Let me first say that I will hold no ill will if Pope accepts the Kentucky job. They are the original blue blood of college basketball, or at least one of them. I'm sure the position would come with a nice raise....but

Consider how upset the fan base is at John Calipari (if you don't know I think hatred would be a way to describe it). Now John is not a perfect coach, but he is a really good one and perhaps the best recruiter in college basketball. Consider the names he has recruited to Kentucky over the past 15 years and the finishes he had:

2009-10 Team led by John Wall, Demarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe goes 35-3 and loses in the Elite 8.

2010-11 A team led by Brandon Knight, Terrance Jones and Darius Miller goes 29-9 and loses in the Final Four.

2011-12 A team led by Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd Gilchrist goes 38-2 and wins the National Title.

2012-13 A led by Nerlens Noel and Will Cauley Stein goes 21-12 and doesn't make the tournament.

2013-14 A team led by Julius Randle, James Young and the Harrison twins goes 29-11 and loses in the NCAA Finals.

2014-15 A team led by Devin Booker, Karl Anthony Towns, Trey Lyles and others goes 38-1 and loses in the Final Four.

2015-16 A team led by Jamal Murray and Tyler Ulis goes 27-9 and loses in the 2nd round

2016-17 A team led by De'aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Bam Adebayo goes 32-6 and loses in the Elite 8.

2017-18 A team led by Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Kevin Knox and Jared Vanderbilt goes 26-11 and loses in the Sweet 16.

2018-19 A led by PJ Washington, Immanuel Quickley, Keldon Johnson and Tyler Herro goes 30-7 and loses in the Elite 8.

2019-20 A team led by Quickley (as a sophomore), Nik Richards, and Tyrese Maxey goes 25-6 and gets Covid

2020-21 Worst year by a mile as the team finishes 9-16. Not really led by anyone.

2021-22 A team led by Jacob Toppin goes 26-8, but is upset by #15 seeded Saint Peters in the first round

2022-23 A team led by Tshiebwe (national play of the year) goes 22-12 and loses in the 2nd round

2023-24 A team led by Reeves, Dillingham and Sheppard goes 23-10 and is upset in the first round by #14 St. Peters

So what has changed the last 4 years? Did Calipari just get old? (he is 65)

Well there probably is some truth to him getting old. But if you look at just last year he recruited 3 out of the top 6 recruits in high school. The big difference? The way you win in college basketball has changed.