Rob Dauster

Where's the return on investment?

So being able to find ways to...

generate those funds that don't just rely on people giving money and putting money into a pot i think is going to be the key for a lot of these it's not just kentucky it's everywhere right that's how you find a way to be able to consistently fund these programs all right so you you wanted to get into the mark pope conversation i think this is the way to do it in a way i talked to a third person this morning and his quote was you know this is a guy that's not afraid to make tough decisions

Well, Jay Back comes in, and he comes into year three of the Mark Pope era, which I think is going to be critical.

I think we all feel like it's going to be critical to the future of Mark Pope at Kentucky as the head coach.

You know, this is a guy who might have a tough decision to make at the end of this season, depending on how this team does this year.

And, man, it's one that –

The AD at Kentucky, it's kind of like the AD at Greg Byrne at Alabama with football.

It's similar in that respect.

There's so much pressure on them, especially when things don't go perfectly and they're not playing for Final Fours.

There's a lot of...

you know, public scrutiny about Mark Pope.

And again, I think Mark Pope, when we finish this season, I think we're going to see a season of, you know, top 10-ish to 20 for most of the year.

I think we're going to see a season where they go to the Sweet 16 and

And what does that do for a guy like Jay Batt who takes over six months, eight months earlier as the athletic director and has to potentially make a big decision?

I think the big question with that, and I don't by any stretch of the imagination think that Kentucky should be really considering moving off of Mark Pope yet, right?

I think you need to play this game.

I think you need to back him.

I think you need to support him.

I think you need to play this season as if he is the –