Meanwhile, Calipari Lite Has the #1 Class Coming In, and Richmond/Thomas might return.

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,427
99,698
113
Even Calipari, far removed from the mountaintop of his greatness, is still kicking Pope's butt in recruiting and going farther than Pope in both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

I actually would have kept Calipari if knew what a disaster hire Mitch was about to make with Captain 63%.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,427
99,698
113
There was absolutely no reason to hire Mark Pope. His record was a joke and he wasn't good at BYU.

But Cal was clearly washed and it was time to move on.
I agree, but at least with Calipari you would get exciting players and future NBA All-Stars. Should have let him finish out at UK until he's 70 or so and then become your chief negotiator with NIL recruits.

He probably lands AJ if the donors stayed on board. Maybe even Stokes.
 

Cats4321

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
915
2,649
93
There will be so many good teams next year. Unless we pull off an unexpected miracle the next week or so, it could be a very long year.

Pope kinda proves my old theory. If you aren't dominating at your current level, you probably won't be good at the next level. Applies to players and coaches. There was nothing in Pope's resume that even hinted that he would do well here. He was average at lower level programs.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,427
99,698
113
Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. We got rid of Cal and replaced him with the biggest loser in college basketball. If you knew CMP was going to be coach would you have wanted Cal gone?
There's no way I'd want Cal gone if I knew Pope would be the replacement.

Like I said, you let Cal finish out his last 5 or 6 years at UK, let him add 4 or 5 more #1 classes and two or three future NBA All-Stars. Then you use him like a good-will ambassador (as well as all of his former players).

Instead, we got a BBN Civil War from our NBA guys who are now in the awkward position of showing loyalty to Cal at the expense of the UK program.

As bad as Calipari had become, we actually downgraded.
 

kmjcats24

Junior
Jan 20, 2015
345
399
63
Cal is still doing the exact same thing he did here. #1 class, lose most of your big games, fail to make the Final 4. If he had the exact seasons he had at Ark but here the last 2 years, this board is on fire, I assure you.
Brother, he had four Final Fours, 2 natty appearances, and a 38-1 season at UK. Youre telling me you would rather have 14 loss seasons?!
 

Wunky

Heisman
Jan 16, 2021
4,404
18,373
78
Pope may suck ***, but imagine being scared of Arkansas. LOL. Billy Richmond may return? Who gives a flying ****? Outside of a couple highlight real dunks, what has that kid done? Did I just dream their absolute decimation at the hands of Arizona in March, or Cal’s vintage choke job the March before that? Cal is gonna Cal, no matter who he has.
 

kmjcats24

Junior
Jan 20, 2015
345
399
63
Pope may suck ***, but imagine being scared of Arkansas. LOL. Billy Richmond may return? Who gives a flying ****? Outside of a couple highlight real dunks, what has that kid done? Did I just dream their absolute decimation at the hands of Arizona in March, or Cal’s vintage choke job the March before that? Cal is gonna Cal, no matter who he has.
Yeah well he is a Title holder for Kentucky. Mark Pope is not as a coach.
 

kmjcats24

Junior
Jan 20, 2015
345
399
63
Pope may suck ***, but imagine being scared of Arkansas. LOL. Billy Richmond may return? Who gives a flying ****? Outside of a couple highlight real dunks, what has that kid done? Did I just dream their absolute decimation at the hands of Arizona in March, or Cal’s vintage choke job the March before that? Cal is gonna Cal, no matter who he has.
Muurinen is also the next Anthony Davis which is scary
 

anot

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
989
1,651
93
Kentucky has to reinvent it's program. The Blueblood stuff is the past. Rupp is the past. Cal is the past. They have to clean house and rebrand from top to bottom. We have some really bad years ahead of us. Like really bad. It's as obvious as knowing Pope was the wrong hire.
 
Jul 6, 2025
253
492
63
I think we can all agree that Pope ain’t it just like we can all agree that Calipari needed to go so let’s stop comparing the two. It’s akin to comparing a beautiful blind girl to a beautiful deaf girl. Neither one is right so let’s find a better option.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,427
99,698
113
He's 1-1 against Pope. He has two Sweet 16s and Pope has one and one 2nd round. This is the difference in performance you're pining after?
Cal will have another top 15 team next year and a top 2 pick.

UK will have an NIT Team and no first rounders.

Yeah, I'd trade places with Arkansas going into next season. Easy decision actually, and anyone objective will agree.
 

Catphright23

All-Conference
Dec 6, 2023
635
1,184
93
he will make it to round of 32, dude cannot coach. mark pope I've seen at least draw a play in a time out, play zone, and come back when down and hasn't lost to a oakland since being at Kentucky. pope will probably be gone but cal isn't the answer
 
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Jan 30, 2004
105,838
13,521
78
Cal will have another top 15 team next year and a top 2 pick.

UK will have an NIT Team and no first rounders.

Yeah, I'd trade places with Arkansas going into next season. Easy decision actually, and anyone objective will agree.
I never said I wouldn't, I'm just saying he is still not doing what we were paying him to do, which is to be an elite program.
 
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JakeKx

All-Conference
Oct 5, 2023
923
1,729
92
And he will suck *** coaching them.
some of you all need to really consider why Calipari stays on your mind. It’s okay not to want that loser *** coach and not want the pathetic garbage we replaced him with either
 

Carl_Childers

Freshman
Apr 18, 2026
44
61
17
he will make it to round of 32, dude cannot coach. mark pope I've seen at least draw a play in a time out, play zone, and come back when down and hasn't lost to a oakland since being at Kentucky. pope will probably be gone but cal isn't the answer
He will make it to a Round of 32? He has a better team coming in with back to back Sweet 16’s. Went 29-8 and won the SEC tournament, but he can’t coach? 🤣 💀

🥱 What a moronic take.
 

gtown965

All-Conference
Feb 12, 2026
473
1,330
93
Even Calipari, far removed from the mountaintop of his greatness, is still kicking Pope's butt in recruiting and going farther than Pope in both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

I actually would have kept Calipari if knew what a disaster hire Mitch was about to make with Captain 63%.
Are you gonna spend the rest of your night crying? Grown *** man whining like a scorned middle school girl.
 

CameronCat22

Sophomore
Apr 12, 2026
130
113
43
Even Calipari, far removed from the mountaintop of his greatness, is still kicking Pope's butt in recruiting and going farther than Pope in both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

I actually would have kept Calipari if knew what a disaster hire Mitch was about to make with Captain 63%.
You’re underestimating the hatred a lot in this fanbase who listen to the radio everyday have for Cal, basketball or not.
 
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Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,427
99,698
113
Good one Jeremiah Fears alleged teacher 😂😂😂
A reality more certain than you allegedly being a Kentucky fan.

We all know the truth though don't we...

Only a non-UK fan would have gotten pleasure out of this board melting down tonight like you did.

You actually told on yourself.

Hilarious stuff...
 
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