I'm inching closer

Tri-Countycat

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
1,712
4,212
113
I’m beginning to think he might step down. If he starts out losing early, which likely since we play Kansas among others, his next year is gonna be rougher than this. I’d say 75% of the fan base knows this isn’t going to work, if he loves UK, he will go out with Mitch……..nah, that won’t happen, we are gonna be mid SEC or worse next year.
 

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
3,004
7,475
100
It's like dead man walking. He can't recover.
He’s done here. 100%. He will never be able to recruit here. Agents know he’s desperate now, they’re going to give him a bill and it’s not going to happen with the contributors. Imagine pope going to boosters asking for a couple extra million for players?

“you mean your buyout?”

That’s all he’ll get. Anyone into this “year 3 stuff” has little idea how this actually works. He’s finished. Off the court disaster after 2 years. Behind the scenes they all know it pope knows it too.
 

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
4,112
7,312
113
Lloyd, May, Oats, Otzelburger, and McCasland better get offers to be the coach. It better be swift and large. We need a real AD to get us a real coach.
Its a good list. If thats the list, I will be all for it. Fact is, I said 100 times I thought if Pope went away MB would hite a Scott Drew type. If the new guy goes goes after the best coaches, I am good with no 3rd season
 
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Tri-Countycat

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
1,712
4,212
113
The list of coaches especially Golden would use a UK offer to get more money at their current university. Cal made UK cool again and Pope has taken the attractiveness down to a level it’s never been. Even BCG got Patterson and some other studs to play. No one wants to play for a corny 7 footer with no credentials.
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
47,697
71,056
113
Won back to back titles. Pitino won one at louisville. Uk has won 1 title in 30 years, time to brigvon a proven winner. Knowing the nba a huge plus.
Pitino never won back to back tiles dude. He won in 96 and just missed in 97. Tubby won in 98

No UK coach not named Rupp has ever won back to back national titles. His title as UofL doesn't count and any UK fan would never back that.
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
47,697
71,056
113
What exactly was working?
Substitutions wasn't the reason we lost
We don't guard and have no guards that produce offense
lol it's absolutely one of the reasons we lost.

BG got 3 wide open dunks in the first half. We were KILLING them on the inside. Then he jacked a 3. Missed. Noah jacked a 3. Missed. And A&M never looked back.
 
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R.O.T.Muckinfush

All-Conference
Jul 13, 2017
2,699
3,832
113
Pitino never won back to back tiles dude. He won in 96 and just missed in 97. Tubby won in 98

No UK coach not named Rupp has ever won back to back national titles. His title as UofL doesn't count and any UK fan would never back that.
Was talking about billy d. No pitino won af 2 different schools amd still aint lost it for as old as he is and the **** school he coaches at.
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
47,697
71,056
113
Was talking about billy d. No pitino won af 2 different schools amd still aint lost it for as old as he is and the **** school he coaches at.

At Florida. 20+ years ago and is about to be FIRED by the Bulls. 20+ yeas ago is literally two eras of basketball ago. Since then it's been OAD (which Donovan left for the NBA before that became the norm) and then NIL.

You can claim that title all day long. It's doesn't officially exist on the record books. Which is the only thing that count.

Pitino also just got his **** kicked in by UConn last week. And is pushing 74. Be serious. And got knocked out last year in the NCAAT by.....drum roll.....JOHN CALIPARI.

I'll always appreciate what Rick did here. But it's not 96 anymore. And he vouched for Pope. lol And if I've learned anything this year....nostalgia does not a good basketball team make.
 
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R.O.T.Muckinfush

All-Conference
Jul 13, 2017
2,699
3,832
113
At Florida. 20+ years ago and is about to be FIRED by the Bulls. 20+ yeas ago is literally two eras of basketball ago. Since then it's been OAD (which Donovan left for the NBA before that became the norm) and then NIL.

You can claim that title all day long. It's doesn't officially exist on the record books. Which is the only thing that count.

