Kentucky
How Mark Pope’s First Year at Kentucky Stacks Up Against His Coaching Peers
The dust has settled on Mark Pope’s first season at Kentucky, and although it ended in disappointing fashion, I think most fans would agree it was a success. As hungry as Big Blue Nation is for the program to return to glory, Pope’s first squad provided some major highs, including an NCAA record eight wins over AP Top 15 teams and a return to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
The Cats also became beloved by fans, a ragtag group assembled in a matter of weeks from mostly smaller schools through the transfer portal. They battled injuries and played with a chip on their shoulder and a genuine appreciation for the Kentucky jersey, guided by Pope, a former team captain and national champion. There were some lows (the loss to Tennessee in the Sweet 16, the loss to Arkansas in John Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena); however, Pope and the Cats infused the program and fanbase with some needed joy and hope for the future.
Work is underway on year two. While we wait to see what that looks like, I thought it’d be good to compare Pope’s first season to some of his coaching counterparts. Obviously, Kentucky’s reputation as a blueblood, the current state of the sport with the transfer portal and NIL, and the SEC’s strength this season are important variables, but Pope’s record stacks up pretty well.
Mark Pope, Kentucky (2024-25)
Final Record: 24-12 (.667)
Regular Season Record: 21-10
SEC Record: 10-8 (6th)
SEC Tournament: 1-1 (Quarterfinals)
NCAA Tournament: 2-1 (Sweet 16)
As mentioned, the Cats tallied an NCAA record eight wins over AP Top 15 teams and made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019, all while dealing with injuries to several starters. Pope’s offense ranked in the top ten nationally throughout the year, and the Cats’ 341 three-pointers broke the school record for most in a season.
Nate Oats, Alabama (2019-20)
Final Record: 16-15 (.516)
Regular Season Record: 16-15
SEC Record/Finish: 8-10 (9th)
SEC Tournament: N/A (Canceled due to COVID)
NCAA Tournament: N/A (Canceled due to COVID)
A former math teacher, Nate Oats came to Alabama after four seasons at Buffalo, where he led the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament in three seasons, losing to Kentucky in the second round in 2018. His fast-paced, five-out offense has become one of the most successful in the sport (as evidenced by the Crimson Tide’s record 25 threes in the vs. BYU in the Sweet 16), but it took him at least one season to get his system in place.
Alabama went 16-15 in Oats’ first year in Tuscaloosa, losing four of its last six games. The NCAA Tournament was canceled that season due to COVID, but the Crimson Tide would have been on the outside looking in, barring a strong run in the SEC Tournament. Since then, Alabama has made the NCAA Tournament each season, reaching the Final Four in 2024 and the Elite Eight in 2025.
Bruce Pearl, Auburn (2014-15)
Final Record: 15-20 (.428)
Regular Season Record: 12-19
SEC Record/Finish: 4-14 (13th)
SEC Tournament: 3-1 (Semifinals)
NCAA Tournament: Didn’t make field
Pearl inherited an Auburn team that went 14-16 under Tony Barbee. He still had five months left on his show-cause order from his NCAA violations at Tennessee, so he wasn’t able to contact recruits during the summer recruiting period. The Tigers went 15-20 that season, losing to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament semifinals. In the decade since, Pearl has steadily built Auburn into a perennial power, leading the Tigers to two Final Fours (2019, 2025). The Tigers are the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s tournament and will face Florida for a spot in the national championship game on Saturday.
Todd Golden, Florida (2022-23)
Final Record: 16-17 (.484)
Regular Season Record: 16-15
SEC Record/Finish: 9-9 (8th)
SEC Tournament: 0-1
NCAA Tournament: Didn’t make field (NIT First Round)
Golden succeeded Mike White, who left Florida for Georgia. It was a big step up for Golden, who had just led San Francisco to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. The Gators did not make the NCAA Tournament in Golden’s first season, finishing the season 16-17 with a loss in the first round of the NIT, but there were bright spots, including a win over No. 2 Tennessee.
Obviously, Florida’s been on the rise since then, winning 24 games in Golden’s second season and now reaching the Final Four in his third. A young coach with a very modern offense, Golden is a success story in the new age of college basketball.
Rick Barnes, Tennessee (2015-16)
Final Record: 15-19 (.441)
Regular Season Record: 13-18
SEC Record/Finish: 6-12 (12th)
SEC Tournament: 2-1 (Quarterfinals)
NCAA Tournament: Didn’t make field
Barnes came to Tennessee after being fired by Texas, where he spent 17 seasons. He replaced Cuonzo Martin, becoming the third coach in as many seasons for the Vols. It took a few seasons for Barnes to get rolling in Knoxville, but in his third year, he had Tennessee back in the NCAA Tournament, and the Vols have made it every year since (omitting 2020, when the tournament was canceled due to COVID). As we know, they’ve still never made it past the Elite Eight.
