No worries. Pope says they

[Skyguyb27]

We’re at the point where some of our “fans” are rooting for the Cats to lose to ensure the coach fails in hopes of spurring a coaching change.

Some have a very simple mentality that a coaching change is a magic fix because it worked like that with Cal and Pitino. It didn’t work that way for Hall (took him 6 years to win a title and 3 to go to a Final Four, but this bunch would’ve demanded his firing after going .500 his second year as Rupp’s successor). Sutton wasn’t an upgrade from Hall and nearly killed the program. Smith was a downgrade from Pitino. Gillispie was a downgrade from Smith. Pope has been a downgrade from Calipari so far. Point being, coaching changes are no sure fire thing. About half the time, we get worse than before.

I have seen some of your other posts, and you and I are on the same page of believing UK can’t just “select” its next coach from any school or pro franchise we want.

If Pope doesn’t work out, we’re likely rolling the dice on another coach with a similar resume or experience mostly at a small school. I don’t think any current coach who has won a title would leave where they are to put up with this fanbase and an administration that’s behind the times in this new era.

This isn’t 40 years ago. Blue blood schools need elite coaches way more than elite coaches need blue blood schools in 2026. I know it sucks to hear and say, but it’s the truth.

There’s a small glimmer of hope you didn’t mention. It might also depend on who replaces MB. If UK hires a real AD serious about winning and playing in the rules set right now it could bring in a much better quality coach. Also, I’m sure a lot didn’t wanna follow Cal but following Pope wouldn’t be as tough for obvious reasons.
Personally I don’t want a 3rd year of a coach with a track record like he has that talks like he talks. Just a week ago he was talking about it’s a new day and the winning starts now etc. He doesn’t own the failure and talks like a 3 year old with these great lines to get attention. It’s nauseating to me. I don’t even listen to pre/post games with him.

 

[kyjeff1]

We’re at the point where some of our “fans” are rooting for the Cats to lose to ensure the coach fails in hopes of spurring a coaching change.

Some have a very simple mentality that a coaching change is a magic fix because it worked like that with Cal and Pitino. It didn’t work that way for Hall (took him 6 years to win a title and 3 to go to a Final Four, but this bunch would’ve demanded his firing after going .500 his second year as Rupp’s successor). Sutton wasn’t an upgrade from Hall and nearly killed the program. Smith was a downgrade from Pitino. Gillispie was a downgrade from Smith. Pope has been a downgrade from Calipari so far. Point being, coaching changes are no sure fire thing. About half the time, we get worse than before.

I have seen some of your other posts, and you and I are on the same page of believing UK can’t just “select” its next coach from any school or pro franchise we want.

If Pope doesn’t work out, we’re likely rolling the dice on another coach with a similar resume or experience mostly at a small school. I don’t think any current coach who has won a title would leave where they are to put up with this fanbase and an administration that’s behind the times in this new era.

This isn’t 40 years ago. Blue blood schools need elite coaches way more than elite coaches need blue blood schools in 2026. I know it sucks to hear and say, but it’s the truth.

Yeah, I don't think these guys understand this. Every school is paying big money for their coaches and every school is invested in college basketball. We can't just get whoever we want.

If you can get Todd Golden, fine, but you better do it through back channels before you get turned down out in the open like Hurley, Donovan and Drew did to us. THAT is what's embarrassing. Losing to a top 4 Florida team by 7, is not embarrassing, getting turned down by coaches over and over, is.

But the oddest part of all this to me is, these "fans" are openly hoping we lose and at the same time, calling us bad fans because we are hoping we win. You can't make this stuff up, it's actually happening.

 

[kyjeff1]

I would be torn just because he gets another year extension for a 14 loss ninth place e finish in the SEC. Insane contract by Mitch. I’m always excited any time UK makes the second weekend

Right, but that means you're hoping we lose. But I'm the one being called a bad fan, because hoping we win means I'm lowering expectations.

UK ain’t firing Pope after this year unless he starts getting drunk and chasing coeds. So hoping for losses, makes no sense.

