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While many programs are hiring a GM, Pope is still maintaining charge of the traditional team-building decision-making...

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WildcatWally-77

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In the new age of college sports some programs hiring general managers (GM), but that still comes at the discretion of the head coach. For Kentucky, Will Stein has hired a GM, an assistant GM, and, according to his KSR interview, he has an entire team of volunteers actively scouting players all day long. Meanwhile, Mark Pope has chosen a Director of Roster Management while still maintaining a lot of the traditional team-building decision-making. If Pope had hired a Basketball GM previously, that person could have gotten a "handle" on the financial aspects of the players UK was interested in ahead of time. That obviously did not happen and we have seen the UK Portal Chaos that has resulted as a result of Pope's decision.. Has Pope learned anything from his "self inflicted" boondoggle? Probably not...he just wants to remain in control of everything.
 
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LineSkiCat14

LineSkiCat14

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ftp000 said:
Most power 4 teams don't have a gm. Some schools have a similar position called 'Director of Roster Management'. Keegan Brown is ours. Less than half of the high majors have an actual GM. The rest have a position similar to Browns.
Stop pretending Pope is the Lone Ranger of stubborn.
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We arent aspiring to be among the mid-point of high majors. Kentucky should be at the fore front for innovation when it comes to basketball.
 
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Monday Nitro

Monday Nitro

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ftp000 said:
Most power 4 teams don't have a gm. Some schools have a similar position called 'Director of Roster Management'. Keegan Brown is ours. Less than half of the high majors have an actual GM. The rest have a position similar to Browns.
Stop pretending Pope is the Lone Ranger of stubborn.
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They carry around violins and manilla folders full of sad tunes like F'ing nerds.
 
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WildcatWally-77

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ftp000 said:
Oh Wally, 51 posts in 4 years? You're a terrible troll.
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Really...Trollface...4 years your azz,,,some people have to work and can't stay on here 24/7, like you. Plus, Trollface, what part of my post is incorrect??? Finally, as someone stated in the above post: The amount of people on here that suck off Pope is astounding...looking at you Trollface!!!
 
ftp000

ftp000

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WildcatWally-77 said:
Really...Trollface...4 years your azz,,,some people have to work and can't stay on here 24/7, like you. Plus, Trollface, what part of my post is incorrect??? Finally, as someone stated in the above post: The amount of people on here that suck off Pope is astounding...looking at you Trollface!!!
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Between the potty humor and sexual innuendo some of you are clearly children.
Accepting that the coach is getting another season and hoping for the best somehow makes me more of a troll than participating in the hive tantrum with you? I can live with that.
 
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LineSkiCat14

LineSkiCat14

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Wildcat_in_DC said:
what is "innovative" about having a "GM"?
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In college athletics? It didnt exist 5 years ago, so its pretty innovative. When the sport changed to a pay-for-play model that added NIL as a totally new "dimension", along with an anytime transfer ability, having just a head coach isnt good enough. They need another position for basketball.

Honestly, what is with some fans aversion to having a GM? Youre not the only one. There should be 0.0% of fans who think Kentucky shouldn't have a GM and im alarmed that our fanbase isnt really close to that number yet. Get with the times or get left behind.
 
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LineSkiCat14

LineSkiCat14

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ftp000 said:
Keegan Brown is doing the same job. But I guess if you stand on the formality of a job title...
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I dont know if hes doing the "same" job, truthfully. It always sort of felt like a half-assed attempt to hire the type of GM Duke has. Im also seeing a lot of folks calling it a different position than a GM.

Still, its a position that should inevitably help.
 
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ftp000

ftp000

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LineSkiCat14 said:
I dont know if hes doing the "same" job, truthfully. It always sort of felt like a half-assed attempt to hire the type of GM Duke has. Im also seeing a lot of folks calling it a different position than a GM.

Still, its a position that should inevitably help.
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In my opinion, unless the coach is giving up all recruiting power, it's not an actual GM position. So I suspect Brown serves an advisory role. If CMP trusts him he should help.
 
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Wildcat_in_DC

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LineSkiCat14 said:
In college athletics? It didnt exist 5 years ago, so its pretty innovative. When the sport changed to a pay-for-play model that added NIL as a totally new "dimension", along with an anytime transfer ability, having just a head coach isnt good enough. They need another position for basketball.

Honestly, what is with some fans aversion to having a GM? Youre not the only one. There should be 0.0% of fans who think Kentucky shouldn't have a GM and im alarmed that our fanbase isnt really close to that number yet. Get with the times or get left behind.
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but how is that innovative? if we hired a GM and the job wasnt getting done....you would just say "we didnt hire a real GM". there is nothing can be done to make you feel better about the roster unless it wins.
 
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CrimsonCats_rivals

CrimsonCats_rivals

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Wildcat_in_DC said:
you dont need a GM when every deal is a 1 year contract and there is no spending cap. this stuff doesnt matter....its just an easy targets for fans to complain and make themselves feel better that there is (or would be) an easy fix
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I think the truth is probably somewhere in between. You’re right about the financials being less complex than what roster management would entail in a pro league. Also, I honestly really doubt that even the other programs who have one are actually cutting the coach out of the equation in selecting and recruiting the roster. It’s not going to be a cure all.

Where I do think it could help is negotiating contracts to close the deal now that it’s a consideration in college. The programs creating that kind of position are mostly putting people in the role who have some kind of experience with side of things, and it’s pretty obvious that we’re struggling getting a lot of recruitments to the finish line. I do think removing Pope from that responsibility could lead to at least some improvement.
 
LineSkiCat14

LineSkiCat14

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Wildcat_in_DC said:
but how is that innovative? if we hired a GM and the job wasnt getting done....you would just say "we didnt hire a real GM". there is nothing can be done to make you feel better about the roster unless it wins.
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I would say we didnt hire the "right" GM. No different than hiring the "right" coach. Organizations sometimes need more management when things grow. I dont understand why adding this position, or simply adding Keegan's role, is a bad thing.

Whats your dilemma with hiring a basketball GM? Do you think its a waste of money? That the HC and assistants can now handle NIL and greater roster turnover with transfers?

Because ive yet to hear any one give a good reason why not to have a GM-type position.
 
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WildcatWally-77

Sophomore
Dec 6, 2022
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ftp000 said:
Between the potty humor and sexual innuendo some of you are clearly children.
Accepting that the coach is getting another season and hoping for the best somehow makes me more of a troll than participating in the hive tantrum with you? I can live with that.
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Well B**@#, who started the BS name calling...you or me? IT WASN'T ME...you and your B**@# Azz comments popped up FIRST. At that point, I then responded to someone who is obviously a B**@# Azz Trollface--and who doesn't know $#!! about coaching or basketball...
 
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ftp000

ftp000

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WildcatWally-77 said:
Well B**@#, who started the BS name calling...you or me? IT WASN'T ME...you and your B**@# Azz comments popped up FIRST. At that point, I then responded to someone who is obviously a B**@# Azz Trollface--and who doesn't know $#!! about coaching or basketball...
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I'm sorry you thought I was calling you a name. I used a lower case 't' in troll because I meant it as a verb. I suppose I could have worded it better.
 
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