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If Pope doesn't get Milan

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megablue

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0r1c said:
is he the worst recruiter in college basketball history? I've never once seen a coach get this much scrutiny for recruiting, especially from the national media and other fan bases.
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No, Mark Pope is not the worst recruiter in college basketball history. While his high-profile recruiting misses here have frustrated everyone, true "worst recruiters" typically operate at bottom-tier mid-major programs with zero tournament success. Having said that, Pope clearly needs to do MUCH better for his KY teams to win at a 70%, or better, clip. Yes, there is no question that he needs to recruit much better talent ... and LOTS of it !! He simply HAS to !!
 
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MachineHead

MachineHead

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megablue said:
No, Mark Pope is not the worst recruiter in college basketball history. While his high-profile recruiting misses here have frustrated everyone, true "worst recruiters" typically operate at bottom-tier mid-major programs with zero tournament success. Having said that, Pope clearly needs to do MUCH better for his teams to win at a 70%, or better, clip. Yes, there is no question that he needs to recruit better talent ... and lots of it !! He simply HAS to !!
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He cannot lose MM to Louisville. Can. NOT. lose him to UL. This is the most important recruit he’s ever gone after. He knows that.
 
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MachineHead

MachineHead

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JimboBBN said:
That page would defend Pope if lost 20 games next season. I swear it’s run by his family.
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They can say that all they want. Does not change the fact that if Milan signs with Louisville, Pope is done here. We are just waiting until next March to find out who the next coach is if that happens.

Major attendance dip incoming too.
 
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TheApostleSaulSmith

TheApostleSaulSmith

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megablue said:
No, Mark Pope is not the worst recruiter in college basketball history. While his high-profile recruiting misses here have frustrated everyone, true "worst recruiters" typically operate at bottom-tier mid-major programs with zero tournament success. Having said that, Pope clearly needs to do MUCH better for his KY teams to win at a 70%, or better, clip. Yes, there is no question that he needs to recruit much better talent ... and LOTS of it !! He simply HAS to !!
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Yeah but when you're recruiting at a place like St Bonaventure or Central Arkansas, you have next to zero resources to work with, and top players don't even know who tf you are. Not the case here.
 
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MonsterMash79

MonsterMash79

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jeffky said:
Will Ferrell Crying GIF
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Definitely a glass case of emotion..
 
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0r1c

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megablue said:
No, Mark Pope is not the worst recruiter in college basketball history. While his high-profile recruiting misses here have frustrated everyone, true "worst recruiters" typically operate at bottom-tier mid-major programs with zero tournament success. Having said that, Pope clearly needs to do MUCH better for his KY teams to win at a 70%, or better, clip. Yes, there is no question that he needs to recruit much better talent ... and LOTS of it !! He simply HAS to !!
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The question assumes that the school you're recruiting for and the resources at your disposal are factors. The question is whether Pope is the worst recruiter, not whether he lands the worst recruits.
 
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TFCat11

TFCat11

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But but, we were told by the insiders that it was a done deal… Now that’s not the case, here comes the excuses!

They (UK) want you to believe ANYTHING but the truth… And the truth is what I said it was weeks and months ago… UK does not have access to the NIL a lot of these other schools have!

People honestly believe Pope is offering millions more than the other schools and they’re still choosing the other schools because Pope is some weirdo or something?

Are we having a laugh yet?
 
PastorofMuppets82

PastorofMuppets82

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caytsBNA said:
lol dude. Look at our transfer rankings too. He’s doing it with no brand. So, yes, he’s killing it.
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I was just trying to establish what exactly "Killing It" is as a base line.

2026 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 38th, Composite - 60th, Transfer - 10th

We have signed 0 Five Stars, 15 Four Stars, and 58 Three Stars between the two cycles. Are we saying that is incredible for UK? Above average? About normal? Less than normal?

Like I look at Indiana ranked 8th in the portal rankings. They only signed 17 players (6 Four Stars and 11 Three Stars). Verses UK's 29 portal commits. Obviously their 17 players must be significantly higher than our 29 right? Same with Ohio States 17 players (7 Four Stars, 10 Three Stars).

Or what about prior to Stein. Let's look at the last 5 years to gauge what level of recruiting defines "Killing It" at UK, shall we.