 

[Zuma75]

Will play better

Relentlessly positive right up til the end ... what else can he do, I guess.

 

[kyjeff1]

It's a low bar but you are correct.

Getting down double digits so many games against legit teams and losing 14 games just doesn't excite me. And a 9th place sec finish.

You would have a point if we didn't have 3 key/starter level players out. I know you hate that point, but it's the truth, it's a fact.

I know you hate me saying Butler was playing with 1 arm and Robinson was completely out, but it's a fact. That was a FF team fully healthy last year and we will never onow how good this years team could have been.

Can you point to any other team that did better after losing even 2 key players.

Sh*t, duke almost lost to Florida State and they only lost 1 guy.

 

[kyjeff1]

Florida played awful outside of dominating the glass. If they just hit 1/3 of their 3's and dont turn the ball over 18 times it would of been a complete blowout. I mean we were down 17 despite their poor play.

I love the cats too but we have to deal in reality. Our program has been mediocre for 7 years now. The downfall didn't start with Pope but he is not the answer and we are obviously regressing.

LOL, we missed a ton of threes too and we turned the ball over. Why don't we get to play the "if" game too?

How about we take Lee, Chinyelu and Condon off their team and see how they do. You think they're still sitting at only 6 losses?

Let's say we have our full roster and Florida is down Condon, Lee and Chinyelu, do they beat us?

 

[kyjeff1]

There’s a small glimmer of hope you didn’t mention. It might also depend on who replaces MB. If UK hires a real AD serious about winning and playing in the rules set right now it could bring in a much better quality coach. Also, I’m sure a lot didn’t wanna follow Cal but following Pope wouldn’t be as tough for obvious reasons.
Personally I don’t want a 3rd year of a coach with a track record like he has that talks like he talks. Just a week ago he was talking about it’s a new day and the winning starts now etc. He doesn’t own the failure and talks like a 3 year old with these great lines to get attention. It’s nauseating to me. I don’t even listen to pre/post games with him.

If I'm UK, I hire Todd Golden's Mom.

 

[Zuma75]

Pope 100% needs better media training. He says stuff then realizes it’s ********, and tries to walk it back some, then realizes that makes him sound wishy-washy, so he walks back the walk back.

I *think* what he is trying to say is that Oweh was focused (which I already don’t believe but let’s give him that) and that if we can get the rest of the team to be that focused for 40 minutes then we can make some noise in the tournament. Of course, he knows that’s just an empty promise so he tries to sound more confident and it all just falls apart.

I honestly think a lot of CMP's excessive positivity comes out when the actual thought in his mind is something negative. Probably better to say nothing sometimes.

 

[lookinfor8]

He has to get to the S16. Anything less is backsliding.

has to land SOMEBODY in rxeutiting to have any kind of momentum.

I don’t like it per se, but he gets next year. And it’s for all the marbles.

The worst thing that can happen is to win a tournament game

 

[Kyhoward1]

Needs to call Ellen’s husband and see if he will give him a tweak.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Hey you braggart. You do understand saying anything that could even remotely be positive means you want Pope here for ten years. Good grief, I cannot believe you want to hang banners for improvement.

This a very lazy post. You should've made a stupid picture of a mediocre improvement banner hanging in Rupp.

 

[bbnkat02]

The worst thing that can happen is to win a tournament game

He's back next season whether anyone likes it or not. Might as well win.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

The worst thing that can happen is to win a tournament game

I wish anyone who thinks like this would just go find another team to follow.

 

[Blue Jesus]

Will play better

I know some of the Pope-isms grate on fans' ears but what is he supposed to say? "That's as good as we get, I don't have high hopes for next week"?

And we already know part of his approach is relentless positivity to "speak it into existence." This is part of the Pope experience, I don't get the constant kvetching about it.

 

[bbnkat02]

I wish anyone who thinks like this would just go find another team to follow.

