I wanted it to work so bad

[BigBlueGuru]

But after watching Popes presser and his comments I just dont think he is up to this challenge. Count me officially on the we need a change crowd. First person who needs to be fired or let go is Mitch, followed by the entire coaching staff.

Mark Pope,
We love you man but this isnt working. For the greater good of the program please step down or agree to another position within the program. Please

 

[SBKY]

For your mental health, please step down. You already have more money now that you'll ever be able to spend.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

For your mental health, please step down. You already have more money now that you'll ever be able to spend.

This. He will have made around 11 or 12 million dollars at Kentucky. I'm sure they can work out a deal to get him a little bit more if he steps down. So after taxes you could walk away with 8 to 10 million for his time here. A mid major could then pick him up and pay him around a million bucks a year. That's still generational wealth.

 

[megablue]

Here it is in a nutshell. Everyone has limits and levels. Pope has found his, it seems. Be careful, you might get what you wish for.

Peter principle - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Cats4321]

He knows this isn't going to work at this point. He should just take his millions and find a coaching job that he can enjoy. Nothing wrong with admitting you aren't cut out for a job.

 

[bbnkat02]

Pope is a good person. And I think at a mid major level could be a decent coach.

He was just never ready for this spotlight.

 

[mash_24]

A lot of us did. Why we desperately waited and hoped Pope would change his approach. And that’s really what it boils down to. I think he’s fine as an X’s and O’s guy although the pieces this year didn’t best fit his style. You have to hold kids accountable every day in practice and in games. That’s clearly not being done. The issues with his staffs recruiting or the deal with jmi. Those people need to be held accountable. And ultimately he needs to hold himself accountable and make the needed changes to himself as a coach. None of that has been done. For himself and the program he should step down. The most loyal fans of his are tired and done with it. I’m one of them.

 

[Snarks]

This. He will have made around 11 or 12 million dollars at Kentucky. I'm sure they can work out a deal to get him a little bit more if he steps down. So after taxes you could walk away with 8 to 10 million for his time here. A mid major could then pick him up and pay him around a million bucks a year. That's still generational wealth.

Or he could just get the $25mil he’s owed. Stoops didn’t do that either.

 

[TTTblue24]

He’s just not ready for this job, he’s too inconsistent with decisions and just not enough experience to handle the pressure. He lets the refs do whatever and just sits there for one, wish it could have worked but it’s not.

 

[SamePooter]

“Here to win banners” I shoulda known. Who even says that. Never came off the tongue right.

 

[BigBlue_83]

We all wanted him to succeed. No telling what will happen at the end of the season but I think he gets a third year. I’d love for him to turn it around but it’s getting tough to see any positive here

 

[Kyfan27]

He's probably not the guy, but portal season should tell us everything at least. Get some dudes and maybe he can crawl out of the pit he dug. Whiff again and at least we should have some some clarity that next year is it. God I want this to end soon one way or another.

 

[gabbizon]

A lot of us did. Why we desperately waited and hoped Pope would change his approach. And that’s really what it boils down to. I think he’s fine as an X’s and O’s guy although the pieces this year didn’t best fit his style. You have to hold kids accountable every day in practice and in games. That’s clearly not being done. The issues with his staffs recruiting or the deal with jmi. Those people need to be held accountable. And ultimately he needs to hold himself accountable and make the needed changes to himself as a coach. None of that has been done. For himself and the program he should step down. The most loyal fans of his are tired and done with it. I’m one of them.

He's probably not the guy, but portal season should tell us everything at least. Get some dudes and maybe he can crawl out of the pit he dug. Whiff again and at least we should have some some clarity that next year is it. God I want this to end soon one way or another.

I posted the below last Feb and got roasted. Could very well happen but he probably gets one more shot!


Creed Bratton


All-American


Today at 12:17 PM


∞ • #39


AbbieLex said: •


I hate to say it but he is not the man. The pressure will chew him up after the tourney and into next year. I see him resigning due to knowing he can't accomplish the mission.


I am in my 50's and have heard of UK fans that expect to win every game and the title every year. I thought it was just a joke but then I come here after a loss to a team that had better talent and realize you people really do exist.


« bryanperkey


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[Ky_Bred_Cat]

In some ways he may just be too good for this job. Meaning that he's an exceedingly nice intellectual. The D1 top level coaching ranks aren't exactly filled with this personality type.

