The hatred and personal attacks are childish, and frankly, embarrassing, and..

[The Ganner]

There are other UK fan spaces (reddit, discord, WCN forums) and people there aren't, generally, any more optimistic about Pope than people here. But this place is uniquely juvenile and uniquely toxic. Lots of people here are committed to being miserable every moment of every day, reminding you you should be miserable every moment of every day, and are very quick to start schoolyard fights. You can't have a discussion about anything without multiple people immediately redirecting to their axe to grind. There used to be a taboo against "agenda posting" on the internet but that's a long gone norm. Used to be a taboo against "flame wars" on the internet but this often feels more like a flame-war forum than a UK sports forum.

It's not "welcome to the internet." It's not "the program is in bad shape." It's the people here, and a years-long development of an awful culture here ("here" being Rupp Rafters, I can't speak for the other spaces that got merged in here). There's plenty of trolls and plenty of, frankly, mentally ill people who apparently devote a massive fraction of their lives to creating account after account to have the same fights over and over and over. There are tons of people here who just aren't interested in conversation or nuance, only at screaming their thoughts into the void and making an enemy of anyone who doesn't think exactly as they do. "Disagree with me on ANY portion of what I said? I'm gonna ignore what you say and call you names." Hell I literally saw a poster "joking" about shooting other people over a fight on here. Many of the more reasonable people seem to have been run off as the place spirals into greater and greater toxicity. I'm not sure what the answer is because if you ban people they just make another account and show up again, and the leadership/ownership seems to have given up on trying and there just isn't enough of a moderator presence to even try to control it - it would take people being on here monitoring constantly and even then I don't know how you could control it.

 

[UK4Life#9]

They think that it makes them a better fan or something if they constantly bash people. Individuals with low IQ are usually the loudest.

They aren’t intelligent enough to discuss how to fix it. Same exact thing happened when Cal was here and he called them out for being ignorant and they still call themselves Bennie’s. Cal was calling them ignorant with nicer words.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I never said you specifically, I was speaking in generalities.

Oh I know that. And you’ve been one of the more respectful ones in general on this topic. I’m just point out that, as you’re I’m sure more than aware, that I’ve been complaining about this same thing for awhile now. Simply trying to allow people who hold my view to be allowed a standing spot at the water cooler. Some will say why are you whining? It’s because I know there are many others like me who just leave or don’t engage because they don’t want to put up with what I do. The moderators need a clear set of rules that we can all follow so that isn’t following just their whims on things. I wonder how different things would be here if the conduct was the same but happening from the perspective of something the mods don’t agree with. People would be getting timeouts, coached to stay on topic, etc. Both Jed and DraftCat are frustrated with Pope and I believe that allows them to permit a lot that shouldn’t be permitted. It’s not like I’m asking much. I’m just asking the constant war games to end and let people agree to disagree or debate respectfully.

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

I would take your opinion to be nicer more seriously if you hadn't called people retarded recently when thy didn't agree with you. Might want to take your own advice.

 

[bleedsblue5]

It's the product, our guys did not get ANY better. Any of us could handle improvement, A few examples-
Moreno - regressed to the point of not being able to start him.
Chandler - improved but then dissappeared
Jasper - had trouble handling the ball and it was never addressed
Jelly - got better at rebounding but regressed everywhere else
Defense and rebounding in general - NO IMPROVEMENTS

You could maybe argue - Otega, Mo and Zel but they just were what they were.

And to cap it all off, POPE has the exact same win percentage as he has always had- so HE DID NOT IMPROVE.

Pretty plain to see we will not improve next year more than a game or 2.

 

[UKGrad24]

Very well stated. Some of the constant negativity on this board is just embarrassing. I do not think Mark will make it but I don't come to this board everyday trying to find new ways to tear him or the players down. That is just childish. Pope will be given at least another year and there is nothing I or anyone else can do to change that so the only thing I can do is hope he proves me wrong and support him. The constant negative posts achieve nothing. If you are upset and think we need a change that is fine to post but after posting your take you don't have to constantly be on here finding other ways to make everyone miserable by degrading the program, coach, players and other fans. Just childish behavior.

players are doing what they do, I would want to play at Kentucky too. Also at the same time they are pros, this is now a pro system. It’s happening everywhere. You don’t get to get paid then say “I’m a kid” when you’re 18+ and make millions. It’s not happening anywhere honestly.

