Sick of Excuses

[bbnkat02]

I've seen it all over social media today

"We were robbed! Refs screwed us!"
"Injuries are the only reason we're losing"
"Pope needs more time"
"We're fine."
"Only true fans are standing with the team and not criticizing."
"If you've never played you wouldn't understand...."


I'm sick to the teeth of the acceptance of mediocrity. When did the greatest fan base in CBB get so SOFT?

 

[OleTiredBum]

yup! it's embarrassing. bottom line is this Kentucky coach with Pope is an absolute a disgrace. count up the emotional wins ....meaningless. we are a joke on display and the world is watching.

 

[anon1777473514]

Well, then be angry at me. I 1000% agree with coach that we were robbed. Absolutely criminal to call an offensive foul when Chandler had a defensive player with two fully extended arms wrapped around him. We can talk about all the deficiencies of the performance and you’d be right but simply swallowing the whistle, or calling the correct foul and we win a much-needed road game.

 

[UKCowboys]

Some would say the person who bails so quickly on their own coach and team is the "soft" portion of BBN

 

[OleTiredBum]

Well, then be angry at me. I 1000% agree with coach that we were robbed. Absolutely criminal to call an offensive foul when Chandler had a defensive player with two fully extended arms wrapped around him. We can talk about all the deficiencies of the performance and you’d be right but simply swallowing the whistle, or calling the correct foul and we win a much-needed road game.

again....losing at the whistle when you lost the game 40 minutes plus.....we suck. but that's a hard thing to swallow for most

 

[FitchandMurray29]

PREFACE: UK should be at a higher standard and I’m not wanting any “standard” talk in response.

But the records and recent struggles of our most recent two opponents definitely clouded folks’ view of those games. By KenPom they are 34 and 38 respectively. I believe many are used to these high loss/middling SEC teams as being pushovers.

They’re just not anymore.

If we lost at 21-6 Miami with Lucas doing a good job, folks wouldn’t lose their mind as much as us losing at 14-12 Auburn. Even if the computers rate Auburn as a tougher opponent. There’s something about that record that works with our expectations as UK fans.

Many a Cal team would go on the road vs a top 35ish team and lose.

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

PREFACE: UK should be at a higher standard and I’m not wanting any “standard” talk in response.

But the records and recent struggles of our most recent two opponents definitely clouded folks’ view of those games. By KenPom they are 34 and 38 respectively. I believe many are used to these high loss/middling SEC teams as being pushovers.

They’re just not anymore.

If we lost at 21-6 Miami with Lucas doing a good job, folks wouldn’t lose their mind as much as us losing at 14-12 Auburn. Even if the computers rate Auburn as a tougher opponent. There’s something about that record that works with our expectations as UK fans.

Many a Cal team would go on the road vs a top 35ish team and lose.

Yeah and Cal got ran out of town. So what does that tell you?

 

[fisherscatfan]

Pope is building nothing. People say “give him time. You guys would have fired Hurley etc”. Year 3 coming up and what is Pope building? Nobody coming in so another year of 1 year mercenaries coming in and that assumes he can judge talent and properly construct a roster. How is Pope moving forward to warrant any belief he can lead UK successfully?

 

[anon1777473514]

Yeah and Cal got ran out of town. So what does that tell you?

That the grass isn’t always greener.

 

[Coach777]

He would have to hit the jackpot in the portal next year and that won't happen unless they spend 30+ million, seriously! Why? Because it's proven he can't develop players skills. You know most of the kids have nba aspirations like BG and JJ for example. There has been absolutely no improvement in either and you can say that about the majority of the players. BG has wasted 2 and JJ 1 year under Pope. You don't think other coaches will point that out to a recruit? It will be interesting to see what they do end up spending or have available to spend for backup players again next year. That amount if low will speak volumes and will be the end of the Pope experience.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Yeah and Cal got ran out of town. So what does that tell you?

Cal did not get ran out of town for that but you already knew that before posting

 

[bbnkat02]

Well, then be angry at me. I 1000% agree with coach that we were robbed. Absolutely criminal to call an offensive foul when Chandler had a defensive player with two fully extended arms wrapped around him. We can talk about all the deficiencies of the performance and you’d be right but simply swallowing the whistle, or calling the correct foul and we win a much-needed road game.

No. Here's the point.

