Hire Kelvin Sampson

UKGrad24

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For real the only program who can f up their program worse than our administration is doing is Indiana. Fired him over f’n text messages lol. Indiana is much like Kentucky’s AD, winning to elite levels is not one thing they have interests in. It’s just our job is so statewide and they can’t tank it they eventually have to fix it.

Peolle make the Pearl excuse and that’s not the head scratcher. Pearl didn’t just have a BBQ, he lied to everyone, told parents to lie, told recruits to lie, manipulated assistants to lie. He also ruined a recruit and did some really crazy sht. Now I would have hired him yes. His BS shouldn’t come before the health of this program. But he’s not the poster boy for stupid termination that backfired. Sampson really is. Imagine Sampson at Indiana going on 25 years? They’d have 2/3 titles.
 
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Hitman206

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For real the only program who can f up their program worse than our administration is doing is Indiana. Fired him over f’n text messages lol. Indiana is much like Kentucky’s AD, winning to elite levels is not one thing they have interests in. It’s just our job is so statewide and they can’t tank it they eventually have to fix it.

Peolle make the Pearl excuse and that’s not the head scratcher. Pearl didn’t just have a BBQ, he lied to everyone, told parents to lie, told recruits to lie, manipulated assistants to lie. He also ruined a recruit and did some really crazy sht. Now I would have hired him yes. His BS shouldn’t come before the health of this program. But he’s not the poster boy for stupid hire that backfired. Sampson really is. Imagine Sampson at Indiana going on 25 years? They’d have 2/3 titles.
Miami Oh head coach Travis Steele was an assistant at Indiana under Sampson. He helped bring Jordan Crawford and Holloway to Xavier after Sampson was fired when he got hired as an assistant.
 
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ukchamps_98

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Jan 28, 2003
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Idgaf how old he is. He is a little younger than Barnes, Pitino, and Izzo. He is passionate, coaches great D, holds players accountable, proven winner, and a HoF finalist this year. I realize he isn't a long term solution, but can anyone argue that his tema play hard and with passion? Give him 3-5 years to re-instill our pride and reputation and then go get the next great young coach.
 

UKGrad24

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Miami Oh head coach Travis Steele was an assistant at Indiana under Sampson. He helped bring Jordan Crawford and Holloway to Xavier after Sampson was fired and when he got hired as an assistant.
It’s interesting for sure.
 
Feb 3, 2025
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His first three years at Houston were abysmal. You would have wanted him fired. The talk of firing Pope after two years is ridiculous. Pope has had pretty much better seasons in his first two than most names even mentioned.
1. Not true. He went from 13-19 to 22-10 the next year.

2. This strawman y'all Pope pumpers use doesn't apply here either, he had an elite 8 and Final four under his belt befoe Houston hired him. Where as the Popester has never won anything before UK and is continuing his 10+ year career avg of losing 12+ games.
 

gtown965

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That is all

 

UKGrad24

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His first three years at Houston were abysmal. You would have wanted him fired. The talk of firing Pope after two years is ridiculous. Pope has had pretty much better seasons in his first two than most names even mentioned.
Yea exactly. lol. These guys are dumber than a newborn potato. Kelvin going to Houston with crazy resources, a major power 2 brand, millions and millions of dollars in deal money, and Houston was widely known as a historically dominant blue blood coming off an era of being known as the place that all the NBA players wanted to be. The guy was trash for not stepping into that and winning immediately. Kelvin never had any success before Houston either

Pope stepped into a program with little success historically and didn’t have money to spend. You see, this is Pre NIL. Kelvin got 10’s of millions, Hell Pope dealt with a crappy conference when he got here, and didn’t have brand recognition at all. And Mark won 63% of his games before he came! Kelvin doesn’t touch that!

Pope is the next Dan Hurley and it lines up perfectly. We would have fired HURLEY and COACH K!🥴
 

UKGrad24

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Sampson’s son is coach in waiting at Houston. Sampson isn’t leaving Houston until he’s ready to retire.

I’m usually dead set against the baby nepo nipple in all walks, and think it’s especially bad it’s allowed at a public institution. Full stop. However, in Houston’s case although I don’t think it should be allowed, is probably the right move. Rarely works, but Kelvin is the best thing that program has had going for it in a long time and for some reason, I think his son might actually win there / to a degree with him close. If I were Houston and could, I might actually do that one. Auburn is spectrum disorder for hiring Pearls offspring, but I guess they got 2 final fours out of agreeing to it.
 
