When Mark Pope announced that he would be taking questions directly from BBN, we all knew things could get interesting. But honestly, it turned out pretty good; you had some honest questions and some good answers. Sure, there were sarcastic questions that just were never going to be answered, but Pope did address the GM situation. While it wasn’t the answer a lot of people hoped for, at least there is now a clear hierarchy within the basketball front office. Let’s break it down.
Kentucky
How Nolan McCarthy made the game-winning run to push Kentucky into the College World Series
All the Kentucky Wildcats needed to do was win on Sunday night and they would advance to the College World Series for the first time ever, and that is what they did.
The game was tied 2-2 in the seventh inning against Oregon State when Nolan McCarthy came up to bat and belted a double. James McCoy then went up to bat, but after a failed sacrifice bunt to move McCarthy over another base, it led to Grant Smith batting next.
Smith went down 0-2 in the count, but due to a dropped third strike where Oregon State’s catcher did not successfully catch the ball, it led to McCarthy going all the way from second back to home to score the game-winning run. He was able to score was that Oregon State’s pitcher, Nelson Keljo, was not covering home plate.
That’s when McCarthy took off into Kentucky lore forever.
“I was on second. Coach Minge (Mingione) was telling me to be balanced on my skips. Don’t want to give that pitcher anything like that,” said McCarthy after the win. “It’s a big run. I saw it squeak by.
“I was running to third, and I immediately saw their pitcher wasn’t covering. I think I ran through a stop sign, but it ended up working out. No one was covering home, so might as well take what they’re going to give you.”
That would prove to be the deciding run, as Kentucky would on for the 3-2 victory and will now play in the program’s first trip to Omaha.
Head coach Nick Mingione was actually telling McCarthy to stop but was happy to see his player not be afraid to make the biggest play in the biggest moment.
“Nolan is the guy that wants to make the special play. I was telling him to stop verbally, okay, not physically,” said Mingione “But the game was in front of him, and I’m happy he went because he saw something. And we allow our players to make decisions on their own. I’m glad he went. He did the Superman dive. He was going to do something that it was going to be, like, it was a Nolan McCarthy moment. You know what I mean?
“I was telling him to stop, but I actually had my back…it was actually roles reversed; I saw the catcher catch it, I didn’t see the pitcher, but he (McCarthy) did. I thought it was a great play.”
Before the game, McCarthy was saying he would do the Pete Rose slide to his teammates, and that is what he did.
“I told Robert (Hogan) I was going to Pete Rose dive today, and it ended up happening,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy actually got a bit dinged up from the run and had to take himself out of the game for the final two innings.
“I give him (McCarthy) a lot of credit, too, because he kind of tweaked his hamstring on that, and he basically, during the pitching change, he said, ‘Coach, I’m getting tight; I can’t make a play,’” said Mingione.
“He took himself out, which is really smart and unselfish. He’s, like, I can’t make the plays that the game’s going to demand. I was like, okay, you want to come out. He was like, yes, I do. Ty Crittenberger was ready. He’s always ready. He was prepared for the moment and always ready. He was honest with that I was proud of him for that.”
After a memorable night at Kentucky Proud Park, the Cats now look to keep their magical season alive with a run in Omaha.
COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) – A Northern Kentucky man is in jail, accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl who’d been reported missing.
Matthew Wade, 40, faces charges, including sexual abuse, unlawful transaction with a minor and assault.
Covington Police say they found the teen at Wade’s home on Highway Avenue on Monday. According to the police report, he was knowingly hiding her, knew she was missing and had cut her ankle monitor off.
Investigators say the teen was given alcohol, marijuana and magic mushrooms.
The girl told police wade slapped her and choked her.
Officers also say they found guns in the home.
Mark Pope has confirmed that no official GM position will exist for at least this season, and most likely won’t exist going forward. Why? Because he has the responsibilities spread out across 4 different people, and believes that is the best way forward.
“In this ever-changing college basketball dynamic, everybody is trying a different solution. For us, instead of hiring a singular GM, we’ve gone with a more comprehensive general management team approach. We have four members of the team. Keegan Brown is a data analysis and roster construction expert who’s worked in both college and the NBA. Nick Robinson is our salary cap strategy and management specialist. Kevin Sergent is our compliance officer, and he deals with all of our contracts and legal language. Kim Shelton is our JMI liaison, and she does all of our NIL contracts that deal with corporate sponsorships. That’s our four-person general management team.”
But who is each one of these people, and what makes them qualified?
Who’s doing what in the Kentucky basketball front office?
Well, Keegan Brown has been a video coordinator in the G-League. That essentially means he would go and watch all the videos on league opponents and potential prospects, and come up with data-backed scouting reports for the coaching and front office teams. Pope has worked with Brown at BYU, so there is some familiarity there.
