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? Don’t even get me started on Penny freaking Hardaway. 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.