It is February, which means in college basketball, the "Hot Seat" talk is heating up just as fast as the conference standings. But for Kentucky fans, seeing their head coach's name on a list of potential firings in just Year 2 might come as a shock. To some, though, that is probably exactly what they want.
Ryan Hammer of the Blue Bloods Pod dropped a bombshell list on X recently, highlighting 13 coaches he believes are squarely on the hot seat. His prediction? The turnover is going to be historic. Hammer set the "Over/Under" for coaches on this list who will be GONE next season at 7.5.
The list
Here is the rogues' gallery of coaches Hammer believes are fighting for their jobs:
- Red Autry (Syracuse)
- Wes Miller (Cincinnati)
- Anthony Grant (Dayton)
- Steve Pikiell (Rutgers)
- Kim English (Providence)
- Buzz Williams (Maryland)
- Hubert Davis (North Carolina)
- Mark Pope (Kentucky)
- Jeff Capel (Pitt)
- Jake Diebler (Ohio State)
- Bobby Hurley (Arizona State)
- Jerome Tang (Kansas State)
- Penny Hardaway (Memphis)
Is Mark Pope really in trouble?
Seeing names like Penny Hardaway or Bobby Hurley isn't surprising. But Mark Pope? To be fair to Hammer, Pope’s second season in Lexington has been the definition of a roller coaster. And his first was too. For every massive high, there seems to be a baffling low.
Case in point: Just last week, Kentucky suffered a humiliating 25-point loss at then No. 18 Vanderbilt, only to turn around and pull off a stunning upset in Fayetteville over then No. 15 Arkansas.
That kind of whiplash, looking like a Final Four team one night and a bubble team the next, is enough to drive any fanbase crazy. The frustration in Big Blue Nation is valid. You need a more even performance to survive in this town. I think Pope can get there, but I don't know if he will get there quick enough to keep the job for 5+ years.
A name even crazier to see is Buzz Williams. Buzz left the Aggies who are now 17-4 and sole possesion of first place in the SEC for Maryland who are now 8-13 and have only 1 Big Ten win.
Personally I could see Porter Moser or Matt McMahon gone before Buzz, but the industry churns fast. Maryland finished last year in the Sweet 16 at 27-9.
Pump the brakes
However, placing Pope on the "fired" side of that 7.5 number seems premature. Unless this season completely falls off a cliff and Kentucky finishes with a losing record, which would be catastrophic, Mark Pope almost certainly gets a Year 3.
The "ups" (like the Arkansas win) prove the system works when the shots fall. The "downs" (the Vandy disaster) prove the roster limitations are real.
Hammer might be right that 7 or 8 of these guys are packing their bags after March. But barring a total collapse down the stretch, don't expect Mark Pope to be one of them.