I really want this to work. Sadly, its becoming more difficult to see that happening.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

He’s not stepping down lol

 

[UKAlum84]

Early in the season, I thought we'd be 5th or 6th place in the sec.....Not because of coaching but because the sec teams are good enough to upset the top teams. And the injuries of key players on our team.

Last night a glaring issue appeared to me, not from coaching, from the refs....Towards the end of a close game, the refs let an auburn player fall to the ground after attempting a shot, no whistle.........there should have been a foul called on UK. Instead, the refs let game get out of hand and allow a second chance tip in by auburn to take the lead.....Call me biased, whatever. It helped auburn tremendously win that game.

 

[UKAlum84]

And the supposed push off by chandler to get the ball......and the refs called a foul on him. stupidity

 

[UKAlum84]

Everybody tends to think a coach is the main factor for success. These players in the sec are getting better.

 

[Catsfan3382]

Pope is a good person. And I think at a mid major level could be a decent coach.

He was just never ready for this spotlight.

I think, to be completely honest, Pope is more in line to be a middle school or possibly high school coach. His platitudes and ”just keep trying hard and things will work out“ mantra might work on young adults but not college athletes. Former player or not, he’s been basically a total embarrassment to the program he professes to love so much.
That being said, it’s not Pope’s fault as he does truly love UK. This is ALL on Barnhart. He hired someone not even remotely qualified to lead this program and set Pope up to fail.

 

[Cats_2010]

He’s not stepping down lol

That’s fine but he will feel the wrath next year. Fans are pissed about this year and next year will be worse. Not going to listen to his Kumbaya BS.

 

[Damage_inc]

Pope was hired because he played here. Full stop. He was never qualified. It seems Mitch allowed Jeff shepherd and his buddies to talk him into this hire. Pope is actually a good enough coach on the floor to win here. But he can’t assemble the talent needed, players and staff

 

[yoshukai]

I think, to be completely honest, Pope is more in line to be a middle school or possibly high school coach. His platitudes and ”just keep trying hard and things will work out“ mantra might work on young adults but not college athletes. Former player or not, he’s been basically a total embarrassment to the program he professes to love so much.
That being said, it’s not Pope’s fault as he does truly love UK. This is ALL on Barnhart. He hired someone not even remotely qualified to lead this program and set Pope up to fail.

I’ve said it many times. Mark Popes personality and demeanor would be a perfect fit to be coaching in Womens basketball. I’m not meaning that as a slight either.

 

[fisherscatfan]

Everybody tends to think a coach is the main factor for success. These players in the sec are getting better.

Pope has brought in a bunch of “ok” P-4 talent. 1st year 100% a pass and actually cobbled together a team way better than I expected. Year 2, he brought in HS recruits that basically had ties to Kentucky and did very poorly overall in the portal with roster construction. 3rd year nothing. Trend is poor and getting worse.

 

[Goingfor9]

Early in the season, I thought we'd be 5th or 6th place in the sec.....Not because of coaching but because the sec teams are good enough to upset the top teams. And the injuries of key players on our team.

Last night a glaring issue appeared to me, not from coaching, from the refs....Towards the end of a close game, the refs let an auburn player fall to the ground after attempting a shot, no whistle.........there should have been a foul called on UK. Instead, the refs let game get out of hand and allow a second chance tip in by auburn to take the lead.....Call me biased, whatever. It helped auburn tremendously win that game.

Auburn absolutely sucks. That game shouldn’t come down to any 50-50 plays. It’s called crappy coaching when we could have put auburn away we became complacent. Pope lacks a sense of urgency and he has no killer instinct.

 

[Goingfor9]

I think, to be completely honest, Pope is more in line to be a middle school or possibly high school coach. His platitudes and ”just keep trying hard and things will work out“ mantra might work on young adults but not college athletes. Former player or not, he’s been basically a total embarrassment to the program he professes to love so much.
That being said, it’s not Pope’s fault as he does truly love UK. This is ALL on Barnhart. He hired someone not even remotely qualified to lead this program and set Pope up to fail.

Women’s coach. That’s what his demeanor calls for.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Felt the same way about Joker Phillips. He was a great player and all around good guy.