1. It should never have been that close to a sub .500 SEC team. We outplayed them several minutes of that 2nd Half.
2. Even if it were an "Oopsie" game (which happens to every team), we have several other inexplicable losses. You can't afford an "Oopsie" game a at this point.
3. We all know how SEC officiating is and no amount of "It's Not Fair!" changes that L. The point is you shouldn't have to worry about a bad call game ruining your season. We've had several other opportunities and have failed. IT SHOULLDN'T HAVE BEEN A "MUCH NEEDED" ROAD GAME IN THE FIRST PLACE

Hell, Pope robbed us just as much with his inexplicable rotation changes. AGAIN.
BG just standing and watching AU get 3 FREAKING SHOTS on that possession. And he wasn't the only one.

Point is, I will not whine about one call (no matter how right or wrong it was) when we can't even do the basics anymore. Sure, if that was for a trip to the FF or a Title? I'd be screaming and ranting with the rest of you. That call in the grand scheme of things is meaningless to this overall season.

Don't want that call to bite you in the ***?

1. Don't go 13 minutes without scoring to UNC.
2. Don't lose to a sucky Mizzou by not showing up.
3. Stop posting highlights and selling merch after loses.
4. Stop lying to us about what the hell happened before the UofL game (because that started this whole general downward spiral)
5. Stop relying on Brandon Garrison to do anything, because he won't.

Ugh. We have much bigger problems than one screwy foul call.

 

[anon1777473514]

No. Here's the point.

1. It should never have been that close to a sub .500 SEC team. We outplayed them several minutes of that 2nd Half.
2. Even if it were an "Oopsie" game (which happens to every team), we have several other inexplicable losses. You can't afford an "Oopsie" game a at this point.
3. We all know how SEC officiating is and no amount of "It's Not Fair!" changes that L. The point is you shouldn't have to worry about a bad call game ruining your season. We've had several other opportunities and have failed. IT SHOULLDN'T HAVE BEEN A "MUCH NEEDED" ROAD GAME IN THE FIRST PLACE

Hell, Pope robbed us just as much with his inexplicable rotation changes. AGAIN.
BG just standing and watching AU get 3 FREAKING SHOTS on that possession. And he wasn't the only one.

Point is, I will not whine about one call (no matter how right or wrong it was) when we can't even do the basics anymore. Sure, if that was for a trip to the FF or a Title? I'd be screaming and ranting with the rest of you. That call in the grand scheme of things is meaningless to this overall season.

Don't want that call to bite you in the ***?

1. Don't go 13 minutes without scoring to UNC.
2. Don't lose to a sucky Mizzou by not showing up.
3. Stop posting highlights and selling merch after loses.
4. Stop lying to us about what the hell happened before the UofL game (because that started this whole general downward spiral)
5. Stop relying on Brandon Garrison to do anything, because he won't.

Ugh. We have much bigger problems than one screwy foul call.

Agreed but we were still screwed. And it was painfully clear.

 

[sk73]

Some would say the person who bails so quickly on their own coach and team is the "soft" portion of BBN

Not when it is obvious, plainly obvious, that Pope is not the person that can lead us forward at the level we expect. He is as weird as BCG. 2 years max for Pope.

 

[theBlues]

I'm too lazy right now to go find the gif but I am eating popcorn.

 

[Monday Nitro]

Well, then be angry at me. I 1000% agree with coach that we were robbed. Absolutely criminal to call an offensive foul when Chandler had a defensive player with two fully extended arms wrapped around him. We can talk about all the deficiencies of the performance and you’d be right but simply swallowing the whistle, or calling the correct foul and we win a much-needed road game.

The OP is a raving lunatic. He wants to boycott games over something Pope said about our fans......that he never said. No reasoning, no level-headedness.....nothing. Just insanity.

 

[bbnkat02]

PREFACE: UK should be at a higher standard and I’m not wanting any “standard” talk in response.

But the records and recent struggles of our most recent two opponents definitely clouded folks’ view of those games. By KenPom they are 34 and 38 respectively. I believe many are used to these high loss/middling SEC teams as being pushovers.

They’re just not anymore.

If we lost at 21-6 Miami with Lucas doing a good job, folks wouldn’t lose their mind as much as us losing at 14-12 Auburn. Even if the computers rate Auburn as a tougher opponent. There’s something about that record that works with our expectations as UK fans.

Many a Cal team would go on the road vs a top 35ish team and lose.

There was a time we didn't struggle with every T50 team. Again, if that been loss number 4-5, you chalk it up to ******** refs and bad luck on the road and move on.

