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

[Matt Dillon]

For the third day in a row, Mark Pope is answering Kentucky fans’ questions. Today, he tackled one of the biggest critiques of the program right now: why Kentucky doesn’t have a general manager.

Pope said that instead of going with a traditional general manager, he’s built a front office team comprised of four individuals: Keegan Brown, who was hired as the team’s Director of Roster Management in March; Nick Robinson, who was already on staff as the director of men’s basketball operations; Kevin Sergent, UK’s associate athletic director of compliance; and Kim Shelton, a JMI Sports executive who works with UK on NIL.

“In this ever-changing, dynamic college basketball environment, everybody is trying a different solution,” Pope said. “For us, instead of hiring a singular GM, we’ve gone with a more comprehensive general management team approach".

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

[Cawood86]

The team concept in that area doesn't seem to be working right now

[Pobilly]

Not sure there is any right way to do this. UK seems to have a convoluted way of business when it comes to Mens basketball.

Kenny Brroks does not have a GM does he? I am asking because I do not know. Stein I think does have a GM.

Mens basketball seems to have many more hoops to run through. Is that on Pope, is it on UK admin. I have no idea.

No matter what GM or no GM: the coach has final say. It seems that Stein and Brooks have figured things out and in year 2 Pope still does not. He for sure said he went all in on Stokes. It was the last mistake of many recruiting mistakes. Will it cost him his job. We will not know until the roster is complete, the practices and summer games are played, the fall starts and games are played. It will be a ride. Could be a horror ride of could the the cooling waters of the log flume. Just have to wait and see.

[Cawood86]

My thing is.....you gotta get talent. You gotta have dudes. Maybe they have them. I think Wilkins and Diallo are legit. Maybe Moreno takes the next step. Don't know enough about McBride to say or Ndiaye.

Backcourt is definitely key in college basketball. Last year was not good at all in that regard. Florida won it because of their guards last year.

[bthaunert]

The team concept in that area doesn't seem to be working right now

Agree. Negotiating a contract is an obvious weakness right now. There just seems to be way too many people involved. You probably have Pope, Brown and JMI all talking to a kid about potential deals and Sargent working his way in from a compliance perspective where other schools have it all going through one person. It would be so much easier for Pope to say to a recruit, "I want you here bad. Billy is our GM and he will be working with you to make sure this happens from a financial perspective" rather than, "I really want you here, Keagan and Nick will be working with you and then we will have you work with Kim from JMI for that part of the deal and Kevin will be involved from a compliance perspective."

[Cawood86]

Agree. Negotiating a contract is an obvious weakness right now. There just seems to be way too many people involved. You probably have Pope, Brown and JMI all talking to a kid about potential deals and Sargent working his way in from a compliance perspective where other schools have it all going through one person. It would be so much easier for Pope to say to a recruit, "I want you here bad. Billy is our GM and he will be working with you to make sure this happens from a financial perspective" rather than, "I really want you here, Keagan and Nick will be working with you and then we will have you work with Kim from JMI for that part of the deal and Kevin will be involved from a compliance perspective."

Agree completely

[EKYCat]

Not sure there is any right way to do this. UK seems to have a convoluted way of business when it comes to Mens basketball.

Kenny Brroks does not have a GM does he? I am asking because I do not know. Stein I think does have a GM.

Mens basketball seems to have many more hoops to run through. Is that on Pope, is it on UK admin. I have no idea.

No matter what GM or no GM: the coach has final say. It seems that Stein and Brooks have figured things out and in year 2 Pope still does not. He for sure said he went all in on Stokes. It was the last mistake of many recruiting mistakes. Will it cost him his job. We will not know until the roster is complete, the practices and summer games are played, the fall starts and games are played. It will be a ride. Could be a horror ride of could the the cooling waters of the log flume. Just have to wait and see.

May not be a right way to do it. But it seems UK is doing it wrong!

I agree Cawood, you have to have studs. Not seeing it on paper. Only time will tell, I reckon.

[WeWant9]

Agree. Negotiating a contract is an obvious weakness right now. There just seems to be way too many people involved. You probably have Pope, Brown and JMI all talking to a kid about potential deals and Sargent working his way in from a compliance perspective where other schools have it all going through one person. It would be so much easier for Pope to say to a recruit, "I want you here bad. Billy is our GM and he will be working with you to make sure this happens from a financial perspective" rather than, "I really want you here, Keagan and Nick will be working with you and then we will have you work with Kim from JMI for that part of the deal and Kevin will be involved from a compliance perspective."

After seeing this laid out, I wonder if one of the issues is too many chefs in the kitchen. We all want to speculate on missing recruits: is it Pope, JMI, pressures from BBN, etc. But if a guy/agent has to work through various channels to get their deal, that might be a problem. If you got UK and another school offering similar money, but the process is much easier elsewhere, I could see why guys seem to lose interest in UK and go elsewhere.