Mark Pope is not on the Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List and you should be mad about it

Let me get this straight. The head coach with seven top-15 victories on the year, leading Kentucky to the No. 10 overall seed in the DI Men’s Basketball Committee’s first NCAA Bracket Preview Show this past weekend, is not one of the best 15 people at his job this season? Is that what we’re supposed to believe? That’s what the Atlanta Tipoff Club is telling you, apparently.

The 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Watch List was announced on Friday — 15 names, none named Mark Pope. Instead, it included three coaches Pope beat in head-to-head matchups already with opportunities to beat two more over the next five games to close out the regular season.

These are the guys they believe are better than Kentucky’s guy at this point in the season:

Greg Gard, Wisconsin

Dennis Gates, Missouri

Todd Golden, Florida

Penny Hardaway, Memphis

Tom Izzo, Michigan State

Pat Kelsey, Louisville

Dusty May, Michigan

Grant McCasland, Texas Tech

Ben McCollum, Drake

Matt Painter, Purdue

Bruce Pearl, Auburn

Rick Pitino, St. John’s

Richard Pitino, New Mexico

Kelvin Sampson, Houston

Jon Scheyer, Duke

Four Big Ten coaches compared to three in the SEC — a historically great conference this season? Two from the ACC and Big 12? It’s okay to say Pope isn’t the favorite for Coach of the Year, but to say he’s not even one of 15 qualified for the award is absolutely pathetic considering the roster turnover, injury issues and high-profile wins Kentucky has seen in his debut season in Lexington.

10 semifinalists will be announced on Friday, March 14 before being cut to four finalists on Monday, March 24. From there, the winner will be announced on Sunday, April 6 at the Final Four.

If Mark Pope isn’t included we don’t want to see another list this point forward. Fix it, Naismith Awards.

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