Nick Robinson also worked with Mark Pope in Provo, being an assistant coach from 2019 to 2024 and following Pope to Lexington. He has been on staff all 3 seasons now, and is being tasked with handing out Kentucky’s money and setting a budget for each player.
Kevin Sergent is not new to Kentucky; he has been in Lexington since 2020. But this is his first time handling compliance on his own; his official title is Senior Associate AD for Athletic Compliance. He handles all the rules, applying for waivers, basically making sure the entire staff is doing everything the right way.
Kim Shelton is a UK alum who was more known for soccer than anything else. She was part of the very first Kentucky women’s soccer team and is a former CEO of Lexington Sporting Club. She worked for Kentucky when Commonwealth was renamed as Kroger Field, and played a role in setting up naming rights for Kentucky Proud Park. Right now, she is kind of the bridge between Kentucky and JMI, specifically handling BBNIL Suite.
If you don’t remember what BBNIL suite is, it’s essentially the opt-in program where student athletes agree to only work with deals through JMI. They find offers, broker deals, and help athletes make money. It is, of course, optional, but if players decline, they will not be able to use the University of Kentucky logos in their NIL marketing.
Trent Noah is probably the most successful NIL athlete who opted out. The Kentucky native is handling his own NIL, and by the amount of ads and cardboard cutouts I see littered around the state, he seems to be doing pretty well.
Seeing JMI integrated again into Kentucky Basketball is probably going to make some of you uneasy, and I get that. But everyone who has worked with them who has officially gone on the record says they are a pleasure to work with.
And that’s how Mark Pope wants it done. There is a theory out there that he wants a GM, but JMI won’t let him. Considering he has chosen 2 of the 4 people personally, I highly doubt that’s true.
What do you think of his explanation, and what do you think of how he is handling the GM role?
Leave the ordinary behind as you explore the Bluegrass State
Explore all of the unexpected adventures that Kentucky has to offer. (Photo: Kentucky Tourism)
Published May 12, 2026 04:28PM
When it comes to outdoor destinations, Kentucky’s got some impressive headliners, like Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world’s longest (known) cave system, and Red River Gorge, a climbing mecca with more than 4,000 sport routes. But away from the more popular paths, you’ll find outdoor adventures that are defined not only by their incredible scenery but also by their one-of-a-kind experiences.
See a Moonbow
If you’ve never seen a moonbow (a rainbow caused by the light of a full moon), there’s only one place in the Western Hemisphere where you can make a plan to see one—Cumberland Falls. Known as the “Niagara of the South,” this 125-foot-tall cascade is home to one of the only predictable moonbows on the planet. Take a look at the schedule, grab your headlamps for the short hike, and go see this rare natural marvel.
More in Daniel Boone National Forest: Visit the nearby Natural Scenic Arch Area, where a short trail reveals stunning views of a sandstone arch spanning nearly 100 feet.
Stay in a Treehouse
The treehouses at EarthJOY Village in northern Kentucky are the real deal, with features every outdoor-loving kid (and adult) has dreamed of—porch views, rope bridges, and a tree trunk right in the middle of the living room. With three impressive treehouses to choose from, more than 285 acres of private forest, and 20 miles of hiking trails, you’ll always find adventures to unlock.
More Camping: Camp closer to the ground—and the wildlife that populates the region—at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area or John James Audubon State Park.
Go Underground
Some of the most “outdoor” experiences you’ll find in Kentucky are technically inside the many caves and caverns that the state has become known for. There are plenty to explore. Our picks? Hidden River Cave, home to the world’s longest underground swinging bridge, or Lost River Cave, where you can take a boat ride through the otherworldly below-ground landscape.
More Fun in the Depths: Did you know you can scuba dive in Kentucky? You can try it out or get PADI certified at Pennyroyal Scuba Blue Springs Resort before heading to popular destinations like Lake Cumberland.
Take a Canopy Walk at an Outdoor Art Gallery
The short but scenic Canopy Tree Walk at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum allows you to take in the views from the forest’s highest heights—75 feet above the ground. There are even more spectacular sights in this 16,000-plus-acre stretch of wild forest, like the Forest Giants, designed by sculptor Thomas Dambo, or any number of other outdoor art installations along the 40 miles of trails.
More Hiking: Explore the 343-mile Sheltowee Trace Trail, founded in the 1970s as Kentucky’s first long-distance footpath that basecamps in trail towns like Morehead. And even urban hubs like Lexington offer green escapes like the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary.
Kentucky is about coming together for real-life experiences and meeting real-life people. Discover a destination that moves you in ways you never expected. Find What Moves You in our new Kentucky home.
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