IT was loss NUMBER TEN. For the four season in a row. But yes, let's continue to "be patient"

I'm' well aware this isn't the old "dog crap" SEC. That's still no excuse to lose to a struggling first year coach with a sucky roster.

 

[UKCowboys]

Not when it is obvious, plainly obvious, that Pope is not the person that can lead us forward at the level we expect. He is as weird as BCG. 2 years max for Pope.

If we brought in a top guy, I wouldn't be opposed to it. But I don't think there is any scenario where he isn't back next season

 

[bbnkat02]

The OP is a raving lunatic. He wants to boycott games over something Pope said about our fans......that he never said. No reasoning, no level-headedness.....nothing. Just insanity.

Glad you're attacking me since I've not once really ever attacked you.

But, since you seem to be the epitome of championing this:

Give me three reasons we should run this back next season. I'll wait.

 

[bbnkat02]

Agreed but we were still screwed. And it was painfully clear.

And that still doesn't and will never change the fact it's yet another tally in the loss column.

We really don't need to ***** and moan about a bad call when we can't even make FTs at a decent clip. Or run clean sets. Or finish at the rim.

I'm not worried about Courtney freaking Green. I'm very worried about Mark Pope, and the University of Kentucky Men's Basketball Program.

 

[anon1777473514]

And that still doesn't and will never change the fact it's yet another tally in the loss column.

We really don't need to ***** and moan about a bad call when we can't even make FTs at a decent clip. Or run clean sets. Or finish at the rim.

I'm not worried about Courtney freaking Green. I'm very worried about Mark Pope, and the University of Kentucky Men's Basketball Program.

Yep it’s a loss in the loss column. Courtney Green made sure of it. At least he has BBNs blessing

 

[FitchandMurray29]

There was a time we didn't struggle with every T50 team. Again, if that been loss number 4-5, you chalk it up to ******** refs and bad luck on the road and move on.

IT was loss NUMBER TEN. For the four season in a row. But yes, let's continue to "be patient"

I'm' well aware this isn't the old "dog crap" SEC. That's still no excuse to lose to a struggling first year coach with a sucky roster.

They are a top 35 team in the country. We aren’t very good, which I’m in agreement with your unhappiness with, but that isn’t changing miraculously now.

We were preseason rated as the 9th best team. We can probably agree with that being too high. Flaws in the makeup of the team, overrated players such as JJ, injury risk/holdout of Quaintance, etc.

Even losing multiple players for the year we’re the 30th best team in the country currently. So started at 9th by experts, some bad luck, some bad results, we’re 30th. It’s not some great surprise that we’re in this place to me.

Pope gets another shot this offseason to do better in the portal. No recruits but that’s not always the worst thing. Jasper has had a monstrous negative impact on the season by his play combined with the perception of his abilities impacting our portal strategy/recruiting last year. We would be in a much better place as a program imo if he never came here. (Not picking on him just extrapolating an example of the negative value of a recruit)

Close games are random. The key and goal is always to build a team that avoids them…this team is not that and won’t ever be that.

 

[bbnkat02]

Yep it’s a loss in the loss column. Courtney Green made sure of it. At least he has BBNs blessing

Well, remember what happened the last time a ref openly screwed us. How'd that work out for us going forward?

We as a team can't control the refs. We can control our performance around that though. How many open shots did we just absolutely brick yesterday?

That's what I'm talking about. It hasn't gotten much better from the beginning of the season.
If we were doing everything well, I'd be way more livid about that call. We just aren't.

 

[anon1777473514]

Well, remember what happened the last time a ref openly screwed us. How'd that work out for us going forward?

We as a team can't control the refs. We can control our performance around that though. How many open shots did we just absolutely brick yesterday?

That's what I'm talking about. It hasn't gotten much better from the beginning of the season.
If we were doing everything well, I'd be way more livid about that call. We just aren't.

I understand what you’re saying but college teams don’t play great every game, especially bad teams. What you’re almost saying is it’s ok if we get screwed if we aren’t a good team. That’s not how I see things. We got kicked in the balls and I’m gonna say we kicked in the balls. People can call it an excuse or whatever they want. I don’t like my team, players or coaches being screwed. I don’t care if we shot 4 percent from the field. If that call cost us the game, I’d not be on here downplaying it because we should have shot better — I’ll be saying it’s utter crap that we got screwed.