Yeah the only time I felt that way was the last Stoops game. Like I wanted to win, but that win would've just been like "SEE?! STOOPS is the GUY!" when after 13 it was very much starting to show he wasn't

I'll NEVER pull for us to lose. But in that situation I wasn't hurt by the loss.

 

[yoshukai]

Any 2 seed watching film on us will be giddy with excitement.

They will say different to the talking heads because they are supposed to.

Just say we are a 7. Every 10 is hoping we are their 7.

Bellarmine scored 85 points on us in Rupp.

Fl couldn’t throw it in the ocean and still beat us.

Who the hell do we scare?

You think the other 7 seeds don’t have warts ? lol. Check their resumes and see how many Tennesseex2, at Arkansas, and neutral St Johns wins they have.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

LOL, we missed a ton of threes too and we turned the ball over. Why don't we get to play the "if" game too?

How about we take Lee, Chinyelu and Condon off their team and see how they do. You think they're still sitting at only 6 losses?

Let's say we have our full roster and Florida is down Condon, Lee and Chinyelu, do they beat us?

Dude enough of the excuses. JQ was signed hurt with an injury that typically takes 9-12 months . Williams is back now so he is off the list. Yes we lost Lowe and we have no back up pg and that is on Pope.

We are worse than last year and have been embarrassing over and over this year. How many blowouts and losses at Rupp do you need to admit the truth that Pope is not cut out for this job . Saying the team is fatigued is weak and doesn't hold water. It means we are poorly conditioned which falls on the coach.

We have 0 recruits signed. Even BCG could land some decent recruits . I like Pope and wanted him to kill it here but he is not qualified to be our coach. Our record indicates that and the fact no recruit wants to come here says it crystal clear. Take the emotion and nostalgia out of the equation and its obvious.

 

[kyjeff1]

Dude enough of the excuses. JQ was signed hurt with an injury that typically takes 9-12 months . Williams is back now so he is off the list. Yes we lost Lowe and we have no back up pg and that is on Pope.

We are worse than last year and have been embarrassing over and over this year. How many blowouts and losses at Rupp do you need to admit the truth that Pope is not cut out for this job . Saying the team is fatigued is weak and doesn't hold water. It means we are poorly conditioned which falls on the coach.

We have 0 recruits signed. Even BCG could land some decent recruits . I like Pope and wanted him to kill it here but he is not qualified to be our coach. Our record indicates that and the fact no recruit wants to come here says it crystal clear. Take the emotion and nostalgia out of the equation and its obvious.

LMFAO, you make excuses for why our opponent didn’t blow us out and I respind with the opposite scenario and you tell me to stop with the excuses.

My gawd man, go find another team to root for, this team and this sport are too much for you.

 

[TheResistance]

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Will play better

He has said that for two years now.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Well, that’s a post you can be proud of. Well developed, articulate and clever.

I stand by what I said, I’ve watched CBB religiously for over three decades. We are not a 7 that any 2 seed wants to see in their bracket.

None of the 2 seeds this year are remotely scared of us, they would crave that draw. We rely on Jelly/Mo D/and Garrison to produce against an elite team. Noah and JJ are our back ups. That sends shiver down my spine. If we played our absolute best and they played horrible, yeah we could win. Outside that, they aren’t scared.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

None of the 2 seeds this year are remotely scared of us, they would crave that draw. We rely on Jelly/Mo D/and Garrison to produce against an elite team. Noah and JJ are our back ups. That sends shiver down my spine. If we played our absolute best and they played horrible, yeah we could win. Outside that, they aren’t scared.

If you would have told me a year ago that youd become the type of poster throwing laugh emojis and ridiculing mild takes, I wouldn’t have believed it. You’ve really went far on the negativity spectrum, not that I can blame you — but still.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

LMFAO, you make excuses for why our opponent didn’t blow us out and I respind with the opposite scenario and you tell me to stop with the excuses.

My gawd man, go find another team to root for, this team and this sport are too much for you.

