Possibly the only way forward

[VC99]

Pope, in his make or break year, might have to just get a bunch of underdog, overlooked players that nobody thinks is good enough to match with the fact nobody thinks Pope's good enough. Just a team and staff full of people nobody believes in and somehow rally behind that. At this point Pope is being so heavily negatively recruited against and has built such a horrific reputation. The opposite of a "Ferrari," everyone with a chip on their shoulder, knowing nobody thinks the players or coach is "Kentucky Caliber." Pope's ceiling is severely limited and comes nowhere close to utilizing the machine that Kentucky basketball can be but maybe the only way he can have some success is just a very niche, specific team trying to prove themselves.

 

[CB3UK]

This is Kentucky. We don't compete as the underdog. Our job is to kick in the door to your shīthole gym, drag our nuts across center court, and smash the ball through the hoop over and over and over until you submit.

 

[RunninRichie]

He did that his first season.

 

[ChocoChicken]

At this point we have to accept that the whole basketball world seems to be against CMP. We need to move on to get out of the crosshairs that are firmly planted on both us right now or we’ll never get that Pope stink off.

 

[VC99]

This is Kentucky. We don't compete as the underdog. Our job is to kick in the door to your shīthole gym, drag our nuts across center court, and smash the ball through the hoop over and over and over until you submit.

The problem is Pope can't do that. But he is still the coach. So for this season to have any chance of success he needs to pull a grand slam out of his *** at the final minute or go all in on the "us against the world" mentality. Pope is having to learn on the job, maybe he can learn to grow some balls.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Pope, in his make or break year, might have to just get a bunch of underdog, overlooked players that nobody thinks is good enough to match with the fact nobody thinks Pope's good enough. Just a team and staff full of people nobody believes in and somehow rally behind that. At this point Pope is being so heavily negatively recruited against and has built such a horrific reputation. The opposite of a "Ferrari," everyone with a chip on their shoulder, knowing nobody thinks the players or coach is "Kentucky Caliber."

But that would mean just playing harder than other teams.

That’s just not the case. Pope teams almost never play hard two halves of the same game. And they will just quit several games.

Or not even show up.

 

[ChicagoCat90]

He did that his first season.

He did it with underdogs and the best 3 point shooter in college. He'll have to do it next year with underdogs and no 3 point shooters.

 

[JAC71]

Screw that!! We are Kentucky and should be feared as soon as opposing team steps off the bus. Underdogs role is loser mentality

 

[oldsports_]

IU and Tenn have their best group of players coming to campus in years.

UK has their worst.


Think about it

 

[VC99]

But that would mean just playing harder than other teams.

That’s just not the case. Pope teams almost never play hard two halves of the same game. And they will just quit several games.

Or not even show up.

You know how everyone said that Mark Pope’s first team would probably be his worst and least talented?” That's sort of the line of thinking I have. IDK if it's his personality just meshing better with them or whatever. Clearly Pope is not qualified to be the Kentucky head coach, but maybe he can literally only be (somewhat)successful this way.

 

[deplion]

In the first year, the recruits didn't realize just how bad he sucks.

Word's out now.

I see absolutely no way he recovers from this.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

This is Kentucky. We don't compete as the underdog. Our job is to kick in the door to your shīthole gym, drag our nuts across center court, and smash the ball through the hoop over and over and over until you submit.

This is not UK basketball. Kansas and potentially UNC will pass us in wins within the next couple seasons. While Mark Pope is celebrating beating the #24 team at home like it's the Final Four, the Pope cult will bring up "i ThOuGhT y'AlL sAiD pOpE cOuLdN't CoAcH".

This might not be Bloomington yet, but it sure is sht ain't Storrs...

 

[TheBlueMist]

In the first year, the recruits didn't realize just how bad he sucks.

Word's out now.

I see absolutely no way he recovers from this.

I'm at the point, barring miracle signings, I don't think he survives the season. I wouldn't be surprised by a February article titled, "UK decides to move on from Mark Pope after two and a half years."

 

[kywildcat1021979]

He did it with underdogs and the best 3 point shooter in college. He'll have to do it next year with underdogs and no 3 point shooters.

We'll be lucky to even make the NIT.

 

[Anon1776024529]

It’s not too late to fire him now

 

[UKCowboys]

Screw that!! We are Kentucky and should be feared as soon as opposing team steps off the bus. Underdogs role is loser mentality

No one has feared us in well over a decade

 

[W1LDCAT22]

But that would mean just playing harder than other teams.

