Absolutely embarrassing from him. Funny he didn’t mention the record number of blowouts the past 2 seasons
CMP show 23 March 2026
- Thread starter Zuma75
- Start date
Agreed. Think he could’ve made the point without referencing Cal struggles. The whole bit of rambling off stats was weird, not a surprise he ended up taking it too far.
Well aware, still dumb statement for a coach to make after this season
I wonder why he didn't compare Cal's first 2 seasons to his first 2 season??????
In the end, the only thing that matters is what he does with the roster over these next couple of months. So we won't have to wait long to find out.
I would compare your starting PG more to the engine than the steering wheel in your Ferrari metaphor but admittedly I’m not a car guy lol.
Separate from your points he did pretty much say tonight that Lewis left due to his father’s legal situation. Thought that was an interesting indirect admission.
You can’t really brag about SEC tournament wins when you’re having to play the first game of the entire tournament 
Here’s what matters both him and Cal 0fer in the quarterfinals the last 5-6 years. I can’t believe he’s going to brag about SEC tournament wins. If we finish 13th next year and win two more again that’s progress toward hanging a banner!
Here’s what matters both him and Cal 0fer in the quarterfinals the last 5-6 years. I can’t believe he’s going to brag about SEC tournament wins. If we finish 13th next year and win two more again that’s progress toward hanging a banner!
Unbelievable man. Bragging about beating the 16th and 8th place teams in the conference.
1. Get him drug tested
2. Get him a CAT scan
3. Get him the hell out of Kentucky.
2. Get him a CAT scan
3. Get him the hell out of Kentucky.
I have always said that I really like Pope, but just think he is a terrible coach. But this is an absolutely terrible look for him.
Agree with the comment above about the SEC tournament. You can't brag about winning that game when you should never be seeded low enough to play that game.
Agree with the comment above about the SEC tournament. You can't brag about winning that game when you should never be seeded low enough to play that game.
He’s one of those “fake it till you make it” kind of guys, isn’t he?
God Pope just say "I failed this year. I didn't develop the players like I should have. My game day preparation clearly was not up to par. My in game adjustments weren't what they needed to be. My pitiful attitude early on led to terrible body language and cost us early games. I failed BBN, my players, and my staff and for that I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Even if it did happen again does he not understand the message that would send to potential future players? Knowing your coach would put himself on the altar for you would undoubtedly help him in recruiting. I'd play for someone like that.
This guy really had stats ready to go on why he has done “better” than Cal’s last few years. Even had the ranking of each team to knock Cal out of the SEC tournament by year
Talk about desperation
Talk about desperation
Pope did talk awhile about how they set things up for a left handed PG all offseason
My ears perked up remembering Quinn Ellis is also a lefty.
I am definitely on Quinn Ellis watch. Makes a ton of sense(for more reasons than just being left handed lol)
My ears perked up remembering Quinn Ellis is also a lefty.
I am definitely on Quinn Ellis watch. Makes a ton of sense(for more reasons than just being left handed lol)
I'm sorry, but thats LOSER talk. It's not about Pope vs Cal now. It's about Pope vs Pope .
Are we better than we were yesterday? THAT is what matters. And that's how leaders LEAD.
Hurts my soul to say it, but Pope IS NOT a leader.
This is how you know UK basketball has hit a low point. Pope is comparing four terrible seasons under Cal to his two terrible seasons as if it’s something to be proud of. Cool, you didn't go 9-16. You want an extension?
We’ve been more successful in one way. NCAA tournament wins. We have not been better in the SEC or in the regular season.
Last year, that would've been fine. But you can't roll that out after having FF expectations and expect people to go, "Oh....ok."
Well, I have to say, the fact that he prepared before hand and spent time building his argument, with stats and rankings, shows that he really understands that the fan perception of him is not good at all. It’s pleading to the fans, please give me a little more grace. It’s embarrassing actually. Dude knows he **** the bed and is trying to show that it’s better than Cal shitting the bed before him. Hey everyone, I suck a little less that he sucked. And look, I have better reasons for sucking too!
Would have been much better if he just accepted responsibility, took the heat, and said I will be better immediately. Quick and to the point. No excuses. At least that would be commendable.
Would have been much better if he just accepted responsibility, took the heat, and said I will be better immediately. Quick and to the point. No excuses. At least that would be commendable.
After actually listening to his comments, it was even worse than I expected. He clearly looked up these stats and created this speech to try to convince the world that we weren't as bad as it seemed. That suggests he clearly knows he is failing.
Also, did he say that the past two years schedules were 70% more difficult than previous years? I'm pretty sure those metrics aren't supposed to be compared as a percentage of another. That has no real meaning. That's like saying today was 15 percent colder than yesterday.
That whole radio show kind of lent credence to the view of him as being so focused on analytics that he can't see what's right in front of his face. I'm sure he's aware of the reality of the situation, he's not that dense. But man, he was laying it on thick.This guy really had stats ready to go on why he has done “better” than Cal’s last few years. Even had the ranking of each team to knock Cal out of the SEC tournament by year
Talk about desperation
He wasn't taking potshots. He literally takes about small improvements. Cal is he everyone is going to compare him to.
I agree the schedule phrasing was odd. Would’ve been cleaner to say we’ve had the 3rd hardest schedule in the country each of the last two years.
If he wanted to compare it to the previous 4 year sample, he could’ve just said the average for that was 41. If he wanted to be really snarky he could’ve claimed the hardest SOS UK had the previous 4 years wasn’t even top 10, and they went 9-16 lol.
Just weird to be so defensive, his job isn’t in jeopardy right now anyways.
Pope is dumb as hell. No one is buying this crap except Nitro.
Dude what is wrong with you?
It absolutely is. If things don't improve and we have a crap start to the season, he could be out mid year.
But it's cherry picking. Why not compare it to Cal's first 2 seasons at the helm? I'm not a Cal fan but he didn't have NIL and look what he did those first seasons. People say well Cal's last years left Pope with a mess but Cal came in after the Billy Clyde mess and did great those early seasons.
And yet outside the Covid year, Cal was never lower than 3rd in conference.