Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope has a bold plan to reshape college basketball: expand the season to 40 games. In an era where the sport is rapidly evolving with NIL deals, revenue sharing, and conference realignments, Pope believes a longer season would enhance the product for players, fans, and programs alike.
Pope outlined his vision, emphasizing the importance of multi-team events (MTEs) like the Maui Invitational, which he calls “an unbelievable experience to grow your team.” Events like Maui offer teams early challenges against elite competition while providing fans with marquee matchups and vacations. However, Pope acknowledges the tradeoffs. “It’s not a standalone prospect,” he said. “There’s other things that are really important to the success of our program … and we’re just trying to figure all that out.”
His solution is clear: “Let’s get to 40 games. And you know what? It’s fine if you want to make four or six of those preseason games, like, in the league. Great. Make more exhibition games—I’m all in.” Pope argues that stretching the schedule would allow programs to balance home revenue opportunities while participating in special tournaments.
Historically, not all coaches share Pope’s enthusiasm. UConn’s Dan Hurley famously soured on MTEs after an 0-3 performance at Maui, vowing to never schedule one again. Even John Calipari avoided such tournaments during his tenure, favoring control over his team’s non-conference slate.
Despite this, fans overwhelmingly love MTEs for their electric atmospheres and high-profile matchups, while players gain valuable experience. One option is an NIL fueled MTE, like the one that was in Vegas.
Pope though sees a longer season as a win for everyone. Not only would it create additional revenue streams, but it would better prepare players for professional careers. “When I went to the league, by the All-Star break, I was like, ‘This is insanity!’ We played 10 more games already than I had in my whole college career,” he said. Expanding to 40 games, Pope believes, would bridge that gap. Allowing players to play half an NBA season while in college gives players a better understanding of the NBA games; becuase if a team wins their conference tourney and goes deep in the NCAA, you could get to 50 games.
Ultimately, Pope’s vision seeks to strike a balance. Programs wouldn’t sacrifice home-game revenue, but they’d also have the flexibility to participate in prestigious events like Maui. “It’s great for fans. It’s great for basketball,” Pope said. “That’s the solution I’m pushing for.”
If Pope’s plan gains traction, college basketball could offer even more must-see games, greater fan engagement, and unforgettable experiences for players. That is something the sport desperately needs in this ever-changing era with fans worrying over the professionalism of college sports.