John Calipari, Arkansas (2024-25)
Final Record: 22-14 (.611)
Regular Season Record: 19-12
SEC Record/Finish: 8-10 (9th)
SEC Tournament: 1-1 (2nd Round)
NCAA Tournament: 2-1 (Sweet 16)
You know all about John Calipari’s history before taking the Arkansas job. After leaving Kentucky for Fayetteville, Calipari assembled a roster with one of the biggest NIL budgets in college basketball. The Razorbacks struggled to start SEC play, losing six of their first seven conference games, but the win over Kentucky in Rupp lit a fire under the squad, which made it to the Sweet 16, the furthest Calipari had gone since 2019. The turnaround was commendable, but given the resources, the jury is still out on whether the Cal era at Arkansas will be deemed a success.
Pat Kelsey, Louisville (2024-25)
Final Record: 27-8 (.771)
Regular Season Record: 25-6
ACC Record/Finish: 18-2 (2nd)
ACC Tournament: 2-1 (Finals)
NCAA Tournament: 0-1 (1st Round)
There was nowhere for Louisville to go but up in Pat Kelsey’s first season. The Cards went from finishing last in the ACC in the previous two seasons under Kenny Payne to finishing second with an 18-2 conference record. They lost to Duke in the ACC Tournament championship and finished No. 10 in the AP Poll, even though they drew a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Creighton in the first round. Kelsey took home ACC Coach of the Year honors. The ACC was very weak this season, but there’s no doubt that Kelsey has the Cards on the right track — even if he lost his first game against Kentucky, 93-85 at Rupp Arena.
Mike Woodson, Indiana (2021-22)
Final Record: 21-14 (.600)
Regular Season Record: 18-12
Big Ten Record/Finish: 9-11 (9th)
Big Ten Tournament: 2-1 (Semifinals)
NCAA Tournament: 1-1 (First Round – Started in the First Four)
How about another blueblood that kept it in the family? In 2021, Mike Woodson returned to Indiana, where he played for Bobby Knight from 1976 to 80. In his first season, he led the Hoosiers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, where they lost to Saint Mary’s in the first round after beating Wyoming in the First Four. The Hoosiers went 2-6 against AP Top 25 opponents during the regular season but made it to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament, knocking off No. 1 seed Illinois in the process. A decent first year, but, as we know, Woodson’s run at Indiana ended in February 2025, when he stepped down after four seasons.
Jon Scheyer, Duke (2022-23)
Final Record: 27-9 (.750)
Regular Season Record: 23-8
ACC Record/Finish: 14-6 (3rd)
ACC Tournament: 3-0 (ACC Title)
NCAA Tournament: 1-1 (2nd Round)
Scheyer was tasked with the impossible: replacing Mike Krzyzewski. Obviously, three seasons in, he’s doing pretty well, leading the Blue Devils back to the Final Four, but even his first season could be considered a success. Scheyer brought in a top recruiting class and won the ACC Tournament, ultimately losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Tennessee.
In terms of a blueblood program with a lot of resources, Scheyer’s success is enviable, although he is still leaning on elite freshmen talent while the rest of college basketball is focusing on the transfer portal.
Bill Self, Kansas (2003-04)
Final Record: 24-9 (.727)
Regular Season Record: 20-7
Big 12 Record/Finish: 12-4 (2nd)
Big 12 Tournament: 1-1 (Semifinals)
NCAA Tournament: 3-1 (Elite Eight)
So much has changed in college basketball since 2003 that it seems silly to include Self’s first year at Kansas in this exercise, but we’ve gotten this far, so why not? Self replaced Roy Williams, who left for North Carolina after the Jayhawks lost in the 2003 national championship game to Syracuse. In just his first season, Self led Kansas to a second-place finish in the Big 12 and the Elite Eight, where the Jayhawks lost to Georgia Tech.
Since then, Kansas has won two national championships and has been the picture of sustained success — until recently. The Jayhawks, who were ranked No. 1 in the AP Preseason Poll, are coming off their second straight 10+ loss season, losing to Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, their first first-round exit since Self’s third season.
