louisville did that in the portal all while getting mikel brown as well, thats why they are dangerous, thats why its important to have a mix
Jordan Smith Commits to Arkansas
- Thread starter ComebackCats98
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Because those guys are system guys. You can recruit them selling it. Many of them are fringe guys who either aren’t going to the NBA or are borderline. They’re used to playing in a system for a system coach. When you sell your system and program they can hear it. Why don’t think Mark has an abysmal record with NBA ready guys? It doesn’t sell to them.
The Hurley stuff is comical. It was before the NIL, and no way Kentucky is going to sit with crappy teams for a half a decade and hope something crazy happens like did for Hurley. Again, go find me another example of Hurley. Pope has been doing this going what 13 years? The results are the same year after year.
If Kentucky changes that and he hits it then let’s do it. But “he could be Hurley” has got to be one of the worst arguments I’ve heard yet. There’s zero indication that is true and Hurley is a one off, that stuff really doesn’t happen.
We ran off Tubby because he continued to miss the final four. We are in a major final four drought. Pope was brought in to fix that problem. We aren’t changing this, get into the final four or go find a coach who will.
If Kentucky changes that and he hits it then let’s do it. But “he could be Hurley” has got to be one of the worst arguments I’ve heard yet. There’s zero indication that is true and Hurley is a one off, that stuff really doesn’t happen.
We ran off Tubby because he continued to miss the final four. We are in a major final four drought. Pope was brought in to fix that problem. We aren’t changing this, get into the final four or go find a coach who will.
Fascinating about your Pope vs Hurley and comparing from year 1 at their jobs tenure.
No one on here does that with Pope vs cal at UK. It's always "well Pope has done better than cals last 4 years" but ignoring the obvious more logical comparison of Cals first few years. When we made 4 final fours. That should be the standard to aspire to for Pope and UK basketball. Not being better than 2021 to 2024 cal.
Good post.
I think Pope was forced, by injuries, to limit the rotation to 8 or 9 guys.
I wonder if he will keep the same mentality next year? I'm glad he brought in so many guys this year, because if he didn't, we'd be screwed right now.
But, I really hope he doesn't stick with that strategy. Play your best five guys for 30 minutes. Swapping lineups out just because 3 minutes came off the clock, is a really bad way to manage a game.
247 has JQ at 10th. Our next guy was 36th, then 42nd and then 54th.. that might seem pretty good on the surface but we also lost like 6 guys last year and only added 2 freshman.
Next year we won't have a top25 freshman class like we had with MM and JJ, so thats gonna be a huge hit. It will all come down to those guys and others like BG returning, and seeing what we can land in the transfer portal. That doesnt make me feel great..
Hurley was a legit title contender for 2 years, just like Drew.
He wasn't a title contender last year and this year is still up in the air. He could still lose in the first round.
But, again, let's take 3 of UConn's better players off their team, including Demery, who is their point guard. Does Hurley still win?
There are a lot of things about Pope that don't look good, but there are a lot of eye popping wins that he orchestrated too.
The injuries have been a big problem, so it is a bit unfair to crush the guy, but I think we can all agree, Pope is getting a 3rd year, he earned it, BUT, if these same bad traits and losses happen again next year, he can't get a 4th year.
Our goofy cornball coach has this tean rolling like a freight train...winning 8/9 as one of the hottest teams in the country. We'll be 9/10 after today.
i agree, the good news is something will get resolved soon, either next year is a hit or pope is gone, either option im fine with
I was only replying to the Hurley stuff, because it was said that Hurley is so great, well, he wasn't very good at all for a long time.
Yup, Cal crushed it from 2010-2017, no doubt, but that guy is competing with Dean Smith for the "accomplished less with more" trophy.
Give those 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2015 and 2017 rosters to almost any coach and they would win more than 1 title.
Yup, Cal recruited those rosters and he gets a ton of credit for doing that, but 1 title??? ONE???
