Men's Basketball

Nick Richards took the Path Most Players are not Willing to take…but it paid off

Published

4 years ago

April 15, 2020

On November 10, 2016, Nick Richards committed to play basketball at the University of Kentucky. At that time, he was ranked in the top 20 of the ESPN 100 as a five-star recruit, just four years after he started playing basketball.

Today, Richards announced that he would forego his remaining eligibility and stay in the 2020 NBA Draft, whenever it might occur. But, when it does occur and Richards’ name is announced, I can assure you he will get one huge hug from John Calipari and many Kentucky fans across the country will shed a tear because we all know what he’s been through.

The road he took from the day he committed to draft day is not one many players are willing to take.

Nick Richards was discovered by Andre Rickett, a New York City basketball scout, in Jamaica in the summer of 2013. That’s where it began.

The Jamaican stud visited Lexington on September 30 and committed to play for John Calipari not even two months later. Richards only held offers from two other schools, Arizona and Syracuse.

Many of us first saw Richards play at the 2017 McDonald’s All-American Game at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. He recorded two points, two rebounds, and two blocked shots in 14 minutes of action. A stat-line that would sadly become consistent in his first two years as a Wildcat.

He would go on to play in the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic and would later be selected to the World Team in the 2017 Nike Hoops Summit before beginning his freshman year under John Calipari.

His freshman year was full of disappointment. Yes, nearly that entire roster was, as the Cats never really lived up to their potential, getting bounced in the Sweet 16 by Kansas State, but it was really a painful first year for Richards.

In 37 games played, Richards totaled 15 minutes per game, averaging only 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 blocked shot.

Freshman Nick Richards will be remembered more for his poorly-timed blocked shot attempts, missed dunks, dropped balls, and ability to always looked lost on the court.

My dad would always say at least once during games, “someone needs to stop giving Nick Richards buttered popcorn before games.”

Honestly, you would think there was nowhere to go but up. We all thought he would have a breakout sophomore year, at least I did, and that he would be departing Lexington after two years of college play. Boy was we wrong. Things got a lot worse.

In his sophomore year, Richards saw drops in all of his per-game averages, except blocks. The good thing was Kentucky didn’t really need him because of guys like P.J. Washington and Reid Travis. Could you imagine if both P.J. and Nick made that jump? Kentucky would’ve coasted to a ninth national title.

Instead, Richards sat the bench most of the NCAA Tournament, playing not even a minute in Kentucky’s Elite Eight loss to Auburn, and making for a very disappointing sophomore campaign.

Yes, the “buttered popcorn” joke was uttered by my father many times that year.

I hate to say it, but I, along with many others, had given up on Nick Richards and turned our heads toward E.J. Montgomery. Yes, the one player left to announce his NBA decision.

We were all looking for him to make that P.J. Washington-like jump from his freshman to sophomore year. Well, that didn’t happen. Instead, the improvement we hoped to see in Nick Richards the previous year came a year later.

Richards’ numbers improved immensely. In 31 games this year, Richards averaged 30 MPG, 14 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and shot 75-percent from the free throw line.

I guess someone finally took the butter off the popcorn.

Sadly, Kentucky’s season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending, as of now, six Kentucky careers early. Who knows if the Cats would’ve been cutting down the nets in Atlanta. But, watching guys improve like Immanuel Quickley and Nick Richards was good enough for me.

As I said above, the path Richards took to staying in the NBA Draft isn’t one many players are willing to take.

After Richards had the best game of his UK career against Texas Tech, he told the media that it’s okay to not be a one-and-done:

This is a great comment from Nick Richards about his development.

"Just because I go to a school known for one and dones, doesn't mean I have to be one and done." pic.twitter.com/27AxnnAIF0— Lee K. Howard (@HowardWKYT) January 26, 2020

We don’t know when the NBA Draft will take place or when Richards will be drafted. But, when he is, it will be a very special occasion.

