Bruce Pearl would have been terrible here.

[Captain Coy]

Bruce Pearl had a great run at Auburn and I agree that he was a really good coach. The problem is that in order to get Bruce Pearl here it would have cost UK a ton, on top of that I always looked at Pearl as Calipari-lite. In fact Pearl was one of the only coaches Calipari consistently out coached. So getting rid of Calipari for a lesser form of Calipari would have only solidified ourselves into mediocrity and would have been a lot tougher situation because we would have had a lot harder time getting rid of him. At least if Pope fails there is an option to get rid of him, move on and reset. The noose of the contract with Pearl would have been impossible to wiggle out of, and would have inhibited our ability to change and move on.

 

[JonathanW2]

Pearl falls into that "used-car-salesman" charisma type that was also Calipari and Pitino. That appeals to some, maybe many. Personally, I just ignore the charisma part, and focus on results.
Interestingly, Santa Clara's coach Herb Sendek, that is why he eventually was pushed out at NC St, he did not have that charisma that his mentor Pitino had, "he was boring" to listen to.

 

[LexCats859]

Pearls teams always were at risk to show up not ready to play for a big game, which lead to wasting some really good talent. I think part of it was that his teams were never very disciplined, as shown by his teams getting cocky with celebrations and the occasional nonsense decision making from wildcard players like Baker-Mazara and KD Johnson.

 

[Captain Coy]

How many UK fans would have been okay with a 7 year/$50M contract while being 1-6 versus Arkansas and 2-5 against UL? Did anyone here watch the NCAA tournament this year? The biggest downgrade in the NCAA tournament history was going from Jay Wright to Bruce Pearl.

 

[moses1uk]

We just went Thu a hiring session . No school wanted Pearl . His recent comments politically will stop him from ever getting a job with any university.

 

[Kats meow]

Bruce Pearl had a great run at Auburn and I agree that he was a really good coach. The problem is that in order to get Bruce Pearl here it would have costed UK a ton, on top of that I always looked at Pearl as Calipari-lite. In fact Pearl was one of the only coaches Calipari consistently out coached. So getting rid of Calipari for a lesser form of Calipari would have only solidified ourselves into mediocrity and would have been a lot tougher situation because we would have had a lot harder time getting rid of him. At least if Pope fails there is an option to get rid of him, move on and reset. The noose of the contract with Pearl would have been impossible to wiggle out of, and would have inhibited our ability to change and move on.

You lost me at “costed”.

 

[LexCats859]

How many UK fans would have been okay with a 7 year/$50M contract while being 1-6 versus Arkansas and 2-5 against UL? Did anyone here watch the NCAA tournament this year? The biggest downgrade in the NCAA tournament history was going from Jay Wright to Bruce Pearl.

He is very overrated from a charisma standpoint. He was super awkward on TV this year.

 

[UKCowboys]

If Pearl stayed 5 years he would win #9. I have zero doubt. He would absolutely kill it here

 

[LexCats859]

If Pearl stayed 5 years he would win #9. I have zero doubt. He would absolutely kill it here

Why? He is already in his 60s and while it was at Auburn, he had some of the most talented teams in the country (if not the most) and couldn't win it.

 

[Resignmarkpope]

Bruce Pearl had a great run at Auburn and I agree that he was a really good coach. The problem is that in order to get Bruce Pearl here it would have costed UK a ton, on top of that I always looked at Pearl as Calipari-lite. In fact Pearl was one of the only coaches Calipari consistently out coached. So getting rid of Calipari for a lesser form of Calipari would have only solidified ourselves into mediocrity and would have been a lot tougher situation because we would have had a lot harder time getting rid of him. At least if Pope fails there is an option to get rid of him, move on and reset. The noose of the contract with Pearl would have been impossible to wiggle out of, and would have inhibited our ability to change and move on.

Mark pope is terrible here! He will leave Kentucky being hated! Not hiring pearl let to pope being the most hated player of all time at Kentucky. He’s definitely the worst coach Kentucky has ever had. That’s actually sad!

 

[Captain Coy]

If Pearl stayed 5 years he would win #9. I have zero doubt. He would absolutely kill it here

Go drink some more kool-aid dude. The era of college basketball that Calipari and Pearl thrived in is over. It is all about advanced analytics and running tons of pro actions. Look at Duke? They are running the same 1 on 1 actions that they were running with coach K there. It works until you play against a team that is a lot closer to your talent level. UConn didn't have half the talent of Duke. The game has changed and getting an old has-been is the opposite of what UK should have done.