This is Kentucky and we’re setting all time lows. I’m not really understanding what people think happens to great organizations (which is what this is now) who fumble the program this horribly. It’ll be non stop until changes are made. But check out any great institution who’s suffering, same thing. It’s really always been this way.

A lot of this is not really anything but Pope cover disguised as something else. I’d assume by next season, there won’t be any of that. He’s way in over his head and he’ll only continue to show. Again, he has a long record of being a pretty mid-low level coach, it’s not going to be shelved at UK and let go. Just the nature of it, it’s what he wanted.

 

[UKGrad24]

Actually, that is a good observation. Unless you hire a coach from a major program who is able to bring some star players to the new program, any new coach is very likely to struggle early on. Correct?

No, because they have millions of dollars to a buy a roster. Popes first roster he was able to get a final four point guard, one of the best shooters in the country, a McDonald’s All American center, 4 star players, etc. It’s just that he’s a really bad floor coach who can’t manage rosters at all.

That’s how it USED TO BE. It is not that way anymore.

An he was recruiting with Calipari brand in year one. It’s been a steep decline since it’s been his face attached.

 

[UKGrad24]

Hurley didn’t have the portal. Golden was also completely unknown. He had Florida winning more games in year 2 than year 1. He didn’t regress in year 2.

They either have some crazy level confirmation bias going on because they keep repeating this when it’s said over and over, or they’re willfully ignorant and will not accept reality. I don’t know which it is honestly. It’s been explained and explained.

Not just that either. Golden is FORTY HES JUST A MAN! he’s 40, Pope is way older with a way more established low-mid record. They are not able to be compared.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Let's all get along

 

[jedwar]

I think criticism etc is warranted and if folks want to do that then that's fine. If folks want to defend Pope, that's fine too. I think that's warranted at times as well. Personal attacks on Pope, his family and his religion are not warranted and will be removed when it's seen. I criticize him like crazy and will continue to when I feel it's warranted but I won't be mean and nasty on a personal level.

 

[TotheMoon88]

I can bit$& and moan about the crap job he’s doing and still root for the team to win. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.

I don’t know why people don’t get this

 

[Blue Jesus]

…unwarranted. This board has become a cesspool. Day after day of nonstop Pope bashing.

Pope’s first season, by all accounts, was successful. He was left a mess by the lazy *** Calipari, who lost 46 games , and had 1 tournament win his last 4 seasons here, despite loaded rosters with numerous 5 stars.

This year, despite losing his point guard, and having his starting center quit, he still managed a win in the tournament, something Calipari accomplished 1 time his last 4 season here.

Pope‘s first two seasons here were much better than Hurley’s and Golden’s at UConn and Florida,, respectively. Our fans seem to ignore these facts.

Pope may or may not work out, but it’s too early to tell.

I, for one, will be backing him 100%, and look forward to seeing him put together next seasons roster.

The rest of you can keep complaining and calling him names. Keep being miserable and acting like petulant children.

Totally agree. I can’t believe some of the negativity I’ve seen here lately, although I notice some of the worst happens to be from “Anon#######” accounts and is likely trolling.

 

[TotheMoon88]

…unwarranted. This board has become a cesspool. Day after day of nonstop Pope bashing.

Pope’s first season, by all accounts, was successful. He was left a mess by the lazy *** Calipari, who lost 46 games , and had 1 tournament win his last 4 seasons here, despite loaded rosters with numerous 5 stars.

This year, despite losing his point guard, and having his starting center quit, he still managed a win in the tournament, something Calipari accomplished 1 time his last 4 season here.

Pope‘s first two seasons here were much better than Hurley’s and Golden’s at UConn and Florida,, respectively. Our fans seem to ignore these facts.

Pope may or may not work out, but it’s too early to tell.

I, for one, will be backing him 100%, and look forward to seeing him put together next seasons roster.

The rest of you can keep complaining and calling him names. Keep being miserable and acting like petulant children.

Hypocrite. You say personal attacks are childish and then immediately use a personal attack against cal. You hate cal so much you’re blind to the fact pope just isn’t good.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Personally, I really don't blame people for complaining. However, the complaining has to invade every single thread. Someone always seems to find a way to bash Pope even if they have to make something up.

There is plenty to be unhappy about without making stuff up and also twisting the facts to fit a biased agenda. How about the thread bashing JQ's dad over a quote that didn't even come from JQ's dad? Not only was the quote misconstrued but posters didn't even care about getting any of the the facts straight.

Agreed. There's enough factual stuff out there to complain about. No need to fabricate stuff.