Men's Basketball

The Details of Mark Pope’s Kentucky Contract, Top 10 Paid Coach in the Country

Published

14 hours ago

April 15, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Clare Grant/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Per an open records request, here is Mark Pope’s Kentucky contract details. It is a 5-year, $27.5 million deal. This contract gives Pope a significant raise, as he was estimated to be making around $2-$3 million at BYU (private university). Pope’s salary now puts him in the top 10 highest paid in the country and tied for third in the SEC with Nate Oats (Alabama, $5 million), behind Bruce Pearl (Auburn, $5.7 million) and Rick Barnes (Tennessee, $5 million).

Annual Compensation

YR1 (2024-25): $5,000,000 (Date of hire-March 31, 2025) (annualized)

YR 2(2025-26): $5,250,000 (April 1, 2025-March 31, 2026)
YR 3(2026-27): $5,500,000 (April 1, 2026-March 31, 2027)

YR 4(2027-28): $5,750,000 (April 1, 2027-March 31, 2028)
YR 5(2028-29): $5,750,000 (April 1, 2027-March 31, 2028)

Guarantee (University Terminates Without Cause)

75% of total remaining Annual Compensation due through the otherwise unexpired term.

Payable in monthly installments over the overwise unexpired term
Coach shall have affirmative obligation to mitigate/offset with other employment.

Buyout (Coach Terminates Without Cause)

33% of the total remaining Annual Compensation otherwise due Coach through the remainder of the Term if current athletics director is in the athletics director position

20% of the total remaining Annual Compensation otherwise due Coach through the remainder of the Term it current athletics director is no longer the athletics director

Benefits to Coach

Standard University benefits package (retirement, health, etc.)
Coach’s choice of use of two (2) late model, luxury automobiles or standard, University head coach stipend

Private air travel for personal use for 30 hours per Contract Year (up to 15 unused hours may roll over to the following Contract Year)
Twenty (20) prime, lower-level basketball tickets for each men’s basketball home game and eight (8) football tickets for each home football game
Ten (1 0) Lower level, prime tickets for each men’s basketball away or neutral site game(s)

Membership in one private mutually agreed upon club/golf club membership

Assistants and Support Staff Salary Pools

Such amount shall be set at a level commensurate with high-level SEC programs and peer institutions.

Annual Performance Incentives

Such amounts shall be due and payable at the next regular payroll date subsequent to the achievement(s); incentives are earned as long as Coach is serving as Head Coach on the date upon Which any bonus incentive is achieved. Maximum bonus is $700,000 per season (i.e. $500,000 for National Championship plus $100,000 SEC Regular Season plus $50,000 for SEC Tournament Championship plus $25,000 for a Cumulative Team GPA of 3.0 or greater plus $25,000 for a Team GPA of $25,0000).

Win NCAA National Championship – $500,000 OR
Final Four Appearance – $250,000 OR

Elite Eight Appearance – $100,000 OR
Sweet Sixteen Appearance – $50,000

PLUS

Regular Season SEC Championship (or share of) – $100,000 AND

SEC Tournament Championship – $50,000 AND
Cumulative Team GPA of 3.0 or greater – $25,000 AND
Team APR of 975 or greater – $25,000

Men's Basketball

Coaches Give Their Opinion On Kentucky’s Hire of Mark Pope

Published

15 hours ago

April 15, 2024

Tristan Pharis

The hiring of Mark Pope was met with mixed reactions from Kentucky fans, but he is well respected in the coaching community.

Clare Grant/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

The hiring of Mark Pope was met with mixed reactions from Kentucky fans. On one hand, he is a great Xs and Os coach and one of Kentucky’s own, winning an NCAA Championship as captain of the 1996 team. On the other hand, he has yet to win an NCAA Tournament game.

While fans may have mixed reactions, Pope is well respected among the coaching community for his work ethic and creative offense. After speaking with several coaches who competed against Pope at BYU and Utah Valley, here is what some had to say.

Anonymous Coach #1

They play an uptempo style on offense. They are more physical defensively than many people think.

Anonymous Coach #2

Coach Pope’s teams were always well-prepared. Had a great plan combined with grit and toughness. I learned a lot by scouting his teams especially offensively.