Pitino also just got his **** kicked in by UConn last week. And is pushing 74. Be serious. And got knocked out last year in the NCAAT by.....drum roll.....JOHN CALIPARI.

I'll always appreciate what Rick did here. But it's not 96 anymore. And he vouched for Pope. lol And if I've learned anything this year....nostalgia does not a good basketball team make.
Not a better choice out there, nate oats and golden aint coming here. Bulls just traded everyone so they could lose out and get the too draft pick. Pitino, the old man himself would be a bettter coach than pope.
 

R.O.T.Muckinfush

All-Conference
Jul 13, 2017
2,699
3,832
113
Keep eating the memberberries man. The nostalgia will make us Indiana in a heartbeat.
We're already Indiana. You're boy mitch made sure of that last year when he hired Pope instead of a proven winner like BD when he wanted the job. All because of pride and personal vendetta when he wouldnt take the job 15 damn years ago. He knew he was going to the nba at that point!
 
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#1 cat fan

Senior
May 7, 2009
386
438
63
lol it's absolutely one of the reasons we lost.

BG got 3 wide open dunks in the first half. We were KILLING them on the inside. Then he jacked a 3. Missed. Noah jacked a 3. Missed. And A&M never looked back.
So a substitution in the first half kept us from playing well in the 2nd? Bogus bs excuses.
Not guarding wide open 3's was what gave them 28-2 run . Starters were part of that too.
 
Aug 10, 2025
228
362
63
Injuries aside you keep pumping number
9 and put this on the floor. It’s time to step down. I hoped this would work out as he’s one of our own. If year three isn’t exceptional that’s what should happen. This is getting hard to watch.
 
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bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
47,697
71,056
113
So a substitution in the first half kept us from playing well in the 2nd? Bogus bs excuses.
Not guarding wide open 3's was what gave them 28-2 run . Starters were part of that too.
It does when you dig a 12 point hole. All of that's on Pope. And it's foolish to suggest otherwise.
 
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bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
47,697
71,056
113
We're already Indiana. You're boy mitch made sure of that last year when he hired Pope instead of a proven winner like BD when he wanted the job. All because of pride and personal vendetta when he wouldnt take the job 15 damn years ago
He's not my boy at all, thanks. And no we're not already Indiana. But we're trending that way.
 

Hush4872

Junior
Oct 9, 2025
114
259
63
Pope is a solid coach who might hit it big one day but we are 10+ years since a Final Four or even a #1 seed. We need a guaranteed home run. Golden...May...Pitino...Pearl. Won't happen but man this is getting hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel here.
He really isn't a solid coach. He is a mid offensive Xs and Os type guy who struggles when the personnel don't fit what he wants to run. He is a horrible defensive coach, horrible recruiter, horrible motivator, horrible manager, and horrible with rotations.

He's also in his mid 50s. The odds of him making meaningful improvements to maybe hit it big are basically zilch. He's running out of time and has already proven he's too stubborn to change what needs to be.
 

Jtf2217

All-Conference
Apr 20, 2024
568
1,142
93
I would be a little more empathetic if CMP would just go off and rip absolute *** on some people and tell them they don't belong at UK goodbye. Get thrown out of a game for trying to choke out Shows and or Courtney Green do something besides being dumbfounded.

Mark pope is 100% the kind who would hold onto the majority of these scrubs that have eligibility for starter positions next year because this year doesn't represent who they are and he knows they can do better with the opportunity to prove it.
If your name isn't Collin chandler, Malichai Moreno, or maybe Kam Williams I really don't care if they all leave.
 

