Defending our own

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

Michigan always wanted a Michigan man.

UNC always wanted a Tarheel.

UK now has one of it's own.

UK fans are no different. We all want "our guys" to succeed.

When the player/coach has a connection to UK or the state of Kentucky it brings a sense of pride for many, including myself. Kentucky HS players that go to UK that don't pan out for us are often fiercely defended by a portion of the fanbase. When a local player doesn't get offered and goes to another school some fans are angry we didn't recruit him.

Pope is one of our own and I too felt pride with him being our coach.

As fans, we should really want the best coaches and players regardless where they they live or played previously.

I hope Pope succeeds but I'll put my pride away if he can't make a massive turnaround next season and watch him exit.

 

[UKCowboys]

Michigan always wanted a Michigan man.

UNC always wanted a Tarheel.

UK now has one of it's own.

UK fans are no different. We all want "our guys" to succeed.

When the player/coach has a connection to UK or the state of Kentucky it brings a sense of pride for many, including myself. Kentucky HS players that go to UK that don't pan out for us are often fiercely defended by a portion of the fanbase. When a local player doesn't get offered and goes to another school some fans are angry we didn't recruit him.

Pope is one of our own and I too felt pride with him being our coach.

As fans, we should really want the best coaches and players regardless where they they live or played previously.

I hope Pope succeeds but I'll put my pride away if he can't make a massive turnaround next season and watch him exit.

One word. Spoiled

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Michigan always wanted a Michigan man.

UNC always wanted a Tarheel.

UK now has one of it's own.

UK fans are no different. We all want "our guys" to succeed.

When the player/coach has a connection to UK or the state of Kentucky it brings a sense of pride for many, including myself. Kentucky HS players that go to UK that don't pan out for us are often fiercely defended by a portion of the fanbase. When a local player doesn't get offered and goes to another school some fans are angry we didn't recruit him.

Pope is one of our own and I too felt pride with him being our coach.

As fans, we should really want the best coaches and players regardless where they they live or played previously.

I hope Pope succeeds but I'll put my pride away if he can't make a massive turnaround next season and watch him exit.

Pope has already failed. There is nothing to wait and see. It's over.

 

[howitis_rivals115807]

I have never wanted "one of our own". I want to win. Barnhart wants a religious family man. we need a killer.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

Michigan always wanted a Michigan man.

UNC always wanted a Tarheel.

UK now has one of it's own.

UK fans are no different. We all want "our guys" to succeed.

When the player/coach has a connection to UK or the state of Kentucky it brings a sense of pride for many, including myself. Kentucky HS players that go to UK that don't pan out for us are often fiercely defended by a portion of the fanbase. When a local player doesn't get offered and goes to another school some fans are angry we didn't recruit him.

Pope is one of our own and I too felt pride with him being our coach.

As fans, we should really want the best coaches and players regardless where they they live or played previously.

I hope Pope succeeds but I'll put my pride away if he can't make a massive turnaround next season and watch him exit.

"One of our own" idea:
-Michigan: Juwan Howard
-Louisville: Kenny Payne
-St. John's: Chris Mullin
-UNC: Matt Doherty and Hubert Davis
-Georgetown: Patrick Ewing

I don't like to jump to conclusions, but maybe that formula doesn't work.

 

[deplion]

"One of our own" idea:
-Michigan: Juwan Howard
-Louisville: Kenny Payne
-St. John's: Chris Mullin
-UNC: Matt Doherty and Hubert Davis
-Georgetown: Patrick Ewing

I don't like to jump to conclusions, but maybe that formula doesn't work.

Any time you limit your pool of job applicants like that, you greatly reduce your chances of success.

Sometimes it still works out like Roy Williams at UNC. Far more often, as you suggest, it doesn't.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

D1 Players historically DO NOT make good coaches. In the entire history of college basketball, these are the former players that won a championship. Most are from a different era. It makes you wonder if Jai Lucus can break the trend.

• John Wooden
  Great player at Purdue → 10 national titles at UCLA
• Dean Smith
  Star at Kansas → 2 national titles at UNC
• Bob Knight
  Played for a title team at Ohio State → 3 national titles as a coach at Indiana
• Billy Donovan
  Final Four player → 2 national titles at Florida
• Kevin Ollie
  Solid college/NBA player → 1 national title at UConn (2014)
• Roy Williams
  Played at UNC, but wasn’t a star → 3 national titles as a coach
• Tony Bennett
  Actually a very good college player (All-American level at a smaller school) → 1 title (2019)

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

Any time you limit your pool of job applicants like that, you greatly reduce your chances of success.

Sometimes it still works out like Roy Williams at UNC. Far more often, as you suggest, it doesn't.

Yes, but it's not like UNC hired him because he was "one of their own". Roy Williams left after a national championship runner-up at Kansas to return to UNC. Every school would have hired Roy.

 

[Hunting9]

Michigan always wanted a Michigan man.

UNC always wanted a Tarheel.

UK now has one of it's own.

UK fans are no different. We all want "our guys" to succeed.

When the player/coach has a connection to UK or the state of Kentucky it brings a sense of pride for many, including myself. Kentucky HS players that go to UK that don't pan out for us are often fiercely defended by a portion of the fanbase. When a local player doesn't get offered and goes to another school some fans are angry we didn't recruit him.

Pope is one of our own and I too felt pride with him being our coach.

As fans, we should really want the best coaches and players regardless where they they live or played previously.

I hope Pope succeeds but I'll put my pride away if he can't make a massive turnaround next season and watch him exit.

I understand what you’re saying but I also highly recommend that you prepare to put your pride away. Pope is a hopeless cause.