What's the best case scenario for the program?

[ToniTonyToneDelkDelkDelk]

2026-27 is a wash before it starts.

And unfortunately that means 2027-2028 will be crap too unless we land a big time coach who bring his entire team and recruiting class with him like Calipari did when he left us.

Sooooo I'm guess we can start bouncing back in 2028-2029... good grief this sounds like we'll have flying cars by then. I can't fully say that I'd still be interested in all this by then. That's how damaging Mark Pope has been to the program.

What say you? Let's help talk each other or just talk me off of the ledge. I haven't been this negative since Billy G was emotionally and mentally terrorizing his own players.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

2026-27 is a wash before it starts.

And unfortunately that means 2027-2028 will be crap too unless we land a big time coach who bring his entire team and recruiting class with him like Calipari did when he left us.

Sooooo I'm guess we can start bouncing back in 2028-2029... good grief this sounds like we'll have flying cars by then. I can't fully say that I'd still be interested in all this by then. That's how damaging Mark Pope has been to the program.

What say you? Let's help talk each other or just talk me off of the ledge. I haven't been this negative since Billy G was emotionally and mentally terrorizing his own players.

The guy you’re convinced is absolute trash that had no recruiting acumen took an empty roster UK program to a top 10 season.

No reason to write off 2027 if an at least decent hire is made

 

[ToniTonyToneDelkDelkDelk]

The guy you’re convinced is absolute trash that had no recruiting acumen took an empty roster UK program to a top 10 season.

No reason to write off 2027 if an at least decent hire is made

I'm convinced. Our players are convinced. Other players are convinced. Opposing coaches are convinced.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

I'm convinced. Our players are convinced. Other players are convinced. Opposing coaches are convinced.

Your tone suggests I thought you were wrong and that’s not the case.

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

there's no plan, no one is coming to save us. Mitch is sleeping soundly as we type, and he knows what lackey will be replacing him. We should have been back channeling to find a real coach as soon as that Gonzaga game ended, but our administration actually does not care.

 

[AllBall]

2026-27 is a wash before it starts.

And unfortunately that means 2027-2028 will be crap too unless we land a big time coach who bring his entire team and recruiting class with him like Calipari did when he left us.

Sooooo I'm guess we can start bouncing back in 2028-2029... good grief this sounds like we'll have flying cars by then. I can't fully say that I'd still be interested in all this by then. That's how damaging Mark Pope has been to the program.

What say you? Let's help talk each other or just talk me off of the ledge. I haven't been this negative since Billy G was emotionally and mentally terrorizing his own players.

I honestly love UK basketball and ball in general but this isn't fun. It needs fixed yesterday otherwise were participating in insanity.

 

[ToniTonyToneDelkDelkDelk]

Your tone suggests I thought you were wrong and that’s not the case.

My bad. See... that's how negative I am now. Lol

 

[ToniTonyToneDelkDelkDelk]

I honestly love UK basketball and ball in general but this isn't fun. It needs fixed yesterday otherwise were participating in insanity.

At all. Nothing about this is fun. The state of college basketball itself is down with NIL, the portal, and all the movement... but our situation amplifies it.

 

[ZakkW]

Pope and Barnhart fired today, Pearl hired by the end of the week. That's it, program is DOA otherwise

 

[Doc4UK!]

Still have hope that Pope will be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat but I think he does not have the funds to compete for the top 25 players in the portal while money is being held back for Stokes. The 22 million given last year by the Crafts has been cut dramatically given their disappointment with last year's roster construction and use of the 22 million. Others have stepped up but not enough to get multiple 3 million dollar players . So we will have to settle for lesser ranked players to fill out a roster. Can we compete next year? Yes. Can we win championships ? No. Will we even have a winning record? Yes. Will we lose 14 games again? Yes likely without the rabbit being pulled from the hat .

 

[BigBlue_83]

Unfortunately, I don’t see things getting better until we have a new athletic director. And they might have to be the second coming to save us. We are in purgatory right now

 

[BBNSZN914]

The best case scenario is Pope corrects this, lands Stokes, and served everyone crow on the way to an impressive run.

That’s best case is for Pope to rally.

 

[Vek96]

Kentucky hasn’t been irrelevant this entire decade. There’s no guarantees it ever gets back to relevance. Sometimes a great run comes to an end.

This is no longer CBB. It’s basically just a mini version of MLB. No salary cap, and just like the Dodgers have been doing, just buying championships, which means nothing if you just outspend everyone.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Still have hope that Pope will be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat but I think he does not have the funds to compete for the top 25 players in the portal while money is being held back for Stokes. The 22 million given last year by the Crafts has been cut dramatically given their disappointment with last year's roster construction and use of the 22 million. Others have stepped up but not enough to get multiple 3 million dollar players . So we will have to settle for lesser ranked players to fill out a roster. Can we compete next year? Yes. Can we win championships ? No. Will we even have a winning record? Yes. Will we lose 14 games again? Yes likely without the rabbit being pulled from the hat .