Leo3011

Sophomore
Sep 7, 2019
133
173
41
He’s going to and needs to get a 3rd year but I’m getting less and less optimistic about it. Tonight is pretty inexcusable.
Next year has a chance to be special. Get Stokes and Tanner (from Vandy) and let's roll.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
46,042
83,848
113
Won back to back titles. Pitino won one at louisville. Uk has won 1 title in 30 years, time to brigvon a proven winner. Knowing the nba a huge plus.
Yeah if Donovan could be convinced to come back to college and find assistants and a GM to help navigate NIL then he would be amazing. He has coached on the cutting edge of offenses in the pros for a decade+ now and has contacts all over the league. He would be an easy yes hire.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
46,042
83,848
113
Pitino never won back to back tiles dude. He won in 96 and just missed in 97. Tubby won in 98

No UK coach not named Rupp has ever won back to back national titles. His title as UofL doesn't count and any UK fan would never back that.
They can say his UofL title doesn’t count be we all know it does and watched it happen. With all the BS now it’s impossible to say any rules broken then matter Imho. Our probation records should come off as well.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
46,042
83,848
113
This.

If we play Florida tough and get a win in the SEC tourney or a win in the NCAA, she'll be back on the wagon.
I don’t see how we beat Florida unless we come out and have our great game and Florida plays like they had the SEC wrapped up and gave us a gift. Maybe they rest for the SECT run or something.
 
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bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
47,697
71,056
113
They can say his UofL title doesn’t count be we all know it does and watched it happen. With all the BS now it’s impossible to say any rules broken then matter Imho. Our probation records should come off as well.
Eh. They were soliciting minors for sex. That’s Epstein levels of corruption. Big difference.
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
47,697
71,056
113
Yeah if Donovan could be convinced to come back to college and find assistants and a GM to help navigate NIL then he would be amazing. He has coached on the cutting edge of offenses in the pros for a decade+ now and has contacts all over the league. He would be an easy yes hire.
That’s a lot of pieces though. I don’t have any doubts about Donovan’s ability to coach. I do have doubts about him getting up to speed in NIL and maybe a bit in recruiting.
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,646
19,851
113
Welcome! Pull up a chair.
sitting GIF
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,646
19,851
113
Yeah if Donovan could be convinced to come back to college and find assistants and a GM to help navigate NIL then he would be amazing. He has coached on the cutting edge of offenses in the pros for a decade+ now and has contacts all over the league. He would be an easy yes hire.
He never wanted to come here, I think it would be embarrassing if he bent us over a barrel financially.
 

Drcatfan

All-Conference
Apr 14, 2015
1,438
1,647
61
It was a massive screw up to hire Pope. The majority wanted Cal gone, but we did not have a home run hire lined up to replace him. We apparently pursued Drew and Hurley and got turned down by both. Then, we panicked and hired Pope. The problem is that is not a one season mistake, it is at least a 3-4 year mistake. Pope is a clean cut genuinely good guy. You can’t fire him after slightly overachieving last year with a team he had to assembly late notice. Then, of course this year we are “missing three starters” and still going to make the tourney. If you fire Pope it looks like we just have totally unreasonable expectations. I hate to say it but the quickest scenario to improvement might be for Pope to have a totally healthy team next season and have a terrible record and miss the tourney. Then, you could let Pope go and try to get a better replacement. Unfortunately, I think it’s more likely we assemble a team for next year, hang in the 20-40 ranking, make the tourney, and go out second round. Of course, that will be just good enough for a 4th year of the same. This could drag out several seasons. I know there was no way to force Hurley to take the job, but missing out on Hurley was just a huge miss. That is the guy that could have prospered here. UConn lined up to be a 1 seed and make another deep run this season.
 
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TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
6,194
11,355
108
The problem with the third year its gonna tank us to the bottom and associate us with being a program of losers.
This! This! This! This right here, all day long! Why are some “fans” advocating for another complete disaster?

History tells us this, the present tells us this, everything tells us this… Why are some of us playing the ultimate game of pretend with UK’s legacy and reputation?

Some of you are completely content with possible destructive consequences just to protect your own pride and egos… Why? Just get lost already, geez!
 
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TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
6,194
11,355
108
What does Pope do well as a coach?
Recruiting? Lol, Nope. Roster construction? Nope. Pre-season conditioning? Nope. Pre-game preparation? Nope. In game adjustments? Nope. Timely substitutions? (See recruiting). Get his players to play hard for 40 minutes? Nope. Use a lot of dorky verbiage during postgame pressers? Yes, he does that well.