 

[Bugs092056]

Let's all get along

Good tune

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

I don’t know why people don’t get this

I've coached HS athletics for over 20 yrs now. My wife, who knows nothing about athletics, always knows when I quit complaining about a team (there are plenty of positives) that I've cashed it in. Her statement has always been, "you bit&$ because you care."

 

[BigBlueGuru]

players are doing what they do, I would want to play at Kentucky too. Also at the same time they are pros, this is now a pro system. It’s happening everywhere. You don’t get to get paid then say “I’m a kid” when you’re 18+ and make millions. It’s not happening anywhere honestly.

This is Kentucky and we’re setting all time lows. I’m not really understanding what people think happens to great organizations (which is what this is now) who fumble the program this horribly. It’ll be non stop until changes are made. But check out any great institution who’s suffering, same thing. It’s really always been this way.

A lot of this is not really anything but Pope cover disguised as something else. I’d assume by next season, there won’t be any of that. He’s way in over his head and he’ll only continue to show. Again, he has a long record of being a pretty mid-low level coach, it’s not going to be shelved at UK and let go. Just the nature of it, it’s what he wanted.

We will see soon enough.

 

[Blue Jesus]

Actually, that is a good observation. Unless you hire a coach from a major program who is able to bring some star players to the new program, any new coach is very likely to struggle early on. Correct?

Or a coach can pull a Bruce Pearl and wait until it’s so late in the offseason the players don’t have anywhere to go.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Hypocrite. You say personal attacks are childish and then immediately use a personal attack against cal. You hate cal so much you’re blind to the fact pope just isn’t good.

That's next level blindness.

 

[Bichoto]

…unwarranted. This board has become a cesspool. Day after day of nonstop Pope bashing.

Pope’s first season, by all accounts, was successful. He was left a mess by the lazy *** Calipari, who lost 46 games , and had 1 tournament win his last 4 seasons here, despite loaded rosters with numerous 5 stars.

This year, despite losing his point guard, and having his starting center quit, he still managed a win in the tournament, something Calipari accomplished 1 time his last 4 season here.

Pope‘s first two seasons here were much better than Hurley’s and Golden’s at UConn and Florida,, respectively. Our fans seem to ignore these facts.

Pope may or may not work out, but it’s too early to tell.

I, for one, will be backing him 100%, and look forward to seeing him put together next seasons roster.

The rest of you can keep complaining and calling him names. Keep being miserable and acting like petulant children.

So the personal attacks on pope are childish and embarrassing but your personal attack on JQ is okay? Maybe look in the mirror. His ACL was tore when pope signed him. That’s on pope.

 

[TotheMoon88]

Most of them aren’t saying he’s an enemy of the program and all this stuff. It’s definitely very different. I try to be as kind as can be and agreeable as I can be and get @‘d and called out constantly just because I think Pope deserves a third year. Just gets old, man. OP used stronger language than I would but he’s on edge for a reason. Y’all have bullied everyone mercilessly who doesn’t agree. I don’t know what happened to:

I have this opinion.
You have that opinion.
We can coexist and agree to disagree.

Instead, it’s nasty all the time. I’ve called for about eight million olive branches but it doesn’t matter. Just is what it is I guess.

Was your username ever dontworryboutit

 

[BigBlueGuru]

There are other UK fan spaces (reddit, discord, WCN forums) and people there aren't, generally, any more optimistic about Pope than people here. But this place is uniquely juvenile and uniquely toxic. Lots of people here are committed to being miserable every moment of every day, reminding you you should be miserable every moment of every day, and are very quick to start schoolyard fights. You can't have a discussion about anything without multiple people immediately redirecting to their axe to grind. There used to be a taboo against "agenda posting" on the internet but that's a long gone norm. Used to be a taboo against "flame wars" on the internet but this often feels more like a flame-war forum than a UK sports forum.

It's not "welcome to the internet." It's not "the program is in bad shape." It's the people here, and a years-long development of an awful culture here ("here" being Rupp Rafters, I can't speak for the other spaces that got merged in here). There's plenty of trolls and plenty of, frankly, mentally ill people who apparently devote a massive fraction of their lives to creating account after account to have the same fights over and over and over. There are tons of people here who just aren't interested in conversation or nuance, only at screaming their thoughts into the void and making an enemy of anyone who doesn't think exactly as they do. "Disagree with me on ANY portion of what I said? I'm gonna ignore what you say and call you names." Hell I literally saw a poster "joking" about shooting other people over a fight on here. Many of the more reasonable people seem to have been run off as the place spirals into greater and greater toxicity. I'm not sure what the answer is because if you ban people they just make another account and show up again, and the leadership/ownership seems to have given up on trying and there just isn't enough of a moderator presence to even try to control it - it would take people being on here monitoring constantly and even then I don't know how you could control it.