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MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
11,066
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Miami Oh head coach Travis Steele was an assistant at Indiana under Sampson. He helped bring Jordan Crawford and Holloway to Xavier after Sampson was fired when he got hired as an assistant.

Steele was fired from Xavier as Chris Mack’s replacement (2018-22)

Steele went 70-50 with a 21-37 Big East record over 4 years. Best team went 19-13.

Surely you are not suggesting him for UK’s next coach? He’s at the right level.
 

UKGrad24

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Idgaf how old he is. He is a little younger than Barnes, Pitino, and Izzo. He is passionate, coaches great D, holds players accountable, proven winner, and a HoF finalist this year. I realize he isn't a long term solution, but can anyone argue that his tema play hard and with passion? Give him 3-5 years to re-instill our pride and reputation and then go get the next great young coach.

First it’s just not possible although I know the urge to want it. Hell yea I’d hire him. That guy would kill it here. Holy sht. Unfortunately his son is coach in waiting and he’s just too old to begin an entirely new phase at a program starving for dominance with a fanbase ready to sell our soul for wins.

This might be Kelvin’s first time being legitimately afraid for his wellbeing if he came in at his age in this situation. It just can’t.
 

UKGrad24

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Steele was fired from Xavier as Chris Mack’s replacement (2018-22)

Steele went 70-50 with a 21-37 Big East record over 4 years. Best team went 19-13.

Surely you are not suggesting him for UK’s next coach? He’s at the right level.
Ah that Steele. I didn’t even realize that. Yea good coach for his ability. I was thinking it was someone else who’s okay to keep an eye on. Nah he’s where he needs to be.
 
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yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
29,970
42,558
102
Yeah, if Sampson had stayed at Indiana they probably would have another title or two by now. But he broke the rule at the time and got punished harshly.

I would love to have him as coach but he is too old for the gig now. I hope he wins the title this year if we do not.
So I heard an Indiana fan say that they had made 2 outa the last 11 ncaa tournaments . I’m assuming that’s true. I honestly didn’t realize they were THAT bad .
 

Ukbrassowtipin

Heisman
Aug 12, 2011
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1. Not true. He went from 13-19 to 22-10 the next year.

2. This strawman y'all Pope pumpers use doesn't apply here either, he had an elite 8 and Final four under his belt befoe Houston hired him. Where as the Popester has never won anything before UK and is continuing his 10+ year career avg of losing 12+ games.
What did dan hurley and Todd golden have before they arrived at the schools theyre at...what did they do their first couple yrs at their school?

Im not saying Pope is the guy, but the buy a championship after someone did the work elsewhere crowd cracks me up.
 

ukchamps_98

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Jan 28, 2003
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I want Pope to be successful...I really do. I loved that 96 team as most of us did. However, UK fans know basketball and instinctively we know he isn't the right fit, no matter how much we wish he was. There is no fire, no killer instinct, no reflection of the 96 Pitino teams which isnwhat we wanted. When Pitinos teams lost, you knew they wouldn't lose the next game. I haven't looked it up, but after year 1, I would guess they lost 2 games in a row very few times. The former players talk about how Pitino would run them until they puked. How they feared losing and that practices were harder than the games themselves. That built their swagger and their confidence. We all want that type of team. But in our guts we know that he isn't that type of guy. He'll, people even gravitate to the 1996 "Team Captain" stuff. I watched every game. That was simply a title that Coach P gave him as a Senior. He wasn't the leader on that team. Hell, he wasn't even a top player. Is completion at Center was Jared Prickett!! In my mind Epps, Delk, McCarty, and even at times Walker were the leaders. I like Mark Pope as a person. He seems to genuinely be a good guy. But he doesn't have the "it" factor that it takes to coach and win at UK. And we all know it deep down. We just don't want to face the truth.
 

Anon1762656614

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Nov 8, 2025
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1. Not true. He went from 13-19 to 22-10 the next year.

2. This strawman y'all Pope pumpers use doesn't apply here either, he had an elite 8 and Final four under his belt befoe Houston hired him. Where as the Popester has never won anything before UK and is continuing his 10+ year career avg of losing 12+ games.
Prior to NIL you didn’t go to BYU unless you were Mormon or just really wanted to go there due to the rules. Pope was the fastest to 60 BYU career wins as a head coach at BYU. All of UK’s hires had never won a championship before winning a championship. What’s your point?
 