No, I’ve known him since his days at Utah Valley. Think he has the right personality and swagger to him to lead BBN. May take time but sneaky good hire.

Anonymous Coach #3

Kentucky fans should expect to win. His teams are extremely hard to guard, his players are well-schooled on how to play, and they play smart from an analytical standpoint. Hardly run any sets; just play really fast and try to score in transition or from their early offense. He does ‘modern basketball’ really well .. if he can get players that fit his system — look out.

The only concern from me would be if he will feel pressure to chase a different pool of players resulting in losing what got him the job in the first place.

Anonymous Coach #4

They (BYU) were by far the hardest team to prepare for. Run a lot of actions that put the defense in conflict. Probably my favorite offensive system I’ve watched.

I thought the system was fine for the talent and types of athletes they had. Very NBA-like where the big is in a drop and the guard chases over the screen with everyone else staying home on shooters. They wanted to stay out of help/rotations as much as possible. They tried to impact you defensively by being physical without fouling on drives. Analytics wise their defense was pretty good. Want you to take tough 2s and then they did a really good job of blocking out and not fouling. With the way they played, they don’t force many turnovers though. The SEC team that they played the most similar to was Alabama just way less athletic.

If he can get the level of recruits to compete for national championships and if he does are they skilled enough with high enough basketball IQs to be able to succeed in his system? I think it might be tough to teach the concepts they run to 5-star freshmen.

Anonymous Coach #5

Pope is an extremely competitive coach, his teams always competed and fought to the end. Elite offensive mind, especially embracing the modern game and overall analytics. They shot a ton of 3’s and played with great pace – I’m sure a very fun style for their fans but also a tough style to defend.

Anonymous Coach #6

BYU was my scout this year, such a unique style of play. They want to play in Transition and SHOOT 3’s. In Early Offense and HC Offense run a bunch of 5-Out, I think at UK he will have/recruit guys who can all Pass and Shoot. You just couldn’t fall asleep against them at all, had to guard all 5 guys.

I think he is very well respected from other coaches in the league and around the country. Recruiting would be my only concern, but now he’s at UK.

Other Coaches I have talked to believe he wouldn’t have had any shot if he didn’t play at UK, which I hate saying that, because he did in fact play at UK. So can’t take that away from him.

I think his recruiting style will be all about FIT and BUILDING the right team. He will be very strategic in the type of guys he recruits. The days of 4-5 Burger Boys are over. Will be different than Cal. Also, don’t be surprised if he wins IMMEDIATELY.

Men's Basketball

Rick Pitino Verbally Accepts Two Game Series With Kentucky, “Looking Forward To Saying Goodbye To Kentucky”

Published

18 hours ago

April 15, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Former Kentucky basketball head coach has verbally agreed to a two-game series with Kentucky, incuding a "Goodbye" game at Rupp Arena.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The last time Rick Pitino was in Rupp Arena, he flipped off a crowd of 24,000+ Kentucky fans after a 75-73 loss in 2015, which he later denied, saying, “My recollection, it was a, ‘We are #1.’”

A lot has changed since then. Louisville is now on their third coach since Pitino and John Calipari is now at Arkansas. With Mark Pope now the coach of the Wildcats, a captain under Rick Pitino’s 95 and 96 Kentucky teams, it felt like it was just a matter of time before Pitino was back on the schedule.

On Sunday, during his introductory press conference, Pope asked a packed Rupp Arena, “Anybody here down for the game versus St. John’s?” Which was answered with a loud roar. On Monday morning, Pitino verbally accepted the invite via social media.

“St John’s accepts,” Pitino said. “This year at UK, next year at the Mecca! Looking forward to saying goodbye to Kentucky”

Wow, just saw clips from our Captain’s press conference. Not shocked, but pleasantly surprised. Would expect nothing less from @CoachMarkPope. Also, @StJohnsBBall accepts, this year at UK, next year at the Mecca! Looking forward to saying goodbye to @KentuckyMBB.— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) April 15, 2024