PROVO, Utah – BYU men’s basketball head coach Mark Pope has been named as one of 15 candidates for the 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List presented by AXIA Time.
In its first season in the Big 12, BYU is 19-7 overall and 7-6 in league play heading into the final five games of the regular season. The Cougars have regular season wins over three different AP Top 25 opponents for the first time since 1988.
Under Pope, the Cougars own one of the most dynamic offenses in the nation. Entering the weekend, BYU ranks first in the Big 12 in five different categories, including scoring offense where they are averaging 83.2 points per game, the ninth highest in a single season in program history.
BYU also ranks second in the nation in 3-point attempts and third in 3-point makes per game, having knocked down 10 or more triples in 18 games this season, including 14 in the Cougars 78-71 win over No. 11 Baylor on Tuesday at the Marriott Center.
.@BYUMBB is lucky to have one of the best in @CoachMarkPope 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VRqgjCxex1
— BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) February 22, 2024
Since making its debut in the AP poll on Nov. 27 this season, BYU has been ranked for 13 consecutive weeks. That is the fifth longest streak in a single season in program history.
BYU begins its two-game road trip to the Sunflower State on Saturday, Feb. 24, against Kansas State at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Pete Sousa and King McClure on the call. It will also be broadcast live on BYU Radio Sirius XM 143, KSL 102.7/1160 AM and BYURadio.org/BYU Radio app with Greg Wrubell and Mark Durrant.
2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List
Hubert Davis – North Carolina
Bryce Drew – Grand Canyon
Anthony Grant – Dayton
Dan Hurley – UConn
Nate Oats – Alabama
T.J. Otzelberger – Iowa State
Matt Painter – Purdue
Lamont Paris – South Carolina
Bruce Pearl – Auburn
Richard Pitino – New Mexico
Mark Pope – BYU
Kelvin Sampson – Houston
Josh Schertz – Indiana State
Kyle Smith – Washington State
Danny Sprinkle – Utah State