Yeah it's you with the comprehension issue and the point was the score didn't indicate that the game wasn't really close. We haven’t lead Florida at any point in our last three games against them. I guess you dont get how bad that is but then again you were probably the last guy picked on the playground so your expectations are limited.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Yeah, I don't think these guys understand this. Every school is paying big money for their coaches and every school is invested in college basketball. We can't just get whoever we want.

If you can get Todd Golden, fine, but you better do it through back channels before you get turned down out in the open like Hurley, Donovan and Drew did to us. THAT is what's embarrassing. Losing to a top 4 Florida team by 7, is not embarrassing, getting turned down by coaches over and over, is.

But the oddest part of all this to me is, these "fans" are openly hoping we lose and at the same time, calling us bad fans because we are hoping we win. You can't make this stuff up, it's actually happening.

I can’t imagine a fan really
hoping they lose. Maybe tongue in cheek type talk or trolls. I can however see fans not emotionally invested and not upset if they lose like they would have before.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Relentlessly positive right up til the end ... what else can he do, I guess.

If I was his boss, which I’m not, a little humility and owning it would go a long way. The whole dreamers can dream type talk isn’t reassuring to me. That’s more of a signal he isn’t in touch with the situation.

 

[kyjeff1]

NE

Yeah it's you with the comprehension issue and the point was the score didn't indicate that the game wasn't really close. We haven’t lead Florida at any point in our last three games against them. I guess you dont get how bad that is but then again you were probably the last guy picked on the playground so your expectations are limited.

Name 1 team in the history of college basketball that even made the tournament after losing 3 starters, or heck, name one that made the tournament after losing 2. I'll wait.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

NE

Name 1 team in the history of college basketball that even made the tournament after losing 3 starters, or heck, name one that made the tournament after losing 2. I'll wait.

Dude do your own homework. Glad to see making the tournament is now our expectation/ceiling smh.

 

[kyjeff1]

I can’t imagine a fan really
hoping they lose. Maybe tongue in cheek type talk or trolls. I can however see fans not emotionally invested and not upset if they lose like they would have before.

Oh it's happening. These guys know that if this team makes the sweet 16, it means Pope Pope easily gets a 3rd year (he already is) and it might also mean he's here even longer.

I get it, we're Kentucky, but even UK doesn’t fire coaches that consistently get to a sweet 16.

 

[kyjeff1]

Dude do your own homework. Glad to see making the tournament is now our expectation/ceiling smh.

That's what I thought, you cant. I already did my homework, it's you that didn’t.

So just like so many others that don't actually have a point, you say stupid crap like "making the tournament is now our expectation". So dumb, y'all need to at least debate with some sense. Literally nobody said that.

This team lost 3 starters, only an idiot would think this team should still be a FF threat without those 3 players.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

In that clip “I am so proud of OO for being so present in the moment.” WTF does that even mean? He just says stuff that has nothing to do with basketball.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

If you would have told me a year ago that youd become the type of poster throwing laugh emojis and ridiculing mild takes, I wouldn’t have believed it. You’ve really went far on the negativity spectrum, not that I can blame you — but still.

It’s just the truth, it’s not inherently negative. I definitely am not ridiculing your take on the subject. It’s not personal. You honestly think any team like Florida/UConn/Illinois/Houston/Iowa State is looking at the prospect of playing us and saying, “whew that isn’t a game I wanted?”

We have been blasted by teams on tiers below them all year, we have not led even a single minute against Florida. I wish I could come on here and pump us up and say yeah we have a legit shot, but I can’t. Look at yesterday, that was a game we should have won had we showed up. Vandy proved that today.

