Mark Pope Pushes to Expand College Hoops Schedule

Mark Pope Pushes to Expand College Hoops Schedule: “Let’s Get to 40 Games!”

Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope is wasting no time making waves in his new role. Known for his energy, innovation, and forward-thinking mindset, Pope is now voicing a bold vision for the future of college basketball: extending the season to 35 or even 40 games.

In a recent appearance on Kentucky Sports Radio, Pope spoke candidly about one of his biggest ideas lengthening the college basketball season not just for the love of the game, but to adapt to the sport’s rapidly changing landscape, especially in light of revenue sharing becoming a reality.

“Expand this season,” Pope said. “Because what’s happening is, especially with the revenue share now, the revenue share should change everything in terms of our opportunity to actually go share revenue. Let’s get to I keep saying forty [games] and everyone’s mad at me. I’m gonna keep pushing forty. But can we get to thirty-five?”

The Revenue Factor: More Games, More Opportunities

Pope’s push is rooted in a practical financial argument. With increased revenue-sharing on the horizon, athletic departments across the country are looking for ways to not only sustain but grow. And one of the most straightforward solutions? Play more games.

“Part of the complication is that we make so much revenue off our home games that I’m locked into this 20-game home slate,” Pope explained. “We have to do that to pay the bills for us and for the athletic department, which is good. But bring on some more flexibility so we can play more games… that every school can actually bring in more revenue, that we can share with these student-athletes, and with the rest of the athletic department.”

In short: more games = more revenue = more support for student-athletes and programs.

Could It Really Happen?

While it might sound ambitious, Pope’s idea isn’t entirely far-fetched. The NCAA Tournament has expanded multiple times over the years. College football just revamped its postseason format, and across all sports, we’re seeing a shift toward more content, more competition, and more cash.

If there were ever a moment to consider changes like this, it’s now. The NIL era has transformed how college athletes operate, and revenue sharing will take that even further. Schools may soon need to offset costs and expanding schedules could be a powerful tool in doing so.

A Bold Voice for a New Era

Mark Pope isn’t afraid to shake things up, and this is just the latest example. Whether it’s a 40-game season or a reimagined way of thinking about revenue and college sports, Pope wants Kentucky and college basketball at large to be ahead of the curve.

And if there’s anyone who could turn a radical idea into a reality, it just might be the new leader of Big Blue Nation.

Would you want to see a 40-game college basketball season? Let the debate begin.