Mark Pope’s 1st season at Kentucky compared to other coaches
| Coach | School | Season | Final Record | Conference Record/Finish | NCAA Tournament |
| Mark Pope | Kentucky | 2024-25 | 24-12 (.667) | SEC 10-8 (6th) | 2-1 (Sweet 16) |
| Nate Oats | Alabama | 2019-20 | 16-15 (.516) | SEC 8-10 (9th) | N/A (Canceled due to COVID) |
| Bruce Pearl | Auburn | 2014-15 | 15-20 (.429) | SEC 4-14 (13th) | Didn’t make field |
| Todd Golden | Florida | 2022-23 | 16-17 (.484) | SEC 9-9 (8th) | Didn’t make field |
| Rick Barnes | Tennessee | 2015-16 | 15-19 (.441) | SEC 6-12 (12th) | Didn’t make field |
| John Calipari | Arkansas | 2024-25 | 22-14 (.611) | SEC 8-10 (9th) | 2-1 (Sweet 16) |
| Pat Kelsey | Louisville | 2024-25 | 27-8 (.771) | ACC 18-2 (2nd) | 0-1 (1st Round) |
| Mike Woodson | Indiana | 2021-22 | 21-14 (.600) | Big Ten 9-11 (9th) | 1-1 (1st Round – Started in the First Four) |
| Jon Scheyer | Duke | 2022-23 | 27-9 (.750) | ACC 14-6 (3rd) | 1-1 (2nd Round) |
| Bill Self | Kansas | 2003-04 | 24-9 (.727) | Big 12 12-4 (2nd) | 3-1 (Elite Eight) |
CAMPBELL COUNTY, Ky. (WXIX) – Liberty Trees are being planted across Kentucky in celebration og America 250.
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.jpg?disable=upscale&width=1200&height=630&fit=crop&ssl=1 "2026 Kentucky Derby: The Sporting Event Expanded Its Partnerships")
LOUISVILLE, KY.—Jockey Jose Ortiz rallied long shot Golden Tempo from way back in the pack to claim the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, beating his older brother Irad Ortiz Jr. by a neck and making Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train a Derby winner.
Held at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Ky., this year’s race averaged 19.6 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, making it the most-viewed Run for the Roses on record since Nielsen began tracking average audiences in 1988.
In the week leading up to the first Saturday in May, Churchill Downs hosted a full roster of events, including 502’sDay, Winsday, Thurby, and the Kentucky Oaks (when fans watch 3-year-old fillies compete), which, for the first time, was contested in primetime and on network television.
As part of the racetrack’s ongoing renovations, the sixth-floor space, 10,000-square-foot ultra-VIP space known as The Mansion opened its private doors, revealing a $30-million refurbishment. There were improved amenities in the Finish Line Suites this year as well.
But that wasn’t the only newness happening. This year introduced several firsts, including the Derby’s first-ever beauty partnership with L’Oréal, an MLB activation where fans were able to put their pitching skills to the test, and a limited-edition Graeter’s ice cream flavor, Bourbon Backstretch Cherry.
Returning partners also evolved their experiences for 2026, including Old Forester serving up a new signature cocktail with a fruity twist called the Perfecta and Red Bull expanding its lounge area in the Infield, which included a custom Ford F150 DJ booth with custom Red Bull cocktails.
This updated partnership strategy is part of the racetrack’s efforts to attract younger fans and the Gen Z demo. “Reaching new and younger audiences is how the brand stays relevant after 152 years,” said Casey Ramage, senior marketing and partnerships consultant for Churchill Downs Racetrack.
“Churchill Downs does this by offering onsite fans brand experiences such as beautiful photo moments around our iconic Twin Spires and partner collaborations and merchandise brands that are relevant to this audience such as vineyard vines, lululemon, and Aviator Nation,” she said.
For the fans at home, the Churchill Downs team also turned more to social media to educate the viewing audience. This year, the Derby’s social media accounts saw a 59% increase during Derby Week, Ramage added.
As for the L’Oréal partnership, Ramage said it just made sense. “With fashion being one of the first things you think about for the Kentucky Derby experience, Churchill Downs has always wanted to partner with a beauty brand, and L’Oréal Paris is the perfect fit,” she explained.
The brand was the presenting partner of the Derby’s Green Room, where celebrities and VIPs were able to touch up their makeup and hair before walking the red carpet. L’Oréal also produced activations in the Woodford Reserve Paddock Plaza fan zone with product giveaways and surprise-and-delight makeup moments in the ladies’ restrooms.
