Connect with us

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Coal Miner Celebrated at Kentucky Game, Talks About “Unreal” VIP Experience

Published

1 year ago

on

UK Athletics

Following Kentucky’s blue-white scrimmage, the Big Blue Nation and people worldwide fell in love with Michael McGuire.

McGuire, an eastern Kentucky coal miner, was pictured sitting with his son (Easton) following a shift, still in his work attire and covered in black coal dust. The picture was eventually seen by John Calipari who related to McGuire.

Calipari took to social media, “My family’s American dream started in a Clarksburg, WV coal mine, so this picture hits home.”

Advertisement

McGuire wasn’t even aware of his newfound fame for several hours. “When I got out and got service on my way home, it went crazy…I couldn’t believe that it was real.”

Just trying to be a good father, McGuire didn’t think anything of it, just wanting to give his son the best first Kentucky basketball game experience, “It was either go straight there, or miss half the game to go home and take a shower and everything.”

Following this, Calipari extended the offer of a VIP experience, and McGuire and his family chose the Kansas game in late January, but Calipari also brought them in for Friday night’s game against Duquesne.

Calipari sent a team bus to pick up the McGuire, with fourteen members joining the trip. The treatment didn’t stop with just a first class trip to Rupp Arena, as they were able to meet the team, the coaches, and sit right behind the Wildcats’ bench.

Advertisement

This culminated to the coolest moment of the night, when Michael was brought out to be the “Y” at halftime.

Following the game, Michael and his wife Mollie even got to take part in the post game press conference.

“We made a lot of new connections, new friends, and heard some amazing stories. It’s brought a lot of joy to our hearts. It’s reached a lot of people just by Michael being a dad who shows up and is there. That’s not something that always happens in present day. So, I’m glad he’s appreciated for what he does for his family.”

Advertisement
Related Topics:
Advertisement

BB Recruiting

Mark Pope Lands First Kentucky Commit, Four-Star Collin Chandler

Published

2 hours ago

on

April 16, 2024

By

2022 4-star recruit, Collin Chandler

And the first domino falls! Collin Chandler, bright and early Tuesday morning, announces his commitment to UK.

Chandler is a former BYU commit, recently released from his BYU commitment, and now Chandler will join Coach Pope at UK, according to Travis Branham. Not only is this Coach Pope’s first commitment in his tenure at UK, it’s also a major one. Chandler is a projected NBA player, and the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to BYU.

Collin Chandler, 2022 4-star combo guard

Chandler is a 4-star recruit from the 2022 class, a 6’4 do-it-all guard. 247Sports had Chandler rated as the #33 player in the nation, and the #6 player at his position in the 2022 class. Chandler has spent the last 2 years – since HS graduation – on his mission for The Church of Latter-day Saints.

Advertisement

Want reason for excitement? Chandler was the #6 rated combo guard in the 2022 class. The 5 players ranked higher: Nick Smith (1st round draft pick), Cason Wallace (lottery pick), Amari Bailey (NBA, 2nd round pick), JJ Starling (Syracuse, potential 1st round pick), and Jalen Hood-Schifino (#17 overall NBA selection). So of the 5 players ranked ahead of him, 4 are currently in the NBA and the 5th is on his way. So by these metrics, Chandler is a future NBA combo-guard that belongs in Pope’s system.

Just the first domino to fall…

Now that Chandler has made his commitment to Kentucky, expect other announcements to soon follow. Pope has “his guy”, and now he can assemble a full roster with that in mind. BBN should expect a couple of transfers from BYU to follow, and some Portal movement by the end of the week as well.

My take on this situation: BBN has been a little restless with how quiet it’s been on Pope’s recruiting. The Portal is full of talent, and rumors of players dying to play at UK have been circling. But yet, no announced commitments from anyone. Collin Chandler is the highest-ever recruit to commit to BYU in the program’s history. I think Pope wanted Chandler to be the first announcement, the first domino to fall. As far as recruiting, Chandler is Pope’s shiniest jewel, the highest touted recruit he ever landed at BYU. Pope, playing the “PR” game here, wanted Chandler to be the headline commitment of his era at Kentucky. And for me, personally I love it.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

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

Published

23 hours ago

on

April 15, 2024

By

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

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

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

Published

1 day ago

on

April 15, 2024

By

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending