The Big Blue Nation who claims that their basketball head coaching position is the most enviable position in college basketball, have struck out on 4 premier coaching candidates at this time.
Nate Oats - Alabama
Jay Wright - former HC Villanova
Danny Hurley - Uconn
Scott Drew - Baylor
They supposedly still have the following coaches in their sites:
Billy Donovan - Bulls
Bruce Pearl - Auburn
and drumroll…
Rick Pitino - St. Johns
If you listen to Kentucky fans, they can get anyone they want. They have the resources, the facilities, the boosters, the $$$.
WAG but top coaches can get paid big $$$ anywhere. Why go someplace like Kentucky where the expectations and pressure is so high immediately? No matter who they hire, there will probably be calls for their resignation before they even unpack their office.
I was guardedly optimistic when Pope was hired, and after seeing what he’s accomplished since then, I’m actually quite happy. He’s done a damn fine job of restocking the roster with transfers while also keeping the only Calipari recruit that he had a real chance of keeping, Kentucky Mr. Basketball Travis Perry. I did hold out hope that he could talk Reed Sheppard into sticking around. But that was obviously unlikely.