Keep scrolling to see more from the 2026 Kentucky Derby and the brand activations and parties surrounding the historic event…
L’Oréal produced activations in the Woodford Reserve Paddock Plaza fan zone with product giveaways as well as surprise-and-delight makeup moments in the ladies’ restrooms. Photo: Courtesy of Churchill Downs Racetrack
Because of Churchill Downs’ strong partnership with NBC, the racetrack also highlighted the network’s new relationships with both the MLB and WNBA. The MLB hosted an interactive pitch activation, where fans were challenged to test their fastball and track their throwing speed in real time. Photo: Courtesy of Churchill Downs Racetrack
Attendees posed inside a WNBA bespoke photo moment. Photo: Courtesy of Churchill Downs Racetrack
The WNBA logo was made out of red and white roses, as a nod to the Derby race. Photo: Courtesy of Churchill Downs Racetrack
Apparel brand vineyard vines marked its 16th year as the Official Derby Style with on-site activations, including a fully branded stage in the Infield, featuring live entertainment and giveaways such as its fan-favorite whale hats, sunglasses, and more. Photo: Courtesy of vineyard vines
Fully wrapped F-150s and Broncos in a vineyard vines print were located at the track’s “First Turn.” Photo: Courtesy of vineyard vines
Sports Illustrated Resorts’ Club SI hosted guests across both Oaks and Derby Day at Churchill Downs. The exclusive hospitality suite offers a view of the paddock and paddock runway. SI Swim model Camille Kostek hosted Oaks Day, while commentator Nate Burleson led Derby Day. Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group
Guests received custom caricature illustrations in the hospitality suite. Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group
Sports Illustrated, in partnership with J Wagner Group, closed out Derby weekend with its third annual late-night celebration, Revel at the Races presented by DraftKings, which was headlined by Tiësto and held at Ice House. Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group
As the official apparel partner, Ted Baker presented a branded photo moment. Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group
Verizon served as the exclusive wireless partner, offering expedited entry via a dedicated fast lane and ticket access through Verizon Access. Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group
As the official bourbon partner, Maker’s Mark served up premium cocktails. Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group
HydroJug provided on-site custom engraving, delivering a personalized takeaway for guests. Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group
The Derby experience starts long before the bugle sounds at Churchill Downs, so Delta turned the journey to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport into a spirited ride. On May 1 and 2, in partnership with Brown-Forman, Delta offered travelers in the Atlanta and JFK Delta Sky Clubs a bespoke Mint Julep syrup. Once onboard their flights, passengers could pair it with Woodford Reserve bourbon to craft a cocktail. Photo: Courtesy of Delta
The airline also surprised travelers with arrival and departure goody bags on April 30 and May 3 at the Louisville airport. Photo: Courtesy of Delta
Crew members donned fascinators to close out the weekend. Photo: Courtesy of Delta
Herradura returned with its official cocktail, the Horseshoe Margarita. The brand also collaborated with Q Mixers on a new track-wide cocktail featuring Herradura Reposado called the Paddock Paloma. Photo: Courtesy of Herradura
As we continue to go position group by position group and project what each unit will look like for the 2026 Kentucky Wildcats, we will now look at the safety room. This position is led by two of the most experienced safeties in the conference with Ty Bryant and Florida transfer Jordan Castell. The safety position is heavily relied upon in defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s scheme. Having experience is paramount for this group, as Coach Bateman will call creative looks for disguised coverages which will create plenty of safety rotations pre-snap and post-snap.
Starters
I think it is safe to assume that the new staff made it a priority to retain Ty Bryant and Willie Rodriguez more than any other returning players on the roster. Bryant was voted second team All-SEC by coaches last season and is one of the best safeties in the conference. He was the team’s leading tackler a year ago with 76 total and led the SEC with four interceptions. Bryant is a do-it-all safety that has a nose for the football and is expected to be the leader of the defense this fall.
Jordan Castell transferred over from the Florida Gators, where he started over 30 games in his career. Castell is a long, rangy safety that knows what it takes to play at an SEC level. He started as a true freshman at Florida and earned freshman All-SEC honors in 2023. Over his three seasons with the Gators, Castell has totaled 169 tackles, 13 pass breakups and three interceptions.
If things go as planned, these two will rarely come off the field this season. Bryant has natural playmaking ability on the back end as a ball hawking safety and is coming off the best season of his career. Castell has ideal length for the position and has shown the ability to make big time plays in this conference. Bryant and Castell form one of the best safety tandems in the SEC and will be a key to the defensive success in 2026.
Backups
- Dyllon Williams
- Jesse Anderson
Dyllon Williams is a 6’2, 191-pound redshirt freshman that got his feet wet last season in limited snaps. Williams only saw action against Eastern Michigan, Florida and Vanderbilt a year ago. Ideally, I don’t expect him to see much of an increase in playing time this season but it will be interesting to see how he progresses when he does get on the field. Coach Bateman does like to throw three safety looks at opposing offenses, but that will likely be manned by the slot corner position group.
Jesse Anderson is a transfer from Pitt that brings some experience to the depth of this room. In three seasons at Pitt, he has received snaps in 23 games as a rotational safety. I wouldn’t expect his role to change, he will be a rotational guy in this group as well and brings much needed experience in a backup role. Anderson is on the smaller side at 6’0, 186-pounds.
Like I previously mentioned, Coach Bateman likes to keep offenses off balance with three safety looks in coverage. However, I expect the slot corners to be heavily involved in those formations, which will be Aaron Gates and Jaden Smith. We will group the slot corners in with the cornerbacks when we preview that position group. Overall, this safety room is a strength of the team although it is hinged on the experienced duo of Bryant and Castell.
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