Couldnt have said it better myself.

 

[UKGrad24]

We will see soon enough.

What I really don’t get, are people that say they’re fine now but he has to make a final four or elite 8 by next season. That’s obviously not going to happen. He doesn’t recruit, coach, or manage well enough for that. He’s got a long history. The only reason he’s even making tournaments is because he can now pay players and at least has UK. Before that he couldn’t recruit at all and couldn’t make tournaments. So we see what he is and what the increase is from.

I think also there’s panic right now. UNC and Kansas are watching UK f up badly and they’re going to make sure they hire correctly. We’re sitting with Mark which is going where and Duke is playing for titles, UNC is getting serious again, etc. think it worries a lot of people, gotta admit worries me too.

 

[-BBH-]

Such pathetic logic calling fans miserable that want Pope out. Like yea man, we suck, and it’s depressing there are fans like OP out there that will support the trash product on the floor like it’s fine at Kentucky.

Indiana here we come.

 

[TotheMoon88]

That's next level blindness.

I swear a lot of these posters just see pope as the opposite of cal so they’re just blind to how bad he is

 

[Farsight Clone]

I think criticism etc is warranted and if folks want to do that then that's fine. If folks want to defend Pope, that's fine too. I think that's warranted at times as well. Personal attacks on Pope, his family and his religion are not warranted and will be removed when it's seen. I criticize him like crazy and will continue to when I feel it's warranted but I won't be mean and nasty on a personal level.

So when certain posters on here consistently attack others and insult, is there room for moderation there?

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

I swear a lot of these posters just see pope as the opposite of cal so they’re just blind to how bad he is

Bingo. Many of the posts are versions of how Pope cares about UK unlike that big meanie Cal.

 

[brandonmckayegearheart]

…unwarranted. This board has become a cesspool. Day after day of nonstop Pope bashing.

Pope’s first season, by all accounts, was successful. He was left a mess by the lazy *** Calipari, who lost 46 games , and had 1 tournament win his last 4 seasons here, despite loaded rosters with numerous 5 stars.

This year, despite losing his point guard, and having his starting center quit, he still managed a win in the tournament, something Calipari accomplished 1 time his last 4 season here.

Pope‘s first two seasons here were much better than Hurley’s and Golden’s at UConn and Florida,, respectively. Our fans seem to ignore these facts.

Pope may or may not work out, but it’s too early to tell.

I, for one, will be backing him 100%, and look forward to seeing him put together next seasons roster.

The rest of you can keep complaining and calling him names. Keep being miserable and acting like petulant children.

I think most of us are rooting for him to figure it out even though we are frustrated. I think he's a good basketball coach that took his dream job when he wasn't ready. He would have been crazy to not try it. It's just not working out. I don't like to see him attacked for his character at all.

 

[Supafuzz75]

…unwarranted. This board has become a cesspool. Day after day of nonstop Pope bashing.

Pope’s first season, by all accounts, was successful. He was left a mess by the lazy *** Calipari, who lost 46 games , and had 1 tournament win his last 4 seasons here, despite loaded rosters with numerous 5 stars.

This year, despite losing his point guard, and having his starting center quit, he still managed a win in the tournament, something Calipari accomplished 1 time his last 4 season here.

Pope‘s first two seasons here were much better than Hurley’s and Golden’s at UConn and Florida,, respectively. Our fans seem to ignore these facts.

Pope may or may not work out, but it’s too early to tell.

I, for one, will be backing him 100%, and look forward to seeing him put together next seasons roster.

The rest of you can keep complaining and calling him names. Keep being miserable and acting like petulant children.

Still using the dumb Hurley and Golden first 2 years schtick? Always ignoring that they both,, especially Hurley,, done way better than Pope before those 2 years?

 

[jedwar]

So when certain posters on here consistently attack others and insult, is there room for moderation there?

Yes. I know much gets by us but if folks will use the report feature it would help a ton.

 

[WeWant9_rivals]

There are other UK fan spaces (reddit, discord, WCN forums) and people there aren't, generally, any more optimistic about Pope than people here. But this place is uniquely juvenile and uniquely toxic. Lots of people here are committed to being miserable every moment of every day, reminding you you should be miserable every moment of every day, and are very quick to start schoolyard fights. You can't have a discussion about anything without multiple people immediately redirecting to their axe to grind. There used to be a taboo against "agenda posting" on the internet but that's a long gone norm. Used to be a taboo against "flame wars" on the internet but this often feels more like a flame-war forum than a UK sports forum.

