Zags need to beef up their schedule and probably can't afford playing a mid major roster.
UK and Gonzaga end series
- Thread starter Ukbrassowtipin
- Start date
Gonzaga wanted to do this too. Why blame UK. Mutual decision. No big deal but whiners got to whine.
What lmao.
I mean.......it's two games. How lopsided could two games even be lol
This move just reeks of ducking another good team because Pope knows his isn't on that level and probably won't be for the foreseeable future.
That's true. I didn't realize the last two were home games. I wonder if they want to replace this with one of those NIL tournaments now.
Yeah Pope realized he needs to trim down his non conference schedule because he knows we aren't quite on that level anymore and Few agreed to it because he knows UK isn't currently the elite school it once was.
Hence the mutual decision.
I don't see how you can say that's the case until the final schedule comes out. We don't have much to gain by playing them. I agree with the one poster though, that losing a premier game in Rupp is the biggest grievance.
And you do your best too diminish any accomplishment he's had.
I can't say **** about the point difference. It's the ******* record.
The zags blew in 18 point lead in Washington to Pope. I'm sorry that's just as bad as a friggin 35 point loss.
Fair. Bridgestone was just the worst optics imaginable though.
I agree, and I hated that loss, but without knowing the details of why this was canceled people saying Pope is a coward or running away from playing tough competition that's just simply not the case
I like that we won, but it took a near impossible comeback. He proceeded to get destroyed the next season with a roster he had put more money into and had more time to acquire players for.
Since Gonzaga always tries to beef up their non- conference schedule because their Conference is bad, I would be willing to bet its not them.
I get that. I also hated that loss as well.. but that law shouldn't take away from the win. And that mirror impossible win on the other team's home turf made it such an epic win over a team that we couldn't beat the four times before that.
We embarrassed ourselves in Bridgestone.
This is just Pope quitting again. It's what he does. He might as well schedule some mid major in their place. He has a mid major roster. He's gonna struggle to find a worse coach than him though.
What exactly has he quit on as far as scheduling goal we've had two of the toughest schedules the years he's been here. I get you hate him but try to be honest once in a while.
Can't say I am shocked to learn Kentucky won't be playing at the Kennel. Gonzaga begins play in the new Pac-12 this season, so their conference affiliation is now a bit better than the West Coast with some good teams from the Mountain West coming over.
I can wait. I'll reserve complete judgement until I know who (or if) this is being replaced with another good team OR cupcake city. I am guessing cupcake city tho.
That being said, I don't agree with us not having much to gain by playing them. Gonzaga has been consistently good under Few. Winning vs them whether that game was at Rupp or their place would be a big resume win. Conversely losing doesn't hurt us all that much. I don't see the negative here at all.
Granted with how good the SEC has been recently, there doesn't appear to be much need for more tough games but I'd rather them then Miss Valley St lol
Given that it was our turn to travel out there ...and the series has gone smashingly well for them and has been an embarrassing pain in the *** for us …the obvious logical educated guess is that we were the ones that wanted it cancelled.
Was never a fan of the series. Zags are a 'name' but they're still in that "if you beat them, neat I guess" category and unfortunately they caught us during a down period. And going all the way to the west coast and playing at some oddball time doesn't help us in any way. Was a cool idea when we thought both teams would be consistent top 15 teams but it hasn't worked out that way. I'd rather just stick with playing traditional powers like KU, Duke, and UNC.
Meanwhile Duke’s over here scheduling Michigan State, UConn, Arizona, Kansas, Illinois …you know, actual national brands…without flinching. Because when you’re a real blue blood, you don’t drop games to manage anxiety. You just play them. Just saying.
Pope better be cancelling about half the OOC schedule for this year if he wants to keep his job. 
I’m glad this one is over. That’s one less *** kicking we have to take each year.
I’m glad this one is over. That’s one less *** kicking we have to take each year.
I don’t hate the guy. I hate that he’s awful and killing the program.
We play Tyran Stokes with Kansas and we will get to test Mike Malone with North Carolina this year and both those games are bigger than any Gonzaga game.Pope better be cancelling about half the OOC schedule for this year if he wants to keep his job.
I’m glad this one is over. That’s one less *** kicking we have to take each year.
Sorry… didn’t realize stating basic facts counted as “trolling” around here. My mistake. Keep an eye on the Stokes kid. I’ve heard he’s a “generational player.”
Gonzaga is moving to the new Pac-12 this upcoming season. They could very well be looking to shuffle around their non-conference games.
Your PFP is of your coach sh*tting himself after choking away yet another tournament game.
I thinks it’s interesting this Diamond Cup tournament came out just after this news and both our logos are on the cover art.
Upcoming season. Gonzaga is going to be playing Texas State x2, Washington State x2, Oregon State x2, and Fresno State x2. They will also play these conference teams twice, Utah State, Colorado State, Boise State, and San Diego State
On top of that they have Purdue, Michigan State, Duke, and Creighton. They could also face if they make it to the finals, 4 of 15 teams from this list: Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Miami Hurricanes, Michigan, Oregon, San Diego State, St Johns, TCU, Tennessee, or Texas Tech.
*they can only play SDSU in the finals or 3rd place game
*yes, they could play Creighton twice
So, Im not sure who initiated this, but neither team is going to be hurting for chances to win in the non-conference. This new Pac-12, though, while it's an upgrade, is it really that much of an upgrade for Gonzaga? I guess we will see.
On top of that they have Purdue, Michigan State, Duke, and Creighton. They could also face if they make it to the finals, 4 of 15 teams from this list: Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Miami Hurricanes, Michigan, Oregon, San Diego State, St Johns, TCU, Tennessee, or Texas Tech.
*they can only play SDSU in the finals or 3rd place game
*yes, they could play Creighton twice
So, Im not sure who initiated this, but neither team is going to be hurting for chances to win in the non-conference. This new Pac-12, though, while it's an upgrade, is it really that much of an upgrade for Gonzaga? I guess we will see.
This rings hollow since the last two schedules have rated as the two most difficult in school history by a significant margin.
Duke has a cakewalk in their conference compared to the SEC.
They used to have very few non-con games when the ACC was the elite conference.
Just look at their schedule in 08/09 - Purdue, Michigan, Xavier, and GTown. That’s it for good teams.
Duke passed on this Diamond thing…because it isn’t getting off the ground with all the fake blue bloods involved. When Amazon wanted a real partnership… one with reach, prestige, and actual global value…they come to Duke directly. They don’t need to bundle us with a handful of schools clinging to past banners and hoping a corporate logo will make them relevant again.
Duke doesn’t need a gimmick tournament to validate its brand. Duke is the brand.
No you just never go home-home or just get your Daddy’s political juice to get your first and second rd ncaa games to never leave the state.
Hope you enjoy your 40mm Elite Eight this year.
Answer me this: do you think Scheyer can breathe out his nose with all those billionaires working him like a puppet? Or would you say he is more just a billionaire puppet mouth-breather?
duke has more advantages pulling them toward favored success than any other organization in sports, on the planet.
Kick rocks Coach’s son.