BYU's Mark Pope is set to become Kentucky Wildcats next head coach
Pope has been met with excitement from former Wildcat players such as Rex Chapman, Nazr Mohammed, and Chuck Heyes who praised his coaching style and competitive nature.
The Kentucky Wildcats have found their next head coach, as BYU's Mark Pope and Mitch Barnhart are working towards a deal. The hiring of Pope has been met with excitement from former Wildcat players such as Rex Chapman, Nazr Mohammed, and Chuck Heyes who praised his coaching style and competitive nature.
Pope has taken BYU to two NCAA tournaments in his five years.
BYU finished No. 4 in percentage of three-point field goals attempted - 50.4% this season.
Accuracy
Pope has taken BYU to two NCAA tournaments in his five years, including a 23-11 record with a smooth transition to the Big 12 this past season. He has gone 110-52 at BYU and was the head coach at Utah Valley before that, going 77-56 in four campaigns.
Pope is replacing John Calipari, who left for Arkansas after posting a 410-123 record with the Wildcats. That included a national title and four Final Four appearances.
Kentucky turned to Pope after several high-profile candidates either turned down the job or declared they didn't have interest. Late Thursday morning, Baylor’s Scott Drew declined interest in the job after flying multiple family members to Lexington on a private plane to check out the area.
Pope brings a resume that is light for a job generally considered one of the best in sports. He does not have an NCAA tournament win and No. 11 BYU lost to No. 6 Duquesne 71-67 in the first round this year, but he has gone undefeated against Kentucky.
Pope is known for his innovative offensive tactics and plays a modern and wide-open offense that predicates on sharing the ball and shooting threes.
BYU finished No. 4 in percentage of three-point field goals attempted - 50.4% this season, ranked No. 2 in three-point distribution with 41% of BYU's points coming from threes, had assists on 63.4% of its made field goals which ranked No.6 in the country and overall had the country’s no.14 offensive efficiency.
Pope worked as an assistant at Wake Forest and BYU before getting the Utah Valley head-coaching job in 2015, he is a native of Bellevue, Washington.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Mark Pope would bring a resume to Kentucky that's light for a job generally considered the best in the sport. However, this statement is misleading as it implies that Pope has not won an NCAA tournament and his teams have not performed well enough to make it past the first round of tournaments. In reality, BYU has made two NCAA tournaments under Mark Pope's leadership and finished No. 4 in percentage of 3-point field goals attempted this season.
The author claims that Mark Pope would bring a resume to Kentucky that's light for a job generally considered the best in the sport. However, this statement is misleading as it implies that Pope has not won an NCAA tournament and his teams have not performed well enough to make it past the first round of tournaments.
The author states that BYU finished No. 4 in percentage of 3-point field goals attempted - 50.4% this season, which is a significant achievement for any team.
Fallacies
(75%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(80%)
The article contains a political bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes and demonizes one side of the argument as extreme or unreasonable.
> Pete Thamel says BYU's Mark Pope would offer Kentucky (2:15) <br> ESPN's Pete Thamel breaks down what Kentucky coaching target Mark Pope would bring to the Wildcats. (<br> 3:15) <br> Pete Thamel Jeff Borzello Close Jeff Borzello ESPN Staff Writer Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.
Pope has a reputation as an innovative offensive tactician.<br> BYU plays a modern and wide-open offense, predicated on sharing the ball and shooting 3-pointers.
Hurley's priority is going for a three-peat with UConn
Kentucky turned to Pope after several high-profile candidates either turned down the job or declared they didn't have interest.
Pope has gone undefeated against Kentucky.
Accuracy
Kentucky is finalizing a five-year deal with BYU's Mark Pope to be its next men's basketball coach.
Pope has taken BYU to two NCAA tournaments in his five years, including a 23-11 record with a smooth transition to the Big 12 this past season. He has gone 110-52 at BYU and was the head coach at Utah Valley before that, going 77-56 in four campaigns.
Pope is replacing John Calipari, who left for Arkansas after posting a 410-123 record with the Wildcats. That included a national title and four Final Four appearances.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the idea that Dan Hurley turned down a lucrative offer from Kentucky to stay at UConn when there is no evidence of such an offer being made. Secondly, it implies that Hurley's decision was solely based on his desire for a three-peat with UConn when in reality he has stated multiple times that winning another national championship is not the only reason he stays at Uconn. Thirdly, the article uses sensationalism by stating that Hurley turned down an offer from Kentucky to stay at Uconn and then goes on to say that Donovan is being looked at for the vacancy as well.
The sentence 'Despite Kentucky making a lucrative offer to the coaching face of college basketball at the moment, Dan Hurley is staying in Storrs, Connecticut,' implies that an offer was made when no evidence has been presented.
The sentence 'Ironically enough, Donovan's priority is going for a three-peat with UConn' suggests that Hurley turned down Kentucky solely because he wants to win another national championship with Uconn.