Ash Williams

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Aug 3, 2022
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Steele was fired from Xavier as Chris Mack’s replacement (2018-22)

Steele went 70-50 with a 21-37 Big East record over 4 years. Best team went 19-13.

Surely you are not suggesting him for UK’s next coach? He’s at the right level.
How did he do this year at Miami?
 

Supafuzz75

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What did dan hurley and Todd golden have before they arrived at the schools theyre at...what did they do their first couple yrs at their school?

Im not saying Pope is the guy, but the buy a championship after someone did the work elsewhere crowd cracks me up.
Neither is comparable to Poope before or after coming to UK.. Hurley turned around the 2 programs he coached at prior to uconn,, Wagner and Rhode island.. Golden took San Fran to their first ncaa game in like 20+ years in his 3 years there,, and was a hot upcoming coach..
 

UKGrad24

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I want Pope to be successful...I really do. I loved that 96 team as most of us did. However, UK fans know basketball and instinctively we know he isn't the right fit, no matter how much we wish he was. There is no fire, no killer instinct, no reflection of the 96 Pitino teams which isnwhat we wanted. When Pitinos teams lost, you knew they wouldn't lose the next game. I haven't looked it up, but after year 1, I would guess they lost 2 games in a row very few times. The former players talk about how Pitino would run them until they puked. How they feared losing and that practices were harder than the games themselves. That built their swagger and their confidence. We all want that type of team. But in our guts we know that he isn't that type of guy. He'll, people even gravitate to the 1996 "Team Captain" stuff. I watched every game. That was simply a title that Coach P gave him as a Senior. He wasn't the leader on that team. Hell, he wasn't even a top player. Is completion at Center was Jared Prickett!! In my mind Epps, Delk, McCarty, and even at times Walker were the leaders. I like Mark Pope as a person. He seems to genuinely be a good guy. But he doesn't have the "it" factor that it takes to coach and win at UK. And we all know it deep down. We just don't want to face the truth.
I thought we were getting a Pitino disciple who would rush the 90’s guys in and they’d sort of protect the place like the Hall / Rupp guys did and Pope would be over there runnin those guys to death, just going ape sht and forcing them to show respect and hell Pitino comes in after retirement goes to the bench and we’re just hangin banners and laughin together and all that.

I mean I thought this was like, tooootally different than this. Just isn’t there.
 
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UKGrad24

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Neither is comparable to Poope before or after coming to UK.. Hurley turned around the 2 programs he coached at prior to uconn,, Wagner and Rhode island.. Golden took San Fran to their first ncaa game in like 20+ years in his 3 years there,, and was a hot upcoming coach..
Do people even look at this stuff before they post it? I mean it’s been explained over and over and over and they just keep doing it. It’s some kind of psychological effect or somethin……

Hurley also coached pro’s at St. Benedict and led them to becoming a powerhouse. Coached JR Smith and had like a 93% winning %. Golden wasn’t close either. Hurley had no NIL, he conference titles, Golden was immediate improvement and Pope ain’t winning a title year 3 lololol. I don’t know they just won’t stop with this crap.
 
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Supafuzz75

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Do people even look at this stuff before they post it? I mean it’s been explained over and over and over and they just keep doing it. It’s some kind of psychological effect or somethin……

Hurley also coached pro’s at St. Benedict and led them to becoming a powerhouse. Coached JR Smith and had like a 93% winning %. Golden wasn’t close either. Hurley had no NIL, he conference titles, Golden was immediate improvement and Pope ain’t winning a title year 3 lololol. I don’t know they just won’t stop with this crap.
Nope,, they just love raw numbers.. Only way they can feel smart with using said numbers..
 

Hitman206

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Jul 11, 2009
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Steele was fired from Xavier as Chris Mack’s replacement (2018-22)

Steele went 70-50 with a 21-37 Big East record over 4 years. Best team went 19-13.

Surely you are not suggesting him for UK’s next coach? He’s at the right level.
I said he was an assistant under Sampson at Indiana and helped bring Jordan Crawford and Tu Holloway to Xavier when he was hired as an assistant. I never said anything else.
 
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DelkBowl

Heisman
Oct 4, 2015
10,799
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The state of Indiana would implode and there would be the worlds largest sink hole in the USA.
 

deplion

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Sampson wouldn't be my first choice, but he could stabilize us and make us nationally competitive again until he retires in a few years.

We could do a whole lot worse.
 
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blueblood2767

Redshirt
Nov 18, 2025
33
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No one wants this job. Too much pressure. We are stuck with Pope and don't be surprised if they give him an extension.