Pope has an unlimited budget for players.

The Crafts have not cut anything. But they were the major donors anyway.

I know of only one major donor that’s holding back. But that void has been filled.

That’s just become an excuse for Pope to fall back on.

The problem is Pope’s recruiting plan is exactly like his game plans. Non existent.

 

[BlueBomb]

In an attempt to actually respond to the OP's question about "best-case scenario for the program:"

Best Case:
Pope went 24-12 in his first season (with a pretty good team). Then, he went 22-14 (with an average team). We finish something like 20-15 this coming season and find a way to squeak into the NCAAT. Pope is fired. We land a stud coach. He grabs a few top recruits and works wonders in the portal, much like Stein. We pop back quickly and are a top 10 team in '28.

Realistic Case:

We go 18-18. Lose in the first round of the NIT. Pope is fired. We land a stud coach. He grabs a few top recruits and works wonders in the portal, much like Stein. We pop back quickly and are a top 10 team in '28.

Don't get me started on worst-case.

 

[Farsight Clone]

1. Eli retires
2. Get a Dog AD that wants to make Kentucky the best of the best again.
3. Fire Pope after year 3.

 

[BlueSince92]

Best case scenario is we win so few games next year that Mitch Barnhart gets FIRED instead of getting nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars, Capilouto is also forced out by boosters stirred up like a hornets’ nest, Rick Pitino or Bruce Pearl is brought in to rebuild our brand and maybe bring home another title in the few years either would be able to coach here before turning to dust, while hiring Pope as some kind of analytics or neuroscience-focused assistant to rebuild the poor man’s self esteem, and then finally after that we bring in a Golden or Dusty May type name, all while JMI is sued for every penny they’re worth and somebody nukes their abandoned office building from orbit.

It’s the only way to be sure.

 

[ToniTonyToneDelkDelkDelk]

In an attempt to actually respond to the OP's question about "best-case scenario for the program:"

Best Case:
Pope went 24-12 in his first season (with a pretty good team). Then, he went 22-14 (with an average team). We finish something like 20-15 this coming season and find a way to squeak into the NCAAT. Pope is fired. We land a stud coach. He grabs a few top recruits and works wonders in the portal, much like Stein. We pop back quickly and are a top 10 team in '28.

Realistic Case:

We go 18-18. Lose in the first round of the NIT. Pope is fired. We land a stud coach. He grabs a few top recruits and works wonders in the portal, much like Stein. We pop back quickly and are a top 10 team in '28.

Don't get me started on worst-case.

My heart can't take worst case right now. Lol. But I wouldn't be made at the 2 laid out scenarios. I won't watch. But I also won't be that mad.

 

[Catlogic1552]

The best case scenario is Pope corrects this, lands Stokes, and served everyone crow on the way to an impressive run.

That’s best case is for Pope to rally.

I think even if we get Stokes, there won’t be enough talent around him to prevent 12 losses.

 

[BBNSZN914]

I think even if we get Stokes, there won’t be enough talent around him to prevent 12 losses.

My honest opinion- take the rest of the budget and go get the best two wing and pf you can get. The remaining 3 spots figure out later. We need max talent for two starters.

I wouldnt be courting backups right now.

 

[BBNSZN914]

1. Eli retires
2. Get Billy Donovan as AD that wants to make Kentucky the best of the best again.
3. Fix or fire Pope after Billy can offer him support and guidance

FIFY

 

[catfanlou]

I think even if we get Stokes, there won’t be enough talent around him to prevent 12 losses.

If we get Stokes all we need is a stretch 4. That should b a final four team . Short bench but that’s what anybody who knows basketball wants .
yes an injury could kill us but barring one we could be a contender .

 

[AustinTXCat]

Let me get this straight. Not one second of 2026-2027 season has been played and we're already declaring last rites? Really?

Good grief, step back from the ledge, people.

 

[moses1uk]

What I’m afraid of is we sign couple studs and make it to elite 8 . The pressure to bring back Pope then will be huge

 

[Anon1751335390]

I mean, Florida is returning everybody. All this could be an exercise in futility anyway lol

 

[Anon1751335390]

What I’m afraid of is we sign couple studs and make it to elite 8 . The pressure to bring back Pope then will be huge

Heaven forbid Pope does a good job coaching a team lol

 

[UKWildcats1987]

If we get Stokes all we need is a stretch 4. That should b a final four team . Short bench but that’s what anybody who knows basketball wants .
yes an injury could kill us but barring one we could be a contender .

Final 4 of the NIT?

