A breakdown of SEC basketball coaches Mark Pope will X-and-O against in 2024-25

You can make a strong case Mark Pope has done everything right. The word I keep hearing from friends and fans alike when talking about the new Kentucky basketball coach is “refreshing.”

That said, don’t lose sight of the task at hand. We all know the expectations in the job description. (“I know the assignment,” was Pope’s opening line.) Heading into his first season at UK, he has an entirely new roster of players who must mix not just talents but personalities.

What makes the job tougher, especially for a first-year coach, is the conference in which Kentucky plays. SEC basketball continues to grow stronger and boasts an impressive roster of coaches.

Let’s break it down:

Nate Oats: The 49-year-old Alabama coach is currently king of the SEC hill. After reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in 2021 and 2023, the Crimson Tide broke through to the Final Four in 2024. And both Gary Parrish of CBS Sports and Jeff Borzello of ESPN rank Bama at No. 2 behind Kansas in their early top-25 rankings for 2024-25.

John Calipari: After winning just one game in the last four NCAA tournaments, the 65-year-old Calipari correctly sensed it was time to move on from Lexington. Still, Arkansas’ new coach is a master recruiter who insists he has changed his thinking on roster-building. Arkansas is No. 13 in Parrish’s rankings; No. 16 in Borzello’s.

Bruce Pearl: Auburn has reached the last five NCAA tournaments in which the Tigers were eligible under the 64-year-old Pearl. That includes the 2019 Final Four. Expect to see Auburn in the preseason AP Top 25.

Todd Golden: Florida’s 38-year-old coach guided the Gators to the Big Dance last season, their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021. Borzello has the Gators at No. 20 in his 2024-25 rankings. Parrish has Florida at No. 21.

Mike White: The Georgia coach has missed the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons — his final year at Florida and his first two in Athens. Next season is a big one for the 47-year-old.

Mark Pope: The 51-year-old Pope led BYU to a 10-8 league record and an NCAA Tournament last season, the Cougars’ first in the Big 12.

Matt McMahon: The former Murray State coach is 31-35 through two seasons at LSU. Next season is a big one for the 46-year-old.

Chris Beard: Ole Miss’ 51-year-old coach reached four straight NCAA tournaments, including the 2019 Final Four at Texas Tech, before being fired at Texas. He missed the Big Dance in his first season at Oxford, but Borzello has the Rebels ranked No. 22 for the upcoming campaign.

Chris Jans: The 55-year-old coach has taken the Bulldogs to the Big Dance in each of his first two seasons at Mississippi State.

Dennis Gates: Missouri went 0-18 in the SEC in its second season under the 44-year-old Gates, but don’t forget that the Tigers were 25-10 overall and won an NCAA Tournament game the year before.

Porter Moser: After taking Loyola Chicago to the 2018 Final Four, Moser has missed the NCAA Tournament all three of his years at Oklahoma. Next season is a big one for the 55-year-old.

Lamont Paris: The 49-year-old earned SEC Coach of the Year honors last season at South Carolina. Paris’ second set of Gamecocks went 13-5 in conference play in 2023-24.

Rick Barnes: Tennessee has six straight NCAA Tournament appearances under the 69-year-old Barnes. (He turns 70 on July 17.) The Vols were an Elite Eight team in 2024. Borzello has the Vols at No. 13 in his rankings. Parrish puts UT at No. 14.

Rodney Terry: The 56-year-old Terry has coached Texas to the Big Dance each of his two seasons in Austin. Texas was an Elite Eight team in 2023. Parrish has the Longhorns at 22.

Buzz Williams: Texas A&M has danced each of the last two seasons under the 51-year-old Williams. Last season, the Aggies recorded their first NCAA Tournament win since 2018. Parrish has the Aggies at No. 11 in his preseason top 25. Their No. 12, according to Borzello.

Mark Byington: Vanderbilt’s new 48-year-old coach led James Madison to a 32-4 record last season. That included a 72-61 win over Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

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