Sad news for kentucky wildcats: He won’t play again

For those still absorbing Kentucky’s surprise hire of ex-Wildcats center Mark Pope as the new UK men’s basketball coach, we are here to provide public service.

Pope’s coaching background includes three areas that should give the Big Blue Nation hope for the future, as well as two areas of concern.

For Kentucky fans looking for a “modern,” metrics-based offensive attack, Pope is the man.

At BYU, Pope hired Keegan Brown, an analytics expert who helped shape the team’s offensive strategy. That style, which relies heavily on 3-pointers and layups, is similar to what Nate Oats has used in recent seasons to help Alabama become the SEC’s most successful program.Pope used the “five out” rule at Brigham Young. Last season, the Cougars’ head coach routed much of his offense through 6-foot-11 center Aly Khalifa. As a result, the Egyptian big man ranked second on the BYU squad with 115 assists.

(If you’re thinking, “A Mark Pope offense would be perfect for Zvonimir Ivisic,” you’re not alone.

Just wondering if someone can impart that fact on Kentucky’s offensively proficient, incumbent big man.

In the recently concluded season, BYU finished second in NCAA Division I in 3-pointers attempted, averaging 32 per game. The Cougars ranked third in the country in assists, averaging 18.5 per game.