Look at Cal from 2021 on, the talent quality took a dive and so did his results. Pope just mopped him up on his own home court and did it with a patch worked roster. Cal has lottery picks.
But again, we all agree, unless Pope changes several very important things, he has to go. But in the meantime, I'm going to support him, he’s earned that by working hard and putting UK first.
Yup, that's the truth.
So, as fans, what do we do here? I can't hate a guy that is doing everything he can, loves UK with everything he has, is navigating so many injuries and is one of our own.
There for a while, especially after the Gonzaga game, I wanted him fired right away, but somehow, some way, he turned the bus around and I ate crow. I'll continue to eat crow the rest of this year, but I won't eat crow next year. Next year, is a put-up-or-shut-up season.
i want pope to win here as much as id want anyone to win here, but we cant keep doing the what if game with him, as a coach he has potential to be really good, but next year will be the year to prove himself
I’m not making injury excuses here. We weren’t great with everybody healthy. But the season ending injuries absolutely limit the ceiling this team can have. I’m gonna enjoy the wins when they come the rest of this year knowing a Sweet 16 is probably the max we can go. Pope needs to nail the portal, retain Moreno, Jasper, Kam, Jelavic, Chandler, Noah, Hawthorne,Potter. I’m willing to see Mo, Lowe and Garrison go. We need better fits. I really like how Illinois has built their team and think the type of guys they have would be good in Popes system.
yeah but at uk you dont get 3 years to dilly dally, also im not sold on pope being on hurleys level to turn a program around like that
He recruited 5th year seniors his first season because when he was hired, that was practically all that was left available. And he was successful with them.
UL record 18-6
UK record 17-7
One team plays in weak ACC the other in the stronger SEC. One team you say is dangerous, the other you whine about daily.
DJ has had every chance to show his ability. He is a very good, valuable player. DJ is still an important piece to the team but, reality hits hard. Even DJ can tell that he is not close to Acuff in basketball ability.
yes wins are wins, but they have wins by 30
and have guys with 30 and nearly 50 point performances so you tell me who's more dangerous
He currently has Moreno and Johnson. Both 5 star recruits. Can you share with us the methods Pope is using with them to show other elite high school talents what he can do for them.
moreno and johnson are in a different stratosphere fhat acuff and dybantsa and wilson and guys like that
Other than Cal, what UK coach won a title within his first three years? Pitino got to FF in i believe year 4 coming off probation. Pope took over a team with 0 players and hasn't completed his second year. Both squads have also had multiple injuries to key player. So how has he been "dilly dallying"?
those guys were on upwards trajectories, cal injected so much juice into this program, pitino is one of the best EVER, meanwhile we are going into year three after another mediocre season coming off of our worst recruiting cycle since recruiting was even a thing
At this point in the season, even after UL won early, I would consider UK the more dangerous team. I don't care who scored the most individual points...Ament had 29 last game. He lost. Twice.
yeah because tennessee is literally ament & friends
louisville has multiple guys what can do it why is why they gave us belt
Sorry man, I do not see a system being played by Pope. Izzo, Hurley, Golden, Oates and others have recognizable, consistent system play. I still have no idea what Popes system actually is. Oweh, Aberdeen and to a lesser amount Moreno, seem to be our system. We have many good college players but I do not see an offensive system, just good players. It is probably just me.
Any damn day. We have had this conversation. Wins are the only thing that matters! You want to go off HS rankings and stars. WIN. That is why they play the game.
You are the one who asked if UT beating UL by 21 makes them the better team.
i domt but much stock in one single game, weve seen how fluky that gets (st peters, oakland, fdu)
Once again.
Slowly.
WINNING is the only thing that matters.
Looking good on paper, with a LOSS is still a LOSS.
Yeah. You didn’t worry about those losses, you were too giddy about Cals next recruiting class.
No one but us remembers that UK was supposedly the better team. Just that they lost. See how that works?
no ones trying to invalidate a win, im just saying games are fluky, a win is always a win and a loss is always a loss