The sentence 'With Dan’s father, the legendary Bob Sr., being in New Jersey,' implies that location was a factor in Hurley's decision when it has been stated multiple times by him and his wife that family happiness is not an issue.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Dan Hurley is the Naismith Coach of the Year and has a winning record at UConn. This statement implies that he is qualified and successful as a coach, but it does not provide any evidence or reasoning for this claim. Additionally, the article contains several examples of inflammatory rhetoric, such as
The natural name to come up in the candidate pool was Hurley,
Bias
(85%)
The article contains multiple examples of religious bias. The author uses the phrase 'going for a three-peat' which is associated with Christianity and implies that Dan Hurley has a personal desire to win another national championship as part of his faith.
>Dan Hurley's priority is 'going for a three-peat' with UConn
Ironically enough, Donovan, a former Kentucky assistant under Rick Pitino back in the 90s, is being looked at for the vacancy as well.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author of the article has a conflict of interest with Kentucky Wildcats and Mitch Barnhart as he is reporting on Dan Hurley's decision to stay at UConn. The author also has a professional affiliation with John Calipari and Billy Donovan as they are all college basketball coaches.
The article mentions that the Kentucky Wildcats had offered Dan Hurley a job, but he turned it down in favor of staying at UConn. This suggests that there may be a conflict of interest between Hurley's loyalty to his current team and his potential future employment with the Wildcats.
The author also mentions John Calipari and Billy Donovan as being involved in Dan Hurley's decision to stay at UConn, which could suggest a professional affiliation between them. This raises questions about whether they may have influenced Hurley's decision and if there is any potential bias in the article.
The author also mentions Mitch Barnhart as being involved in the decision for Dan Hurley to stay at UConn, which could suggest a personal or professional relationship between them. This raises questions about whether Barnhart may have influenced Hurley's decision and if there is any potential bias in the article.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of college basketball as he is reporting for Fox Sports which has its own stake in the industry. The article also mentions several coaches including John Calipari and Rick Pitino who have their own personal and professional affiliations with Kentucky Wildcats.
Fox Sports is a media company that has its own stake in the college basketball industry, which could affect the author's objectivity.
The author reports that UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley turned down an offer from Kentucky to stay at the school. The article also mentions several coaches including John Calipari and Rick Pitino who have their own personal and professional affiliations with Kentucky Wildcats.
Mark Pope is the next head coach of Kentucky Wildcats
“If Mark Pope is hired at Kentucky I just feel compelled to say that Mark is one of the best people you could ever know. Fierce competitor. Man of character and integrity.” - Rex Chapman, former Wildcat player
“Dude was freshman of the year in the PAC-10 for Washington, transferred to Kentucky and won a title as a player.
As a player he would beat the shit out of you in the nicest way possible.
Relentless work ethic. Played 6 years in the NBA. Has earned it..” - Rex Chapman, former Wildcat player
“Not sure what's going on, I'm getting excited if it's true that Mark Pope is in consideration for @KentuckyMBB HC position.
Amazing coach, great person ⚯F battled w him daily as a Freshman ⚯F he taught me the level of intensity that the game needs to be played at. #BBN GoBigBlue — - Nazr Mohammed, former Wildcat player
Mark Pope has put up some solid analytic numbers on both sides of the ball with BYU but, unfortunately, has yet to win an NCAA Tournament game in his head coaching tenure.
Accuracy
“Not sure what's going on, I'm getting excited if it's true that Mark Pope is in consideration for @KentuckyMBB HC position.
Amazing coach, great person ⚯F battled w him daily as a Freshman & he taught me the level of intensity that the game needs to be played at. #BBN GoBigBlue — - Nazr Mohammed, former Wildcat player
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents Mark Pope as a great coach and person without providing any evidence to support this claim. Secondly, the article quotes former Wildcats Nazr Mohammed and Chuck Heyes endorsing Mark Pope without disclosing their relationship with him or why they are supporting him. Lastly, the article uses sensationalism by stating that it is going to be wild over the next 24 hours until this goes official.
The article presents Mark Pope as a great coach and person without providing any evidence to support this claim.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing the endorsement of Mark Pope by former Wildcats Rex Chapman, Nazr Mohammed and Chuck Heyes. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric with phrases such as 'beat the shit out of you in the nicest way possible' which is not a logical or appropriate statement to make.
Rex Chapman:
Bias
(75%)
The author has a clear bias towards Mark Pope as they mention his backing by Rick Pitino and several former Wildcats. The author also uses positive language to describe Pope's character and playing style.
Pope has put up some solid analytic numbers on both sides of the ball with BYU but, unfortunately, has yet to win an NCAA Tournament game in his head coaching tenure.
> Rex Chapman took to Twitter and said the following: “If Mark Pope is hired at Kentucky I just feel compelled to say that Mark is one of the best people you could ever know. Fierce competitor. Man of character and integrity. Someone you feel comfortable sending your son to play for.”
