The college basketball season is almost here, and while plenty of coaches are eager for opening night, not every sideline comes with the same level of security. For a few men, the first few weeks could say a lot about what comes next.
At Kentucky, Mark Pope is stepping into a job where “good enough” rarely is. The Wildcats finished 22-14 last season, a result that would pass muster in many places but not in Lexington.
Pope did not make much noise in the offseason until he landed Iowa State star Milan Momcilovic through the transfer portal, and he has since assembled a roster that looks capable on paper. Now comes the harder part: turning that talent into results.
Early non-conference games against Kansas, Louisville and North Carolina could push Kentucky back into the national conversation fast. If not, Pope will be left with few excuses after the resources poured into the program.
Jeff Capel’s situation at Pitt has been marked by swings, not stability. He has had some real bright spots, including back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2022 and 2023, but recent years have cooled that momentum.
Since Capel arrived, the Panthers have heard their name on Selection Sunday only once, and the pressure around the job has only grown. Pitt also has not won three or more conference games in a row since the 2023 season, a streak that speaks to the inconsistency hanging over the program.
A soft November schedule offers a temporary cushion, but if the Panthers are not competitive in the ACC again, the school is unlikely to shy away from paying his buyout.
Porter Moser enters the season in a different kind of bind at Oklahoma. He probably would have been let go last year if the Sooners had not closed strong by winning six of their final seven conference games.
Even with that finish, the picture remains uneasy: Oklahoma has a new athletic director, and Moser has just one year left on his contract. The Sooners also have two transfers, Duke Brennan and B.J.
Edwards, who are still waiting on eligibility decisions. If they are cleared, they could make a real difference.
An early matchup with Purdue should give a clearer read on where the program stands and whether Moser can get Oklahoma to the NCAA Tournament for only the second time during his tenure.
Then there is Penny Hardaway at Memphis, where the expectations are tied directly to both his past and the program’s recent low point. Hardaway was a star as a player there and built a strong coaching run before last season went sideways in a major way.
Memphis went 13-19, its worst record since 1969, and that alone put the pressure back on. The Tigers are bringing in 13 newcomers, including transfers Jayden Reid and Tylik Weeks, which has created plenty of buzz around the roster.
But the schedule will answer the real questions early, with Iowa State, Vanderbilt and Louisville all coming in the first two weeks. Hardaway also recently asked athletic director Ed Scott for $9 million to build a roster he believed could reach the Sweet 16, even offering $2.6 million of his own money.
The school ultimately agreed to cover the $9 million, so the stakes around this season are already clear. If Hardaway misses his goals, the exit conversation will only grow louder.
In Other News...
Jake Nawrot Looks Like Exactly What Will Stein Wants At Kentucky
Will Stein wasted little time laying out the traits he wants to build around at Kentucky, and the early recruiting picture fits that vision. The new Wildcats coach made it clear that quarterback accuracy and mental toughness will matter, and that is exactly the kind of profile Jake Nawrot brings to the conversation after completing more than 70% of his passes without throwing an interception during his high school season.
Nawrot is one piece of a broader offensive push that could keep gaining momentum for Kentucky. The Wildcats are also being projected as the favorite to land 4-star offensive tackle John Paul Carrico, a highly regarded in-state prospect, which would give Stein a chance to pair quarterback efficiency with added protection up front. For a staff trying to establish its identity quickly, those two names say plenty about the direction Kentucky wants to head. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys 6-1 Surge Just Sparked A New Will Stein Debate
Will Steins decision to gamble on fourth down late against Oklahoma fit the larger confidence around Kentucky right now, and it helped preserve a 21-13 win that pushed the Wildcats to 6-1 and kept them in the AP Top 25 conversation. The coach said he appreciated the way his team backed the call, a small detail that says plenty about where this group is at the moment: playing with enough belief to stay aggressive when the moment gets tight.
Kentuckys rise has also opened the door to a fresh debate around Stein and how much freedom he wants to give his offense in the biggest spots. With Vanderbilt next, he made clear the Wildcats cannot afford to coast on the Oklahoma result, stressing that there is still work to do and room to improve. For a team that has climbed this far this fast, the next step is learning how to handle the expectation that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys 6-1 Start Faces A Reality Check In ESPNs SEC Rankings
Kentuckys 6-1 start has put the program in a far better place than it was a month ago, but the latest update from ESPNs Football Power Index is a reminder that the SEC still sorts itself out quickly. After Week 7, the leagues hierarchy shifted again as recent results from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee helped reshape the conversation around who looks like a true contender and who is still fighting for footing.
For the Wildcats, the bigger story is less about the record itself and more about where the numbers say they fit in the conference pecking order. ESPNs updated projections offer a snapshot of how each SEC team is being viewed right now, and Kentuckys position in that mix gives the rest of the season a sharper edge. The wins have created momentum, but the rankings suggest there is still plenty left to prove. [Read more 🡒]