 

[Captain Coy]

Mark pope is terrible here! He will leave Kentucky being hated! Not hiring pearl let to pope being the most hated player of all time at Kentucky. He’s definitely the worst coach Kentucky has ever had. That’s actually sad!

Irrelevant. Pope can be terrible but hiring Pearl would have been worse.

 

[AJG-15]

Hmm… I will start by saying that I like Cal and it was a mistake HOW he left and also is even bigger mistake how Mark Pope is been treating Cal legacy, especially when Cal was more than generous in his departure.


with that been said, I am sure OP remember the game vs Auburn in the ncaa tournament when Auburn was missing their best player. Cal had consistently superior talent compared to what Bruce could bring at Auburn. With all that when coaching matters the most , Cal showed his limits more than Bruce.

Bruce and his staff could develop and motivate players at good level but I don’t trust himAnd he is retired.

There are other coaches that I would go after , before Bruce.

 

[meteordealer]

Pearl would have been a grand slam. Anyone who says otherwise is a troll, or just stupid.

 

[Captain Coy]

Hmm… I will start by saying that I like Cal and it was a mistake HOW he left and also is even bigger mistake how Mark Pope is been treating Cal legacy, especially when Cal was more than generous in his departure.


with that been said, I am sure OP remember the game vs Auburn in the ncaa tournament when Auburn was missing their best player. Cal had consistently superior talent compared to what Bruce could bring at Auburn. With all that when coaching matters the most , Cal showed his limits more than Bruce.

Bruce and his staff could develop and motivate players at good level but I don’t trust himAnd he is retired.

There are other coaches that I would go after , before Bruce.

Yeah the one notable time Bruce Pearl beat Cal was when we had already beaten them 3 times prior that season. Eventually the players took some pride and UK had a let down. Both coaches known for crapping the bed, fighting to see who could crap the bed less.

 

[UKCowboys]

Go drink some more kool-aid dude. The era of college basketball that Calipari and Pearl thrived in is over. It is all about advanced analytics and running tons of pro actions. Look at Duke? They are running the same 1 on 1 actions that they were running with coach K there. It works until you play against a team that is a lot closer to your talent level. UConn didn't have half the talent of Duke. The game has changed and getting an old has-been is the opposite of what UK should have done.

What does what Duke runs have to do with anything in Lexington other than your obvious allegiance to the Blue Devils

 

[Captain Coy]

Pearl would have been a grand slam. Anyone who says otherwise is a troll, or just stupid.

Definitely not trolling. College basketball is changing and Pearl couldn't keep up, which is why he is now retired.

 

[Monday Nitro]

Pearl would have been a grand slam. Anyone who says otherwise is a troll, or just stupid.

His team that flat quit on him a few years ago in the tournament laughs at your post. Pearl sells magical elixer.

 

[Captain Coy]

What does what Duke runs have to do with anything in Lexington other than your obvious allegiance to the Blue Devils

I hate Duke, I'm glad they haven't adjusted yet. I'm making an analogy that by doing the same thing over and over again expected a different result is the very definition of insanity. Asking for another Calipari, i.e. Bruce Pearl would have been a disaster.

 

[meteordealer]

Definitely not trolling. College basketball is changing and Pearl couldn't keep up, which is why he is now retired.

Couldn't keep up? Auburn was 32-6, and reached the Final Four his last season.

Try harder next time.

 

[UKCowboys]

Why? He is already in his 60s and while it was at Auburn, he had some of the most talented teams in the country (if not the most) and couldn't win it.

One, Pitino is what, 7 years older than Pearl, and Pitino is an 80 year old 70 year old. Pearl is a 50 year old mid 60s. And Pitino seemed just fine last season.
Two, Auburn isn't Kentucky fella. If Pearl can put together teams like that at Auburn, he would put even better teams on the court here.
Three.. Pearl can flat out Coach his *** off. He would easily be our best coach since a young Pitino

 

[meteordealer]

His team that flat quit on him a few years ago in the tournament laughs at your post. Pearl sells magical elixer.

Facts laugh at your post.

Overall career winning percentage of .73

 

[moses1uk]

Pearl would have been a grand slam. Anyone who says otherwise is a troll, or just stupid.

Explain why no school reached out to him not one ?

 

[Captain Coy]

Couldn't keep up? Auburn was 32-6, and reached the Final Four his last season.

Try harder next time.

Yeah, I agree he had good years, and he had one of the best teams in the country that year. Still lost to Nate Oats, Rick Barnes, John Scheyer, and Todd Golden. Do UK fans want to win a championship or do we just want to be just good enough? Pearl lost so many big games over and over and over again that it should have been and always a nonstarter.