It's not "welcome to the internet." It's not "the program is in bad shape." It's the people here, and a years-long development of an awful culture here ("here" being Rupp Rafters, I can't speak for the other spaces that got merged in here). There's plenty of trolls and plenty of, frankly, mentally ill people who apparently devote a massive fraction of their lives to creating account after account to have the same fights over and over and over. There are tons of people here who just aren't interested in conversation or nuance, only at screaming their thoughts into the void and making an enemy of anyone who doesn't think exactly as they do. "Disagree with me on ANY portion of what I said? I'm gonna ignore what you say and call you names." Hell I literally saw a poster "joking" about shooting other people over a fight on here. Many of the more reasonable people seem to have been run off as the place spirals into greater and greater toxicity. I'm not sure what the answer is because if you ban people they just make another account and show up again, and the leadership/ownership seems to have given up on trying and there just isn't enough of a moderator presence to even try to control it - it would take people being on here monitoring constantly and even then I don't know how you could control it.

I like some of the other places for the discussion. This place is for **** posting and laughs. I've always been convinced we got a few people here who make up the majority of usernames ha

 

[TotheMoon88]

Bingo. Many of the posts are versions of how Pope cares about UK unlike that big meanie Cal.

I just don’t get it, I was ready for cal to go too but that doesn’t mean I want a coach who clearly isn’t going to work. It doesn’t matter how much he loves UK

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Uhhh, I thought I was clear. Cal came from UK and was able to take UK players to Arkansas. Pope came from BYU. I think the inference is obvious, don't you?

Dusty May seems to have figured it out. Mark Byington, at a much lesser program than UK, seems to have figured it out. Jai Lucas, in one year, seems to have figured it out. Ben McCollum at Iowa in one year. There are tons of examples of guys that have done it quickly. Pope was much better in year one than year two. I don't consider year one the success many do, just because of the erratic nature of the team (big win vs head scratching blowout loss...which were essentially equal). But even he could scratch something together in a few weeks.

 

[The Ganner]

Yes. I know much gets by us but if folks will use the report feature it would help a ton.

I was talking with I think another mod recently, I don't have a report button. There have to be others, as well. Not sure why but this is consistent across different PCs, different browsers, mobile....

 

[BigBluefoot]

Shocked that there are still UKAA water boys running around this site attempting to lecture the fanbase.

 

[jedwar]

I was talking with I think another mod recently, I don't have a report button. There have to be others, as well. Not sure why but this is consistent across different PCs, different browsers, mobile....

I honestly don't know but will work on finding out. You can tag us as well. It's just such a fast moving forum that it's a lot to cover.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Yes. I know much gets by us but if folks will use the report feature it would help a ton.

We don't have a report feature.

However, if you click on the posters name and go to their profile you can ignore. But not report. There used to be a report button, but now its vanished.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Matt Jones said that not only WILL Pope be back for a third year but also that he SHOULD get a third year. Does this mean he is an enemy of the program, a troll, or something? Coz that’s how we get treated on this board for saying the same thing.

Man, you get dramatic. Anyone that feels that he SHOULD get a third year isn't a troll or enemy of the program. I, along with many others, feel they are dead wrong. About the only thing any of those people can point to is the injuries. They haven't caused the poor play caused by poor coaching, but it's the only thing there is. And before anyone says anything about coaches getting more than two years, this is a different era. NIL and the portal make it that anyone coaching anywhere can build a competitive roster if they're worth a darn as a coach.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

So I hold the same position independently and get treated like garbage lol? Makes sense.

Matt - “Year 1 was good. Year 2 was bad. A year 3 makes sense. He will need to perform or should be fired.”

Everyone - Ok, makes sense.

Me - “Year 1 was good. Year 2 was bad. A year 3 makes sense. He will need to perform or should be fired.”

Everyone - You’re a complete moron.

^ All I’ve asked is to just let people with my opinion coexist, thats all.

I can think you're an idiot and still coexist, no?

 

[jedwar]

We don't have a report feature.

However, if you click on the posters name and go to their profile you can ignore. But not report. There used to be a report button, but now its vanished.

IDK what's going on with that. We get reported posts and posters every day. IDK why some can and some cannot.