Mark Pope’s first season at Kentucky didn’t quite match the fireworks of some legendary coaching debuts, but it was still a clear success. Injuries took their toll, and an 11–9 finish over the final 20 games — with two NCAA Tournament wins — left BBN wondering just how high this thing can go in Year 2.
The newly released SEC schedule is a gauntlet, and the non-conference slate (St. John’s, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Louisville, Indiana) promises no breathers. But history offers a cautionary tale — Year 2 has been tricky for even the greats.
Year 2 under every Kentucky coach since 1972
- Joe B. Hall: 20 wins and an Elite Eight in Year 1, followed by a 13–13 stumble in Year 2.
- Eddie Sutton: 32-4, Elite Eight in Year 1, then 18–11 and an opening-round tournament loss in Year 2.
- Rick Pitino: From 14–14 in Year 1 to 22–6 in Year 2 — but still banned from postseason play due to Sean Sutton-era violations.
- Tubby Smith: Title in Year 1 (35–4) to 23–10 and a second-round exit in Year 2.
- Billy Gillispie: Mediocre first year, followed by 22–14 and an NIT quarterfinal before being fired.
- John Calipari: Elite Eight in Year 1 (35–3) to Final Four in Year 2 (29–9) — the gold standard of the modern era.
Coach | 2nd year win total | Plus/minus from year 1 |
|---|---|---|
Joe B. Hall | 13 | -7 |
Eddie Sutton | 18 | -14 |
Rick Pitino | 22 | +8 |
Tubby Smith | 23 | -12 |
Billy Gillispie | 22 | +4 |
John Calipari | 29 | -6 |
That means there is an average of 21 wins in year 2 for Kentucky coaches since Adolph Rupp. And an average drop of around 5 games a season. That would mean if Mark Pope does bang on average his team would get 19 wins including tournament games. That would be a massive dissapointment for Pope, the players and BBN.
Now it’s Pope’s turn to prove there is no year-2 curse, coming off a 24–12 debut in the toughest SEC ever. Will he land closer to Pitino’s rise or the early-year slump that bit Calipari, Hall, Sutton, and Smith?