 

[Anon668007]

Well maybe, but if UK hired Pearl, Matt Jones head would have exploded. That may have been worth it to do....

 

[Cole World]

Rotten person and overrated coach

 

[ChicagoCat90]

Megan Fox would be too expensive for me and we most likely wouldn't work out. I still wouldn't mind giving it a shot though.

 

[TFCat11]

Bruce Pearl had a great run at Auburn and I agree that he was a really good coach. The problem is that in order to get Bruce Pearl here it would have cost UK a ton, on top of that I always looked at Pearl as Calipari-lite. In fact Pearl was one of the only coaches Calipari consistently out coached. So getting rid of Calipari for a lesser form of Calipari would have only solidified ourselves into mediocrity and would have been a lot tougher situation because we would have had a lot harder time getting rid of him. At least if Pope fails there is an option to get rid of him, move on and reset. The noose of the contract with Pearl would have been impossible to wiggle out of, and would have inhibited our ability to change and move on.

Now, do Billy Donovan

 

[Winston Wolf]

Bennie’s love them some Pearl.

 

[Captain Coy]

Now, do Billy Donovan

I like Billy D. The only criticism I have with Billy D is that he has been out of the college basketball world so long that he needed a staff in place that was really connected to help him assimilate back into the landscape.

 

[Damage_inc]

Bruce Pearl had a great run at Auburn and I agree that he was a really good coach. The problem is that in order to get Bruce Pearl here it would have cost UK a ton, on top of that I always looked at Pearl as Calipari-lite. In fact Pearl was one of the only coaches Calipari consistently out coached. So getting rid of Calipari for a lesser form of Calipari would have only solidified ourselves into mediocrity and would have been a lot tougher situation because we would have had a lot harder time getting rid of him. At least if Pope fails there is an option to get rid of him, move on and reset. The noose of the contract with Pearl would have been impossible to wiggle out of, and would have inhibited our ability to change and move on.

Pearl would have absolutely killed it here. Killed it. I have no idea what you're talking about, but you seem to be doing mental gymnastics to convince yourself that Pear would not have slayed here.

 

[BigBluefoot]

Irrelevant. Pope can be terrible but hiring Pearl would have been worse.

That's asinine. Sounds like personal animus.

 

[Damage_inc]

Irrelevant. Pope can be terrible but hiring Pearl would have been worse.

You don't actually believe that. Good grief.

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

You seriously think Pearl would have done a worse job than Pope?

 

[BigBluefoot]

Explain why no school reached out to him not one ?

How would you know who contacted him?

 

[LexCats859]

Facts laugh at your post.

Overall career winning percentage of .73

Pearl is a really good coach, but his record in march with his most talented teams is disappointing. I don't think the fan base could handle more great teams underperforming in march.

 

[LexCats859]

One, Pitino is what, 7 years older than Pearl, and Pitino is an 80 year old 70 year old. Pearl is a 50 year old mid 60s. And Pitino seemed just fine last season.
Two, Auburn isn't Kentucky fella. If Pearl can put together teams like that at Auburn, he would put even better teams on the court here.
Three.. Pearl can flat out Coach his *** off. He would easily be our best coach since a young Pitino

Brands don't matter anymore. So long as you have money being at a blueblood doesn't matter. The odds of him compiling a team as talented as his last Auburn team are probably not high.

As for the Pitino thing, he is still a good coach but St Johns (despite being loaded with $) isn't exactly competing for championships. Also, the idea that Bruce is as good as peak Cal is false.

 

[Monday Nitro]

Facts laugh at your post.

Overall career winning percentage of .73

You forgot the facts that he snitched and tried to ruin a kids life and has never gotten a SNIFF from kentucky because he’s a lowlife.

Greaf thread, though. Pearl’s stain will never be on UK.

 

[UKCowboys]

Brands don't matter anymore. So long as you have money being at a blueblood doesn't matter. The odds of him compiling a team as talented as his last Auburn team are probably not high.

As for the Pitino thing, he is still a good coach but St Johns (despite being loaded with $) isn't exactly competing for championships. Also, the idea that Bruce is as good as peak Cal is false.

As a coach??? You are crazy as Hell. Pearl is so much better than Cal as a bench coach it isn't even funny

 

[moses1uk]

How would you know who contacted him?

So you’re saying maybe a school reached out to him, but they are so embarrassed by his recent comments that they wouldn’t broadcast it got it