The Saint Mary’s College men’s basketball team, known for its throwback culture, has faced challenges with players entering the transfer portal and the rise of NIL collectives. Despite these obstacles, coach Randy Bennett remains confident in the program’s ability to adapt and continue its success by blending homegrown talent with strategic transfers.
Mark Pope has taken over as head coach of the Kentucky men’s basketball program, inheriting a roster that hasn’t made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament in the last four seasons. Like John Calipari, who led Kentucky to success after taking over in 2009, Pope has a lot of work to do. The 2024 recruiting class is in jeopardy of falling outside the top 100, and several key players have entered the NBA Draft or transferred. Pope has signed one player from BYU, where he was the head coach, and may bring others with him. With at least eight scholarships available, Pope will be active in the transfer portal and could also target players remaining in the 2024 recruiting class.
Duke has secured a commitment from Dariq Whitehead, a 6-foot-6 forward who has started 63 games over the past four seasons. The fifth-year player brings experience and floor-spacing ability to the Blue Devils. His presence has contributed to Duke’s rise to No. 3 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings.