That’s just not the case. Pope teams almost never play hard two halves of the same game. And they will just quit several games.

Or not even show up.

Players dont like, and dont want to play for Pope. Simple as that.

 

[AllBall]

At this point we have to accept that the whole basketball world seems to be against CMP. We need to move on to get out of the crosshairs that are firmly planted on both us right now or we’ll never get that Pope stink off.

Whoever said there's no such thing as bad publicity couldn't envision Pope at UK.

Yeah it's BAD. He's the laughingstock punchline on every video and or post on the internet.

 

[AllBall]

It’s not too late to fire him now

There's no balls or foresight in the administration. This is only spinning the tires. At this point why throw good money at a bad problem. Cut bait and focus on the future.

The media has to back us bc they're piling on right now. Can't be laughable and worth keeping.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

He did it with underdogs and the best 3 point shooter in college. He'll have to do it next year with underdogs and no 3 point shooters.

People are rewriting history with this “underdogs” nonsense. His G League All Star first year. He had SEVEN top 100 transfers. Pope is going to struggle to get 3 of those this year.

 

[20MRoster]

OP I think you are right -- that is the only hope that Pope has, but that's not good enough to remain a coach at UK. Also, as others have pointed out, to be that type of team, you have to play harder than the opponent -- Pope's teams notoriously struggle with effort and preparedness. Additionally, there's no evidence to show he develops any player.

If Pope were a football coach and he had IU's 2025-26 roster, he would go 2-7 in the B10.

 

[ChocoChicken]

In the first year, the recruits didn't realize just how bad he sucks.

Word's out now.

I see absolutely no way he recovers from this.

It won’t just be elite players anymore. Even the top 50-100 guys will stop looking at UK. We’re already seeing that by the fact that our only recruit is a top 150 player who is the son of one of our assistant coaches and why did a guy like Rancik jump onto FSU than wait another day for Freeman? That intself is highly concerning. Now we’re looking at top 500 players. CMP is completely done. Other coaches have successfully turned him into a pariah and a deviant and whatever other negative trait that they’ve labeled thrown at him.

 

[BleedBlue63]

I mean, he’s not GILLISPIE bad…

 

[812scottj]

I mean, he’s not GILLISPIE bad…

Not yet, but he’s on a path to match it if he doesn’t turn it around. I’m disinterested at this point…show something this coming season, or GO ON…GET!!

 

[Anon1760749849]

He's worse than Gillespie because he was given THE FARM once Cal left. Donors, money, support, everyone. He was embraced with open arms like I've never seen at Kentucky. And he absolutely let it sink into the abyss.

 

[VC99]

OP I think you are right -- that is the only hope that Pope has, but that's not good enough to remain a coach at UK. Also, as others have pointed out, to be that type of team, you have to play harder than the opponent -- Pope's teams notoriously struggle with effort and preparedness. Additionally, there's no evidence to show he develops any player.

If Pope were a football coach and he had IU's 2025-26 roster, he would go 2-7 in the B10.

Oh I completely agree, this is not good enough at Kentucky, but it might be Pope's only chance at somewhat salvaging this season and preventing a total disaster. A bunch of guys with chips on their shoulders giving a collective "F you" to everyone by proving it, unlike the last team.

 

[deplion]

I mean, he’s not GILLISPIE bad…

Gillispie at least brought in some big time recruits.

It is mind boggling.

An alcoholic lunatic could recruit at UK, but our current coach somehow cannot.

 

[ChocoChicken]

I mean, he’s not GILLISPIE bad…

BCG won’t be known as the guy who lost our all-time wins title.

 

[bbnkat02]

The problem is Pope can't do that. But he is still the coach. So for this season to have any chance of success he needs to pull a grand slam out of his *** at the final minute or go all in on the "us against the world" mentality. Pope is having to learn on the job, maybe he can learn to grow some balls.

Problem is this is reality. Not Rudy.

You can have all the heart in the world. If you don’t have some guys that can compete you’re going to get slaughtered. Nothing Pope has shown me says he can do that.

 

[bbnkat02]

I'm at the point, barring miracle signings, I don't think he survives the season. I wouldn't be surprised by a February article titled, "UK decides to move on from Mark Pope after two and a half years."

February would mean he showed some fight. I’ll place money on December if he doesn’t land a miracle.