Pope: "They Cheated Us"

Feb 21, 2026
364
411
63
No they didn't Pope. Your pro chatGPT analytics cheated us. Mitch hiring you, cheated us. You putting in BG at the final seconds of the game of how he literally stood there, like he did in the loss against the Missouri game.

You not conditioning our team cheated us.

You were under Rick Pitino. He called UK Rome and Camelot. He made that a reality again. And you're tearing down the walls.

One bad call. Yes. It was bad. Should it have swayed the outcome? No. A well coached team and a good team doesn't put them in those positions to get hosed like that.

I know you love this program. I know that is true. But its unfortunate, but you're not the guy. I am so sorry and I mean that genuinely.


Now he knows how we felt when this administration hired him and we thought we could get a real coach. Cheated
 

Doc4UK!

All-Conference
Aug 14, 2003
2,789
1,755
113
Pope mentioned the horrid distressing people associated with this game. Assume he was referring to the officials?
 

Noledynasty2490

All-American
Jul 31, 2022
4,286
7,830
113
Just said on the post game show.."those horrid people who tried to take the game from us.."


Yikes..dudes melting
 

Noledynasty2490

The Battles's End Collective Member

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Noledynasty2490

All-American
Jul 31, 2022
4,286
7,830
113
Jelly was +9 and only played 12 minutes. Noah was -4 and played 18 minutes, Garrison was -8 and played 13. I don’t get it.
Pope totally forgets Jelavic exists in the second half. Just totally forgets.
 

Noledynasty2490

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CrimsonCats_rivals

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2022
1,634
3,327
61
That last call against Chandler was bad, but I’m not a big fan of handling it this way. Get in the refs’ face on the court or call them out in the press conference and eat a fine and, right or wrong, it at least looks like some backbone. This passive aggressive technique of saying it “privately”, but loud enough for everyone to hear it and still make it a story in hopes of avoiding any discipline from the league kind of comes off as weak and whiny.
 

Tri-Countycat

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
1,280
2,727
113
That last call against Chandler was bad, but I’m not a big fan of handling it this way. Get in the refs’ face on the court or call them out in the press conference and eat a fine and, right or wrong, it at least looks like some backbone. This passive aggressive technique of saying it “privately”, but loud enough for everyone to hear it and still make it a story in hopes of avoiding any discipline from the league kind of comes off as weak and whiny.
He’s a beta
 
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ToniTonyToneDelkDelkDelk

All-Conference
Feb 20, 2007
2,354
2,106
113
Pope is acting like bratty no accountability taking goof. And now Oweh is posting that they were cheated. The only thing he is apparently coaching is a loser mentality.
 
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bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
47,616
70,834
113
That last call against Chandler was bad, but I’m not a big fan of handling it this way. Get in the refs’ face on the court or call them out in the press conference and eat a fine and, right or wrong, it at least looks like some backbone. This passive aggressive technique of saying it “privately”, but loud enough for everyone to hear it and still make it a story in hopes of avoiding any discipline from the league kind of comes off as weak and whiny.

Yep.

That's the new UK basketball motto "The Whiny Standard"
 
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SBKY

Senior
Jan 20, 2011
359
625
93
He sounds so goofy when he says it too.. like he wants to sound all big and bad but doesn't know how. Who the F did we hire? Get me out of this please.
 
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UKortho

All-American
Oct 13, 2015
4,994
9,549
77
That last call against Chandler was bad, but I’m not a big fan of handling it this way. Get in the refs’ face on the court or call them out in the press conference and eat a fine and, right or wrong, it at least looks like some backbone. This passive aggressive technique of saying it “privately”, but loud enough for everyone to hear it and still make it a story in hopes of avoiding any discipline from the league kind of comes off as weak and whiny.