2025 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 25th, Composite - 29th, Transfer - 10th (Was Stoops "Killing It" more or less than Stein?)
2024 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 24th, Composite - 24th, Transfer - 21st (We only took 13 commits in the portal that year)
2023 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 30th, Composite - 33rd, Transfer - 14th (Better or worse than 2026?)
2022 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 20th, Composite - 14th, Transfer - 27th (Better or worse than 2026?)
2021 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 23rd, Composite - 35th, Transfer - 6th (Better or worse than 2026)

Or rather, is the quip "Will Stein is killing it in recruiting" an overblown, bad faith based screaming at the clouds so people can try to compare Stein's recruiting to Pope's? Instead of comparing Stein's recruiting to Stoops, in the same sport. I'm not defending Pope at all, but saying Will Stein is killing it in recruiting is laughable. He's not even out recruiting the guy who had the job before him. (Neither is Pope).
 
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caytsBNA

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PastorofMuppets82 said:
I was just trying to establish what exactly "Killing It" is as a base line.

2026 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 38th, Composite - 60th, Transfer - 10th

We have signed 0 Five Stars, 15 Four Stars, and 58 Three Stars between the two cycles. Are we saying that is incredible for UK? Above average? About normal? Less than normal?

Like I look at Indiana ranked 8th in the portal rankings. They only signed 17 players (6 Four Stars and 11 Three Stars). Verses UK's 29 portal commits. Obviously their 17 players must be significantly higher than our 29 right? Same with Ohio States 17 players (7 Four Stars, 10 Three Stars).

Or what about prior to Stein. Let's look at the last 5 years to gauge what level of recruiting defines "Killing It" at UK, shall we.

2025 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 25th, Composite - 29th, Transfer - 10th (Was Stoops "Killing It" more or less than Stein?)
2024 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 24th, Composite - 24th, Transfer - 21st (We only took 13 commits in the portal that year)
2023 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 30th, Composite - 33rd, Transfer - 14th (Better or worse than 2026?)
2022 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 20th, Composite - 14th, Transfer - 27th (Better or worse than 2026?)
2021 HS Recruiting Rankings: Overall - 23rd, Composite - 35th, Transfer - 6th (Better or worse than 2026)

Or rather, is the quip "Will Stein is killing it in recruiting" an overblown, bad faith based screaming at the clouds so people can try to compare Stein's recruiting to Pope's? Instead of comparing Stein's recruiting to Stoops, in the same sport. I'm not defending Pope at all, but saying Will Stein is killing it in recruiting is laughable. He's not even out recruiting the guy who had the job before him. (Neither is Pope).
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I don't have the time to look at all those #s, but sure I will concede that he's not 'killing it'.

My original point was for all the Pope defenders pointing to JMI as the issue, it does not appear to be affecting Stein.

Football recruiting pre/post JMI is roughly the same
Basketball recruiting pre/post JMI is markedly different... why? Pope. Not JMI
 
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Bleedin Blue in Ohio

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Coach Pope should get judged singly on wins and losses. By judging a Coach on recruiting Cal would be the greatest ever with his last UK class. #1 Edwards, #3 Wagner, #5 Bradshaw, #16 Dillingham, and 24 Sheppard. That team should have killed it right? I don't remember how did that team turn out? I do not care if they have any ranked recruits did, they win during the season. If Coach Pope's team repeats last season's performance, then he will get replaced. If this team is a contender in both the SEC and NCAA, then he will continue to be Coach. November thru April is what really matters. Not the NBA draft, not recruiting rankings, etc...
 
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TheApostleSaulSmith

TheApostleSaulSmith

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Bleedin Blue in Ohio said:
Coach Pope should get judged singly on wins and losses. By judging a Coach on recruiting Cal would be the greatest ever with his last UK class. #1 Edwards, #3 Wagner, #5 Bradshaw, #16 Dillingham, and 24 Sheppard. That team should have killed it right? I don't remember how did that team turn out? I do not care if they have any ranked recruits did, they win during the season. If Coach Pope's team repeats last season's performance, then he will get replaced. If this team is a contender in both the SEC and NCAA, then he will continue to be Coach. November thru April is what really matters. Not the NBA draft, not recruiting rankings, etc...
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yeah...I mean...you're not wrong.
But it's June, wtf else are we gonna talk about?
 
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PastorofMuppets82

PastorofMuppets82

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caytsBNA said:
I don't have the time to look at all those #s, but sure I will concede that he's not 'killing it'.

My original point was for all the Pope defenders pointing to JMI as the issue, it does not appear to be affecting Stein.

Football recruiting pre/post JMI is roughly the same
Basketball recruiting pre/post JMI is markedly different... why? Pope. Not JMI
Click to expand...
Pope is definitely a problem, no argument there.

