The fan in me will never consider an elite eight worse than not making one.
Keatts is also not a good example for the theoretical problem you’re trying to resolve. Yes, he made a final four but he was gone within a couple years anyway.
I really think the issue is — you’ve decided Pope CANNOT do the job and he CANNOT be the man here. You aren’t open to the idea that he can be. So, an elite eight or final four run wouldn’t be evidence to you that he can — it’s a “fools gold run”, mere luck in that scenario. However, if he flames out in the round of 32 in this scenario, that IS evidence to you that he CANNOT do the job. There’s nothing objectively wrong with being set against the coach, but it does help support why you’d refer to it all as sad. As a fellow fan, I’d hate to feel that way and I’m glad I’m not nearly as settled as you are on Pope. My mind can be changed one way or the other, based on how things play out.