I agree. But that’s who our coach is when times are tough. Weak and whiny. I would have gained some respect if he would have got tossed.
 

warau

All-Conference
Mar 9, 2006
2,094
4,201
113
There were several calls made against Auburn that were horrific, but yeah; he got cheated
 

mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
9,224
26,988
108
MO also just STOOD THERE instead of fighting for the rebound.
Mo blocked the initial shot attempt. He was out of position and blocked out by other players from the rim. Garrison just backpedaled and waved his arms while the Auburn kid,( one of whom I assume
he was supposed to be guarding) tipped it in.
 

mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
9,224
26,988
108
There were several calls made against Auburn that were horrific, but yeah; he got cheated
Auburn was outplayed in basically every statistical category. We didn’t really deserve to win. You deserved it less.
 

ZaytovenCat

All-American
Apr 25, 2013
23,880
8,404
97
Seeing Mitch in that picture… just the visual of that POS face makes me want to punch the man. I hate him as much as I hated Cal at the end.
 
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FatCatMan

All-Conference
Feb 19, 2026
1,355
3,222
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The guy knows he's finished this isn't for him...I truly believe he's just gonna step down and go coach in the mountain west next year. There's nothing wrong with that
I hope you’re right. But he’s got $5 million reasons not to, angry fans and boosters be damned.

Maybe a booster will buy him out? We can hope.
 

ZaytovenCat

All-American
Apr 25, 2013
23,880
8,404
97
Give me five minutes In a room with the bastard.
Same man. I used to always say if I ever saw Cal on a sidewalk that I would be going to jail. I’ve now reached that point with Mitch. He’s lucky I’ll most likely never be spending a dime to go to another game or have reason to be in Lexington as long as he’s there.
 
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FatCatMan

All-Conference
Feb 19, 2026
1,355
3,222
113
Same man. I used to always say if I ever saw Cal on a sidewalk that I would be going to jail. I’ve now reached that point with Mitch. He’s lucky I’ll most likely never be spending a dime to go to another game or have reason to be in Lexington as long as he’s there.
I never felt that way about Cal. Even at his worst, there were still feelings of joy from the early part of his tenure.

If Pope comes back next year, I’m going to feel like a helpless father being held down while bad guys shoot their son or daughter.
 
Feb 21, 2026
364
411
63
I never felt that way about Cal. Even at his worst, there were still feelings of joy from the early part of his tenure.

If Pope comes back next year, I’m going to feel like a helpless father being held down while bad guys shoot their son or daughter.
Just because pope is stomping on the corpse and can't do anything to revive it doesn't change the fact cal killed this program
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,158
19,065
113
Just because pope is stomping on the corpse and can't do anything to revive it doesn't change the fact cal killed this program
Pope definitely has his own issues that he's going to have to address, but no doubt in my mind that Cal killed the program, and that he still says **** about us.
 

Blue Jesus

Senior
Aug 24, 2013
389
544
93
Is that the "Damn I already wrote the contract to extend Pope, now I have to recant it look"

Or is it, "I have to fire him look"

Or is he constipated?
Given what came next it may have been the "please don't say anything to get fined" look. I assume the athletic department pays those fines, not the coaches personally... anyone know?
 

BigBluefoot

All-American
Jul 4, 2025
1,534
6,263
113
Three things can be true at once.

1. Pope's coaching is very poor.
2. The sec officials absolutely eff us and handed the game to Auburn.
2. The jack wagon in the corner is the main person to blame.
 
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BlueBloodKyFan73

All-Conference
Oct 29, 2010
3,757
4,600
113
No they didn't Pope. Your pro chatGPT analytics cheated us. Mitch hiring you, cheated us. You putting in BG at the final seconds of the game of how he literally stood there, like he did in the loss against the Missouri game.

You not conditioning our team cheated us.

You were under Rick Pitino. He called UK Rome and Camelot. He made that a reality again. And you're tearing down the walls.

One bad call. Yes. It was bad. Should it have swayed the outcome? No. A well coached team and a good team doesn't put them in those positions to get hosed like that.

I know you love this program. I know that is true. But its unfortunate, but you're not the guy. I am so sorry and I mean that genuinely.


Murphy career HIGH in points allowed