Is it possible that we could win the game? Sure, but are the odds realistically that good? Nope. I absolutely despised this team early in the year, they fought hard and found something to at least be respectable. I appreciate that. I love 00 and Aberdeen. Moreno and Chandler have their moments too. We are just flawed and honestly I don’t think Pope is a great coach. He gets them to never give up and that’s admirable, but he also causes them to be in large holes. We have been down by 10+ in 14 games this year in the first half alone. I can’t believe I’d ever see that in my lifetime. I’m sorry that I have been negative, but there isn’t much to be happy about regarding the program right now. Even the future looks bleak right now.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

It’s just the truth, it’s not inherently negative. I definitely am not ridiculing your take on the subject. It’s not personal. You honestly think any team like Florida/UConn/Illinois/Houston/Iowa State is looking at the prospect of playing us and saying, “whew that isn’t a game I wanted?”

We have been blasted by teams on tiers below them all year, we have not led even a single minute against Florida. I wish I could come on here and pump us up and say yeah we have a legit shot, but I can’t. Look at yesterday, that was a game we should have won had we showed up. Vandy proved that today.

Is it possible that we could win the game? Sure, but are the odds realistically that good? Nope. I absolutely despised this team early in the year, they fought hard and found something to at least be respectable. I appreciate that. I love 00 and Aberdeen. Moreno and Chandler have their moments too. We are just flawed and honestly I don’t think Pope is a great coach. He gets them to never give up and that’s admirable, but he also causes them to be in large holes. We have been down by 10+ in 14 games this year in the first half alone. I can’t believe I’d ever see that in my lifetime. I’m sorry that I have been negative, but there isn’t much to be happy about regarding the program right now. Even the future looks bleak right now.

I agree with you that we for sure wouldn’t be favored vs any of the 2s. I’ll be hoping for the best — and won’t be surprised if we lost the first game or make a Sweet 16. It’d be on brand for this squad either way.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I agree with you that we for sure wouldn’t be favored vs any of the 2s. I’ll be hoping for the best — and won’t be surprised if we lost the first game or make a Sweet 16. It’d be on brand for this squad either way.

Yeah, I could see us losing by 20 in the first round or making the Elite 8 No joke. Pope has a remarkable ability to win 3 games in a row against teams we probably shouldn’t beat when he looks like he’s totally dead somehow.

 

[CoffeeCat]

That post would have had more meaning if a guarantee or I quit ending

 

[bbnkat02]

Yeah, I could see us losing by 20 in the first round or making the Elite 8 No joke. Pope has a remarkable ability to win 3 games in a row against teams we probably shouldn’t beat when he looks like he’s totally dead somehow.

I'm just not seeing that this year. We can focus for two solid games and then we look like we've never played the sport before. We've maybe beat 2 or 3 GOOD teams this year. If we run into Duke or Houston we're OAD.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

That's what I thought, you cant. I already did my homework, it's you that didn’t.

So just like so many others that don't actually have a point, you say stupid crap like "making the tournament is now our expectation". So dumb, y'all need to at least debate with some sense. Literally nobody said that.

This team lost 3 starters, only an idiot would think this team should still be a FF threat without those 3 players.

Man , little emotional aren't you? Pop a midol and relax. Pope will be here next year so you will get your wish and get another mediocre year. I'm sure it wont be his fault.

 

[FatCatMan]

Man , little emotional aren't you? Pop a midol and relax. Pope will be here next year so you will get your wish and get another mediocre year. I'm sure it wont be his fault.

I wonder if he’ll quit watching Kentucky if we fire Pope like so many of the other Popettes are claiming they’ll do?

 

[FLBBNFAN]

I wonder if he’ll quit watching Kentucky if we fire Pope like so many of the other Popettes are claiming they’ll do?

I would typically say no but who knows now lol.

 

[AllBall]

You would have a point if we didn't have 3 key/starter level players out. I know you hate that point, but it's the truth, it's a fact.

I know you hate me saying Butler was playing with 1 arm and Robinson was completely out, but it's a fact. That was a FF team fully healthy last year and we will never onow how good this years team could have been.

Can you point to any other team that did better after losing even 2 key players.

Sh*t, duke almost lost to Florida State and they only lost 1 guy.

They're down 2. Foster and Ngongba

 

[Catman100]

LMAO
If he had hair it would be a lot grayer than it was 2 years ago.