But to say JMI is not an issue for basketball is a little too "finalistic". Football gets the benefit of A) having roughly $15 Mil in Rev Share money from the Athletic Department allotted to it, separate from NIL, to spend on it's roster. This makes guaranteed "cash money" to football players easier up front. B) A much larger roster to spread out deals. Players are making considerably less individually across the football team than the basketball team. Total all the 3 stars on the football team are probably making the same amount or slightly less than just Diallo, Wilkins, and Moreno combined. C) There have been multiple reports that UK basketball's JMI "package" offer is higher than other schools, but the actual "dollar" amount is less. The companies under JMI like to offer vehicles, apartments, gear, free dining, etc as part of the "package". That drives the number higher we "offered" but doesn't put more money in the player's (or their agents for that matter) pocket. JMI also limits your ability to market yourself outside the partnership group (if you sign with them), not seen at other schools with collectives. That matters to 5 star recruits, and not so much to low 4 and high 3's. Especially in a sport where you wear a helmet and most people couldn't identify you on the street, verses basketball where you are easily noticed and more easily marketable. Just the difference in sports.

JMI is NOT the entire problem for UK basketball, but they are an unnecessary extra set of hoops only UK has to jump through and convince players and agents that JMI is good for them. Whether JMI is or isn't good for them, the 5 stars aren't giving them a chance to prove it one way or another. I fully believe the next UK basketball coach will also struggle, regardless of who they are, with the current NIL setup to some degree. Hopefully the new AD hire can at least rework the deal in some capacity to eliminate all the worry and reluctance to sign.
 
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MachineHead

MachineHead

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Bleedin Blue in Ohio said:
Coach Pope should get judged singly on wins and losses. By judging a Coach on recruiting Cal would be the greatest ever with his last UK class. #1 Edwards, #3 Wagner, #5 Bradshaw, #16 Dillingham, and 24 Sheppard. That team should have killed it right? I don't remember how did that team turn out? I do not care if they have any ranked recruits did, they win during the season. If Coach Pope's team repeats last season's performance, then he will get replaced. If this team is a contender in both the SEC and NCAA, then he will continue to be Coach. November thru April is what really matters. Not the NBA draft, not recruiting rankings, etc...
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The past 5 years of Cal, he lost despite elite talent. He was still here and left on his own, but the fans were tired of him. Jack Gohlke hits 846 threes and Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham don’t even start.

You have to have elite talent, ESPECIALLY now, especially with NIL. If Pope cannot get elite talent to come here, he cannot do the job. You are not competing with Florida and Alabama if you can’t bring in dudes. It’s half of the job.
 
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Macys Socks

Macys Socks

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0r1c said:
True but now I'm genuinely curious about the conversation if he's the worst or one of the worst recruiters in history. Not just a bad recruiter.
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Is it too late to vote for the worst? I mean, he is Guinness book world record, type bad
 
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Cliffhanger82

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Apr 11, 2024
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Ok…..I’ll admit I don’t follow bball like I did thru the earlier Cal years. The shift to “Generational Wealth” from winning games cooled my enthusiasm. But I do understand that players are attracted to programs that place players in the NBA. Has Pope ever placed one of his players into a starting/major contributor role in the NBA? Seems to be a higher reason why he whiffs on recruits - especially younger ones that want to develop. Am I wrong? Thoughts?
 
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26MichaelUK

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Feb 14, 2013
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Man I don't get on here and bash Pope much but look how far we've fallen. Desperately hoping this one guy will sign with us after striking out on how many players? This feels like the end of the Tubby era and sadly I had more confidence in him. Maybe I was very naive but c'mon guys, this isn't going well and even the most ardent People defender has to admit that.
 
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Biscuit4032

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Apr 11, 2026
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Catlogic1552 said:
But isJMI absolved in all this if we don’t get him?
Would anyone know?
If all the boxes check and we don’t get him, then Pope has been exposed, once and for all.
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I understand that the HC will get the blame for not getting players. But we really don't know what has been the deal breaker. You can not make me believe he is this bad. There is more to it.
UKortho said:
If he gets Milan that means very little. He missed on everyone and got lucky that the young man was not going to be drafted high enough. Most teams have spent their money and have their roster. BUT we don’’t. It’s poor recruiting plain and simple. If he gets the guy it means his buyout will just be that much higher.
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Do you know why he misses?
 
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CELTICAT

CELTICAT

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I’ve yet to see any believable explanation as to why JMI would hamstring us so bad in basketball but Stein can go out and sign the highest rated class in program history with it.
 
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