 

[Cats_2010]

Well, then be angry at me. I 1000% agree with coach that we were robbed. Absolutely criminal to call an offensive foul when Chandler had a defensive player with two fully extended arms wrapped around him. We can talk about all the deficiencies of the performance and you’d be right but simply swallowing the whistle, or calling the correct foul and we win a much-needed road game.

The call was bad but not being called or calling a dead ball defensive foul doesn’t guarantee a win there. Chandler still has a 1 and 1 with 14 seconds to play. Even if he makes both it’s still a one possession game.

 

[sk73]

If we brought in a top guy, I wouldn't be opposed to it. But I don't think there is any scenario where he isn't back next season

You may be right. I am just hoping for a quick end to this BS. It is not just the losing. It is substitution patterns, post game comments, poor evaluation of talent, a seemingly lack of motivation, whining at the end of games, overspending on players, lack of improvement in players (ex. Chandler), squinting up in the crowd, chewing his lips while the team is going sideways and, just the mind crushing overall weirdness of Mark Pope. I pray that our next coach doesn't put on his old bb uniform and lead us in a cheer . Holy ****, what a call out for attention.

 

[anon1777473514]

The call was bad but not being called or calling a dead ball defensive foul doesn’t guarantee a win there. Chandler still has a 1 and 1 with 14 seconds to play. Even if he makes both it’s still a one possession game.

Chandler is an above 85% FT shooter. Nothing is guaranteed but I’ll tell you what decreases your chances of winning much more is calling a bogus offensive foul and giving your favorite team the ball.

 

[UKCowboys]

There was a time we didn't struggle with every T50 team. Again, if that been loss number 4-5, you chalk it up to ******** refs and bad luck on the road and move on.

IT was loss NUMBER TEN. For the four season in a row. But yes, let's continue to "be patient"

I'm' well aware this isn't the old "dog crap" SEC. That's still no excuse to lose to a struggling first year coach with a sucky roster.

Dan Hurley has lost 10 or more games 10 times in his 16 year career. I guess we can cross him off the list. Nate Oats lost 10 or more in 5 of his 11. Another one bites the dust. Bruce Pearl 11 of 21 seasons. He's out. Billy Donovan? 9 of 21. He's out. Todd Golden? 5 of 7 with 10 losses, scratch. Kelvin Sampson? 16 season with 10 or more, forget it. Fred Hoiberg? 9 of 12, out. Grant McCasland? 6 of 10. Slick Rick only has 12 in his long career, but he is 73 lol.

If you are going to crap your pants over 10 loss seasons, we can always try and clone some of Bobby Knights DNA...except he had 18 10+ loss seasons. Maybe we can clone coach Rupp...of course, he would have a few adjustments, you know, NIL, transfer portal, JMI, playing against black kids....

 

[MarvinHagler89]

The OP is a raving lunatic. He wants to boycott games over something Pope said about our fans......that he never said. No reasoning, no level-headedness.....nothing. Just insanity.

Shut up *****.

 

[bbnkat02]

Dan Hurley has lost 10 or more games 10 times in his 16 year career. I guess we can cross him off the list. Nate Oats lost 10 or more in 5 of his 11. Another one bites the dust. Bruce Pearl 11 of 21 seasons. He's out. Billy Donovan? 9 of 21. He's out. Todd Golden? 5 of 7 with 10 losses, scratch. Kelvin Sampson? 16 season with 10 or more, forget it. Fred Hoiberg? 9 of 12, out. Grant McCasland? 6 of 10. Slick Rick only has 12 in his long career, but he is 73 lol.

If you are going to crap your pants over 10 loss seasons, we can always try and clone some of Bobby Knights DNA...except he had 18 10+ loss seasons. Maybe we can clone coach Rupp...of course, he would have a few adjustments, you know, NIL, transfer portal, JMI, playing against black kids....

Donovan has TWO titles. So does Hurley. Hell, Hurley might grab No. 3 this year. Golden has one- might have a shot at another. When you have a title you get a bit more grace in these.

Pope has ZERO titles. And has a grand total of 3 post season wins here. That doesn't leave you a lot of room for error.

Look, if we had decent recruiting right now- you just shake this off as a horrible year and move one. But there's literally ZERO players on board right now. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

NIL is not an excuse to lose more- in fact it should be the opposite. You have the chance every year to build the exact team you want.

