I have defended him to this point but it’s getting really hard. The only explanation if he is a good coach is he is playing the long game. He needs to find out who to bring back and who to cut loose. He continues to say the key to winning is retaining his good players. If he brings back Garrison. He isn’t serious. This season is a wash. He’s gotta know that. Maybe he is auditioning for next year??
I think many of us, myself included, got sucked into the nostalgia hype and thought we were getting a modern day Pitino. Which probably wasn’t fair to Pope because there is nothing in his career that pointed to him coaching like Pitino.
He is the worst at sound bites. His hiring is and continues to be absolutely bizarre
He’s definitely a smart guy. I just know how hard this job can be for any coach. Maybe he kills it with the portal and next year we look great? It’s not impossible that’s for sure and I hope it works out that way. If I’m wrong I’ll make fun of myself and admit to anyone that calls me out on it that I messed up. I just see so many red flags right now that I really worry about the situation we’re in.
I definitely did. I loved that 96 team and I wanted to see Pope come in here and bring us back to being elite again. Seeing Pitino back in rupp was awesome and I have really fond memories of when he was our coach. I wish the young guys could have seen our teams of the 90s and how much fun they were to watch
That whole press conference was a stroke of marketing genious! It cast a powerful spell, no doubt about it.
It really did. I bought the preseason hype with this team as well. I thought we were going to have a really good basketball team
Two of the three of Aberdeen, Chandler and Oweh have to be in the game at all times if possible. The "fatigue" excuse in that situation is exactly that, an excuse not a reason. This team (players & coaches) is it's own worst enemy.
That shows you right there how he can’t handle this job.
We don’t dislike him as a person but we do as a coach. Just like we did with Cal at the end. Can’t stand to hear his rambling about stuff that makes no sense. Continued excuses and lack of preparation. We know he won’t address the problems and he just makes the worst excuses for everything he does. I understand why people already can’t stand to hear him talk.
Chat GPT told him to say that. He analyzed the game and that’s what came up.
I know, especially in the SEC where every other play is reviewed for something.
I agree and criticizing is totally warranted amd legitimate but hating on the guy is nor right either. I am frustrated like everyone else but I also feel sad that one of our former players and captains is failing miserably as our coach.
I was hoping for that toughness as well. I thought with having such a deep roster that he was going to go up tempo on offense and press on defense . To me that made sense with wanting so many guys on the roster and for the most part them being similar talent wise. We are in hell right now lol.
A good leader/ceo will have the smartest people around them to be successful. My concern is he appears to be tone deaf and is not flexible at all. Its worrisome that he continues to bang the fatigue drum.
Add in not having a backup PG on the roster after Lewis de-committed plus giving a fat check to JQ fully knowing playing in 9 months was the best case scenario is just inexcusable.
Me too so don't feel bad. Credit to the guys who called this 2 years ago.
That’s an insane excuse this time of year. In Nov? Yeah that’s plausible because you’re still getting guys used to roles, game shape, etc. but March?? No. That’s a loser excuse.
I dunno. The man is steering to wear thin on me too.
He is a good person. Hes just starting to wear thin here . You can only give so many positivity farts without starting to grate on the nerves.
I don’t even think he’s a bad coach overall. Hes just does dumb crap. He’s just not major D1 or UK caliber.
Coaches have YUGE egos. Almost all of them. The trick is finding your Jon Robic to execute your good ideas and tell you when you’re being a freaking moron on your bad ones.
I wasn’t sold sold on him. I thought our first couple of seasons might like Yr 1 was. Some really good wins. Couple of clunkers and a decent S16 finish while he built up the program.
Except in the second half they realize they’re not all that fatigued after all, and begin to play like it.
It is impossible. He’s not changing everything he does at 53 years old.