 

[Ukdaddy98]

1. Eli retires
2. Get a Dog AD that wants to make Kentucky the best of the best again.
3. Fire Pope after year 3.

This is likely the best course of action!

 

[kmjcats24]

15 loss season with Stokes/18-20 without Stokes. SEC is too good these days.

 

[Ash Williams]

Let me get this straight. Not one second of 2026-2027 season has been played and we're already declaring last rites? Really?

Good grief, step back from the ledge, people.

People are looking ahead, and yeah it looks bleak. This could be worse than getting the death penalty from the NCAA.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

Kentucky hasn’t been irrelevant this entire decade. There’s no guarantees it ever gets back to relevance. Sometimes a great run comes to an end.

This is no longer CBB. It’s basically just a mini version of MLB. No salary cap, and just like the Dodgers have been doing, just buying championships, which means nothing if you just outspend everyone.

Not everything is about about outspending for guys. Sure, money has a large portion to do with it, but the coaching is almost just as important. Blaming money is just making an excuse for a program being shtty.

 

[Woodrow24]

Let me get this straight. Not one second of 2026-2027 season has been played and we're already declaring last rites? Really?

Good grief, step back from the ledge, people.

The biggest mistake I made was starting to keep up more with our recruiting right now compared to other teams that are in conference and rivals. It sounds like you’re not, so don’t do that. Lol definitely do the polar opposite of what I’ve been doing. More I’ve read it seems like the worse it gets. Just hope our luck changes eventually.

 

[Feral Manatee]

I honestly love UK basketball and ball in general but this isn't fun. It needs fixed yesterday otherwise were participating in insanity.

I've followed UK sports my entire life. My parents met at UK, I went to UK, we grew up watching every season with a microscope eating up every single minute of it - all the highs and lows. I love Mark Pope as a person but he is killing UK basketball for us. Not in a deliberate manner, of course. But through fostering apathy and indifference about UK basketball over time with the teams he puts on the floor. We have no identity, no system... nothing but consistent inconsistency. The inexplicably awful starts in games, promising an open court style of ball movement and spacing and then building a team completely incapable of playing to that style. This is just anecdotal, but we got to where all of our extended family went from furiously text messaging each other during games to just not caring about it as much as we used to. We weren't good. It was kind of depressing to watch. This is what kills a program. Apathy. It breaks my heart to see him fail at this job, but this isn't working out.

 

[KentuckyMildCats]

2026-27 is a wash before it starts.

And unfortunately that means 2027-2028 will be crap too unless we land a big time coach who bring his entire team and recruiting class with him like Calipari did when he left us.

Sooooo I'm guess we can start bouncing back in 2028-2029... good grief this sounds like we'll have flying cars by then. I can't fully say that I'd still be interested in all this by then. That's how damaging Mark Pope has been to the program.

What say you? Let's help talk each other or just talk me off of the ledge. I haven't been this negative since Billy G was emotionally and mentally terrorizing his own players.

Best thing to happen would be us winning it all so people on this board would crap their pants in disbelief. Wallowing in depression is some baby bs, stop being drama queens guys. Let the roster get finalized and let us look bad before calling the end of the season. Maybe I'm being too rational, I'll try to be more hysterical next post.

 

[PoopooPeePee]

Mark Pope gets fired and Eli/Barnhart are arrested for corruption.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

2026-27 is a wash before it starts.

And unfortunately that means 2027-2028 will be crap too unless we land a big time coach who bring his entire team and recruiting class with him like Calipari did when he left us.

Sooooo I'm guess we can start bouncing back in 2028-2029... good grief this sounds like we'll have flying cars by then. I can't fully say that I'd still be interested in all this by then. That's how damaging Mark Pope has been to the program.

What say you? Let's help talk each other or just talk me off of the ledge. I haven't been this negative since Billy G was emotionally and mentally terrorizing his own players.

Have you tried a fresh tampon and some Midol? This crybaby crap gets old.

 

[PoopooPeePee]

Have you tried a fresh tampon and some Midol? This crybaby crap gets old.

Swallowing ole Popes ***** I see

 

[anon1777473514]

The best case scenario for the program is and has been the same — that it works with Mark Pope.

That the performance we saw in year one prior to the heavy injuries was a sign of things to come. (and yes I know about 63%, Ohio State game.)

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Swallowing ole Popes ***** I see

I don't really care if Pope is here or not. I'm just not a total doomsday whiner. He has had his struggles but the exaggeration here gets ridiculous. As long as he is the coach here I want him to do well. If he is removed I won't be crying like you guys do. I will be rooting for the next coach to get it done.

 

[tinfoil]

I don't really care if Pope is here or not. I'm just not a total doomsday whiner. He has had his struggles but the exaggeration here gets ridiculous. As long as he is the coach here I want him to do well. If he is removed I won't be crying like you guys do. I will be rooting for the next coach to get it done.

Well said.