Pitino's guys and Cal's guys, who knows, don't seem like people are able to put differences aside and come together for Kentucky basketball as a whole.. i do think and believe Pope is on the side of KENTUCKY BASKETBALL and great tradition, just hope he can survive it all.

I don't like how the off season has went in regards to big name targets but it would not surprise or shock me at all for Pope to have a great year this year with a bunch of guys who are off the radar and by all means low fan expectations going into this. It is a huge gamble on his end, if it works he's a genuis if it fails he's probably out of here....

I would love to see a guy like Prince involved with UK, he has the experience of playing/working in the NBA; on top of UK connection. Wall is getting his feet wet at Howard, if he shows he has the chops for it, I'd hope UK would bring him in, too. Rondo might fight Pope if they were together, lol.

[UKHoops01]

I agree here. Also, I'd call Pope "In House" as he's an alumni. It's not working out, if you ask me. Very few schools have success going the alumni route. I think Duke is the exception, not the rule.

Roy Williams at North Carolina....BUT.....he had established himself as an elite coach while coaching at Kansas. I don't think anyone would dare to compare Pope at BYU with Williams at Kansas.

[bthaunert]

I would love to see a guy like Prince involved with UK, he has the experience of playing/working in the NBA; on top of UK connection. Wall is getting his feet wet at Howard, if he shows he has the chops for it, I'd hope UK would bring him in, too. Rondo might fight Pope if they were together, lol.

Prince or Nazr would be dream GM's, but I just don't see it happening. I think Prince will be an NBA GM someday.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I would love to see a guy like Prince involved with UK, he has the experience of playing/working in the NBA; on top of UK connection. Wall is getting his feet wet at Howard, if he shows he has the chops for it, I'd hope UK would bring him in, too. Rondo might fight Pope if they were together, lol.

Rondo and Prince would be a big step up in my opinion..