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Kentucky basketball reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 before bowing out Friday in a 78-65 loss to second-seeded Tennessee in Indianapolis.
Mark Pope's Wildcats, who were seeded third in the tournament, finished 24-12 and made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.
Pope, a UK alum, had a lot of expectations placed on him as a rookie coach after following Hall of Fame coach John Calipari, who spent 15 seasons in Lexington.
Kentucky has had many great coaches in its illustrious history, and many started their tenures with runs in the Big Dance.
Courier Journal readers can vote for the Kentucky coach they believe had the best debut season. The poll closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the winner will be announced Friday.
[IMG alt="Men's head coach John Calipari addresses the crowd during the University of Kentucky basketball's annual Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018.
1012ukbigbluemadnessweaver08"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-courier-journal/e2b569a2856688f8f34165396f809028[/IMG]
Calipari led the Wildcats to a 35-3 record and were SEC champions. They made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to West Virginia.
Tubby Smith won an NCAA title in his debut season with the Wildcats, who went 35-4, were SEC champions and captured the seventh NCAA title in program history. Many of his players were freshmen or sophomores on the Wildcats' 1996 championship team led by Rick Pitino.
Joe B. Hall picked up where his predecessor, legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp, left the program. Hall went 20-8 in his first season with the Cats; they were SEC champions and made it to the Elite Eight.
[IMG alt="Eddie Sutton, the University of Kentucky's new basketball coach, was an initial success at the Kentucky State Fair, where he signed autographs at the WHAS booth.
Aug 21, 1985
Title Sutton At Uk"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-courier-journal/458e58a0366d764b6e44acce78325f0f[/IMG]
Eddie Sutton had a brief stint in Lexington, which began with a 32-4 season, an SEC title and a trip to the Elite Eight.
Which Kentucky basketball coach had the best debut season?
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at [email protected] and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: How does Mark Pope's debut stack up vs others?
Continue reading...
Mark Pope's Wildcats, who were seeded third in the tournament, finished 24-12 and made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.
Pope, a UK alum, had a lot of expectations placed on him as a rookie coach after following Hall of Fame coach John Calipari, who spent 15 seasons in Lexington.
Kentucky has had many great coaches in its illustrious history, and many started their tenures with runs in the Big Dance.
Courier Journal readers can vote for the Kentucky coach they believe had the best debut season. The poll closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the winner will be announced Friday.
John Calipari (2009-2024)
[IMG alt="Men's head coach John Calipari addresses the crowd during the University of Kentucky basketball's annual Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018.
1012ukbigbluemadnessweaver08"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-courier-journal/e2b569a2856688f8f34165396f809028[/IMG]
Calipari led the Wildcats to a 35-3 record and were SEC champions. They made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to West Virginia.
Tubby Smith (1997-2007)
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Tubby Smith won an NCAA title in his debut season with the Wildcats, who went 35-4, were SEC champions and captured the seventh NCAA title in program history. Many of his players were freshmen or sophomores on the Wildcats' 1996 championship team led by Rick Pitino.
Joe B. Hall (1972-1985)
You must be registered for see images attach
Joe B. Hall picked up where his predecessor, legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp, left the program. Hall went 20-8 in his first season with the Cats; they were SEC champions and made it to the Elite Eight.
Eddie Sutton (1985-1989)
[IMG alt="Eddie Sutton, the University of Kentucky's new basketball coach, was an initial success at the Kentucky State Fair, where he signed autographs at the WHAS booth.
Aug 21, 1985
Title Sutton At Uk"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-courier-journal/458e58a0366d764b6e44acce78325f0f[/IMG]
Eddie Sutton had a brief stint in Lexington, which began with a 32-4 season, an SEC title and a trip to the Elite Eight.
Which Kentucky basketball coach had the best debut season?
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at [email protected] and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: How does Mark Pope's debut stack up vs others?
Continue reading...