 

[bbnkat02]

Felt the same way about Joker Phillips. He was a great player and all around good guy.

I don’t want to see Popes career end with an empty Rupp.

That would be horrible for everyone. He just needs to step away.

And we never ever hire another of our own ever again unless they are proven elsewhere.

 

[OleTiredBum]

I don’t want to see Popes career end with an empty Rupp.

That would be horrible for everyone. He just needs to step away.

And we never ever hire another of our own ever again unless they are proven elsewhere.

I do...

 

[LexingtonThoroughblade]

Right now the program feels like where it was at the end of Tubby's tenure or BCG to me. We are treading water but are just "eh" and there's not a lot of excitement. The gap between us and the elite teams is pretty jarring.

 

[bbnkat02]

I do...View attachment 1195876

He still a former player and part of our history.

Yes. He’s not performing. Yes he needs to go. But that image would be a black mark on our history for years.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

Right now the program feels like where it was at the end of Tubby's tenure or BCG to me. We are treading water but are just "eh" and there's not a lot of excitement. The gap between us and the elite teams is pretty jarring.

Watching Michigan and Duke last night made me realize how irrelevant Kentucky basketball has become.

 

[mash_24]

He still a former player and part of our history.

Yes. He’s not performing. Yes he needs to go. But that image would be a black mark on our history for years.

Don’t even acknowledge that guy. He’s into the kind of personal attacks on Pope that have nothing to do with basketball. Not sure he’s even a UK fan.

 

[OleTiredBum]

He still a former player and part of our history.

Yes. He’s not performing. Yes he needs to go. But that image would be a black mark on our history for years

Pope is horrible. how anyone can't see this just is mind numbing.

 

[bbnkat02]

Pope is horrible. how anyone can't see this just is mind numbing.

Quote me where I said he wasn’t.

I don’t hate the man however. And I don’t want it to end like that for him and us.

But he’s got to go.

 

[OleTiredBum]

Don’t even acknowledge that guy. He’s into the kind of personal attacks on Pope that have nothing to do with basketball. Not sure he’s even a UK fan.

you are incorrect.....Been a UK fan my entire life. i'm just not a homer like you are that thinks everything will just "BE OK"....nutjobs like you ARE THE PROBLEM

 

[bbnkat02]

you are incorrect.....Been a UK fan my entire life. i'm just not a homer like you are that thinks everything will just "BE OK"....nutjobs like you ARE THE PROBLEM

Bud I’m not on the rain of “It’s ok” or “it’s going to be ok”.

He needs to resign

The image of an empty Rupp with one of our own being fired at that point would draw so much media lambasting and lampooning it would damage this program even further.

Inwant to avoid that by him leaving of his own volition at the end of this year.

EDIT: And I see you think that’s funny. The polarizing dogma is disgusting. Lemme guess. You want to just lynch him for good measure.

 

[OleTiredBum]

Bud I’m not on the rain of “It’s ok” or “it’s going to be ok”.

He needs to resign

The image of an empty Rupp with one of our own being fired at that point would draw so much media lambasting and lampooning it would damage this program even further.

Inwant to avoid that by him leaving of his own volition at the end of this year.

you don't think the damage that has been done for the past 20 fkn years wasn't enough to cause people to laugh their asses off at us? We look like a herd of horse ****.

 

[bbnkat02]

you don't think the damage that has been done for the past 20 fkn years wasn't enough to cause people to laugh their asses off at us? We look like a herd of horse ****.

Sooooo. Let’s throw gasoline in the fire?

What are you drinking? Twenty years? We had some damn good years in there. Including multiple FFs AND a title. WTH?!

 

[OleTiredBum]

not gasoline that's for sure...are you focused on the past or the future? are you so proud that you are ignorant?

 

[OleTiredBum]

Bud I’m not on the rain of “It’s ok” or “it’s going to be ok”.

He needs to resign

The image of an empty Rupp with one of our own being fired at that point would draw so much media lambasting and lampooning it would damage this program even further.

Inwant to avoid that by him leaving of his own volition at the end of this year.

EDIT: And I see you think that’s funny. The polarizing dogma is disgusting. Lemme guess. You want to just lynch him for good measure.

I do think it's hilarious...careful what you wish for...oh as an aside...i fkn hate liberals.