 

[UKCowboys]

Donovan has TWO titles. So does Hurley. Hell, Hurley might grab No. 3 this year. Golden has one- might have a shot at another. When you have a title you get a bit more grace in these.

Pope has ZERO titles. And has a grand total of 3 post season wins here. That doesn't leave you a lot of room for error.

Look, if we had decent recruiting right now- you just shake this off as a horrible year and move one. But there's literally ZERO players on board right now. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

NIL is not an excuse to lose more- in fact it should be the opposite. You have the chance every year to build the exact team you want.

They all had multiple 10 loss seasons at the school they won their titles with before they won the Championship. Unless you are a hypocrite, admit you would have fired them all before they won big

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

They all had multiple 10 loss seasons at the school they won their titles with before they won the Championship. Unless you are a hypocrite, admit you would have fired them all before they won big

You can't compare pre portal records to what's happened since then. Imagine what Pitino would have done if UK had the portal those early years? May at Michigan has a title chance with the portal.

 

[chimchim]

Some would say the person who bails so quickly on their own coach and team is the "soft" portion of BBN

Ok Kwilt/herrosheros

 

[BigBluefoot]

That the grass isn’t always greener.

Wait is this where the "mower" comes in?
I'm confused now.

 

[UKCowboys]

You can't compare pre portal records to what's happened since then. Imagine what Pitino would have done if UK had the portal those early years? May at Michigan has a title chance with the portal.

Everyone in the tourney has a "title chance" my guy. When Cal had two top 5 draft picks on his bench we had a title chance...for one game

 

[bbnkat02]

They all had multiple 10 loss seasons at the school they won their titles with before they won the Championship. Unless you are a hypocrite, admit you would have fired them all before they won big

Completely different eras of basketball. You can now build a team in a year. That wasn't possible before this era of recruiting.
I stuck with Tubby until the bitter end. Hell, I was accused of being a Cal 'nut-hugger" for a looooong time.

Results matter. So does recruiting. So does tourney performance. If you get 9-10 losses, but get to the final game of your conference tourney and make deep tourney runs- that's very much different than flaming out early. It's a lot easier to forgive a 9-10 loss season if you get hot in March and have a shot. Which is what Cal was known for.

Pope? Nobody with any sense sees us getting hot. And the kicker is we have nothing really to build on next season. That's why people are pissed. I mean Cal basically got a stay of execution from the fan base because he brought in Reed and Rob. And then it was a march to the guillotine because he could beat a mid major with not one but TWO T15 draft picks.

Context absolutely matters.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

PREFACE: UK should be at a higher standard and I’m not wanting any “standard” talk in response.

But the records and recent struggles of our most recent two opponents definitely clouded folks’ view of those games. By KenPom they are 34 and 38 respectively. I believe many are used to these high loss/middling SEC teams as being pushovers.

They’re just not anymore.

If we lost at 21-6 Miami with Lucas doing a good job, folks wouldn’t lose their mind as much as us losing at 14-12 Auburn. Even if the computers rate Auburn as a tougher opponent. There’s something about that record that works with our expectations as UK fans.

Many a Cal team would go on the road vs a top 35ish team and lose.

Auburn was in the Final Four just a year ago. No one is saying they are a bad program.
But, let me just ask this question...when was the last time we were in a position to compete for a trip to the FF? How about the last time we played on Sunday at the SEC tournament? When was the last time we were #1 in the polls at this point in the season.
Every path to mediocrity goes past a lowered bar.

 

[Kjuk24]

Well, then be angry at me. I 1000% agree with coach that we were robbed. Absolutely criminal to call an offensive foul when Chandler had a defensive player with two fully extended arms wrapped around him. We can talk about all the deficiencies of the performance and you’d be right but simply swallowing the whistle, or calling the correct foul and we win a much-needed road game.

Dude... He pushed off. It wasn't even close or questionable..

Mark Pope has got to go!

 

[AJG-15]

Well, then be angry at me. I 1000% agree with coach that we were robbed. Absolutely criminal to call an offensive foul when Chandler had a defensive player with two fully extended arms wrapped around him. We can talk about all the deficiencies of the performance and you’d be right but simply swallowing the whistle, or calling the correct foul and we win a much-needed road game.

Seriously, you think we lost because of refs?

 

[anon1777473514]

Dude... He pushed off. It wasn't even close or questionable..

Mark Pope has got to go!

Wait. I get users mixed up but aren’t you the Hog fan? Go pay mind to your own team.