Kentucky Wildcats Coach Mark Pope Advocates for Expanded College Basketball Season
Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball coach Mark Pope has publicly advocated for a significant expansion of the regular season, arguing that the current structure hinders revenue generation and limits scheduling flexibility. In a recent statement, Pope passionately championed an increase in the number of games played, emphasizing the potential benefits for both the athletes and the athletic department.
Pope’s call for change centers around the issue of revenue sharing, asserting that an expanded season would dramatically alter the financial landscape of college basketball. He specifically targeted a goal of 40 games, although acknowledged the resistance to such a drastic change, suggesting a more moderate increase to 35 games as a viable starting point.
“The revenue share should change everything,” Pope stated. “Imagine four extra games. We could schedule big-time neutral-site games, establish home-and-home series, and play in-state rivalries that truly resonate with our fans. This would give us much-needed scheduling flexibility.”
Pope cited specific examples of missed opportunities due to the current scheduling constraints. He expressed frustration at the inability to schedule a home-and-home series with Kansas, a marquee matchup that would undoubtedly generate significant interest and revenue. Similarly, he highlighted the absence of games against high-profile programs like UConn, lamenting the lack of flexibility to arrange such contests.
A key factor limiting scheduling options, according to Pope, is the Wildcats’ reliance on a 20-game home slate to meet financial obligations for both the basketball program and the wider athletic department. This financial imperative restricts the team’s ability to accept lucrative offers for neutral-site games or participate in prestigious tournaments like the Maui Invitational.
“We make so much revenue off our home games that I’m locked into this 20-game home slate,” Pope explained. “We need more flexibility to play more games that can bring in more revenue, revenue that can be shared with our student-athletes and the rest of the athletic department.”
Pope’s proposal is not merely about financial gain; it’s about creating a more equitable and sustainable model for college basketball. By expanding the season, he believes the sport can better compensate its athletes while ensuring the financial health of athletic departments. His impassioned plea highlights a growing debate within college basketball regarding the structure of the regular season and the need for reform. The future of college basketball scheduling may well depend on the success of such arguments.
