Was talking to a buddy about this and something interesting came up out of that conversation.
Mitch Made a Selfish Hire.
He was so anti-Cal and wanted him gone because he couldn't control him. He clearly never wanted Cal here, it was Mike Pratt who made that move and push from what I remember.
He made a hire that would fit who Mitch is and a yes man to Mitch. He wanted an anti-Cal, he did not want an alpha coach. Thus why he never went after Oats or Pearl. However, he did supposedly go after Hurley at the time, but he turned us down.
Another reason why he went for Scott Drew. (Other than they are friends).
Also at the time we did need someone who loved the Program and needed to rally the fan based again. Pope's press conference did just that. Simply, because Pope is one of us, does not mean he can automatically become a great coach or change the way he coaches.
It seemed like Pope was a safe hire and he did not want to deal with another Cal type personality. I think Mitch hired Pope because of that, in some reason to rally the fanbase at the time.
If Mitch cared about the basketball program, he would have done anything he could to get the best coach available at the time. Even if he had an "alpha" personality like Cal. If Dan Hurley said no. Go after Nate Oats. Make him say no. Go after Billy Donovan. Go after Bruce Pearl. Go after someone who has PROVEN they can reach at least a final four. This is Kentucky Basketball. You go after the best of the best. Mitch did NOT want that. If he did, his actions would have done that. Instead, he made the hire for himself, not the program.
Scott Drew was a balance of both, had the yes man personality that Mitch wanted and also won a title. Would he be good here? Perhaps. My vibe was he would be Tubby 2.0 that can recruit better.
Just thoughts.
Mitch Made a Selfish Hire.
He was so anti-Cal and wanted him gone because he couldn't control him. He clearly never wanted Cal here, it was Mike Pratt who made that move and push from what I remember.
He made a hire that would fit who Mitch is and a yes man to Mitch. He wanted an anti-Cal, he did not want an alpha coach. Thus why he never went after Oats or Pearl. However, he did supposedly go after Hurley at the time, but he turned us down.
Another reason why he went for Scott Drew. (Other than they are friends).
Also at the time we did need someone who loved the Program and needed to rally the fan based again. Pope's press conference did just that. Simply, because Pope is one of us, does not mean he can automatically become a great coach or change the way he coaches.
It seemed like Pope was a safe hire and he did not want to deal with another Cal type personality. I think Mitch hired Pope because of that, in some reason to rally the fanbase at the time.
If Mitch cared about the basketball program, he would have done anything he could to get the best coach available at the time. Even if he had an "alpha" personality like Cal. If Dan Hurley said no. Go after Nate Oats. Make him say no. Go after Billy Donovan. Go after Bruce Pearl. Go after someone who has PROVEN they can reach at least a final four. This is Kentucky Basketball. You go after the best of the best. Mitch did NOT want that. If he did, his actions would have done that. Instead, he made the hire for himself, not the program.
Scott Drew was a balance of both, had the yes man personality that Mitch wanted and also won a title. Would he be good here? Perhaps. My vibe was he would be Tubby 2.0 that can recruit better.
Just thoughts.
