The boosters are evidently giving Pope one more chance.

[Son_Of_Saul]

This roster will once again exceed $20 million.

Pope's apologists can officially remove the "he isn't getting the money he needs" excuse.

It's put up or shut up time.


The best part is that BBN will also give him one last shot. With the roster, the fan support, and support from the boosters, Pope should be unleashed this season.


No excuses for Coach Pope at this point.

It's time to win big.

 

[St.Patterson_54_]

It's beautiful.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Pope has to win or he’s gone. Everybody in the fanbase knows that. Ink isn’t even dry before we go back to arguing over who the “right” fans are. Let’s all go support the team that hopefully makes us proud.

 

[The Ganner]

Pope has to win or he’s gone. Everybody in the fanbase knows that. Ink isn’t even dry before we go back to arguing over who the “right” fans are. Let’s all go support the team that hopefully makes us proud.

Lot of people on here, their favorite sport isn't college basketball. Their favorite sport is arguing about sports. Stephan A Smith style hot take, yelling at each other sports culture has infected our society.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

No Popes contract got him one more year.

 

[KA4Prez]

$20M isn't what it was last year.

$20M last year is more like $35-40M this year.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

$20M isn't what it was last year.

$20M last year is more like $35-40M this year.

how so?

 

[UKCowboys]

The soft sobs flowing like spring rain from trolls everywhere. Glorious

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

The soft sobs flowing like spring rain from trolls everywhere. Glorious

"No excuses, it's time to win big"

What part of that is trolling? What part do you disagree with? Isn't the whole point of getting MM here to give Pope the best chance possible to win ?

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Pope has to win or he’s gone. Everybody in the fanbase knows that. Ink isn’t even dry before we go back to arguing over who the “right” fans are. Let’s all go support the team that hopefully makes us proud.

But say he gets a 5-seed and wins a s16. Is he gone then? Theres definitely a midle ground where he doesnt exactly suceed but still gets to keep his job.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

But say he gets a 5-seed and wins a s16. Is he gone then? Theres definitely a midle ground where he doesnt exactly suceed but still gets to keep his job.

then we're stuck in pope purgatory

 

[chroix]

I’d say it’s a good sign they were the ones that wanted him in the first place.

 

[chroix]

But say he gets a 5-seed and wins a s16. Is he gone then? Theres definitely a midle ground where he doesnt exactly suceed but still gets to keep his job.

Tubby 2.0 scenario.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

But say he gets a 5-seed and wins a s16. Is he gone then? Theres definitely a midle ground where he doesnt exactly suceed but still gets to keep his job.

I would imagine he's gone with a 5-seed, S16 but it depends on what the new AD thinks. To me, that would be underperforming with this roster.

Let's wait it out and see.

 

[UKCowboys]

"No excuses, it's time to win big"

What part of that is trolling? What part do you disagree with? Isn't the whole point of getting MM here to give Pope the best chance possible to win ?

None at all...but we just signed a great player who gives us a legit top 10-12 team in the country. This should be nothing but a happy day for UK fans and yet part of the board can't help but insult Pope anyway. Thats tge definition of a troll

 

[chroix]

I would imagine he's gone with a 5-seed, S16 but it depends on what the new AD thinks. To me, that would be underperforming with this roster.

Let's wait it out and see.

Doubt it. Just good enough. Especially if you beat Kansas or someone big and prominent like that.

 

[Hughhefner]

I would imagine he's gone with a 5-seed, S16 but it depends on what the new AD thinks. To me, that would be underperforming with this roster.

Let's wait it out and see.

Sweet 16 would increase his buyout

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Doubt it. Just good enough. Especially if you beat Kansas or someone big and prominent like that.

I definitely think 5 seed is the most difficult scenario.

4 seed and better -- you probably don't move on.

6 seed or worse -- I feel very confident you move on.

5 seed is admittedly tricky, but we will see.

Sweet 16 would increase his buyout

Don't think the boosters care. They will decide this, regardless of that stipulation.

 

[TFCat11]

“I came here to chew bubblegum and to eat crow, and I’m all out of bubblegum!”

And eat crow, I happily will! Great great add for Pope and the team, and I hope these guys all compliment each other, and just leave it all on the court every game…

We all had sufficient reasons to believe Pope couldn’t get it done, but after 3 years, he finally did, and I was particularly hard on him since midway through last season for a multitude of reasons!

Now, let’s let Pope mold the team into his vision, and see what he puts together on the court next season, and get behind him in the meantime.

Go Cats

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

None at all...but we just signed a great player who gives us a legit top 10-12 team in the country. This should be nothing but a happy day for UK fans and yet part of the board can't help but insult Pope anyway. Thats tge definition of a troll

The timing of this thread is pretty bad, I'll agree with that

 

[CB3UK]

Lot of people on here, their favorite sport isn't college basketball. Their favorite sport is arguing about sports. Stephan A Smith style hot take, yelling at each other sports culture has infected our society.

Very true, and I'm as guilty as anyone. I'm trying at least to be more nuanced and at least just walking away or ignoring instead of trying to get in the last word. Must be growing up.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

“I came here to chew bubblegum and to eat crow, and I’m all out of bubblegum!”

And eat crow, I happily will! Great great add for Pope and the team, and I hope these guys all compliment each other, and just leave it all on the court every game…

We all had sufficient reasons to believe Pope couldn’t get it done, but after 3 years, he finally did, and I was particularly hard on him since midway through last season for a multitude of reasons!

Now, let’s let Pope mold the team into his vision, and see what he puts together on the court next season, and get behind him in the meantime.

Go Cats

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I would imagine he's gone with a 5-seed, S16 but it depends on what the new AD thinks. To me, that would be underperforming with this roster.

Let's wait it out and see.

He got his roster, I think he can win with it. A little pricey for my liking. But winning cures all. And if we can do something this year, that will really fix a lot of his recruiting woes.

 

[MachineHead]

If nothing else, this team will be fun to watch. Last year’s team was not, most of the time. It was a slog.

 

[The Ganner]

If nothing else, this team will be fun to watch. Last year’s team was not, most of the time. It was a slog.

Starting lineup will include two ball handlers/drivers/creators and two shooters along with, at least, a solid (and potentially very good) center. We're clearly better than last year, maybe as good as a fully-healthy 2024-25 team. Lots of length, and enough options for depth at forward that SOMEBODY should pan out to be worthwhile. Can we defend and rebound? Are any of the backup guards able to give us 15 minutes without hurting us, or can we squeeze minutes with one of Diallo/Wilkins on the floor and Kam/Hawthorne playing the 2? We probably need both Diallo and Wilkins playing 30mpg, stagger it so they play 20 minutes together and 10 minutes each with the other on the bench.

 

[moses1uk]

This roster will once again exceed $20 million.

Pope's apologists can officially remove the "he isn't getting the money he needs" excuse.

It's put up or shut up time.


The best part is that BBN will also give him one last shot. With the roster, the fan support, and support from the boosters, Pope should be unleashed this season.


No excuses for Coach Pope at this point.

It's time to win big.

Today is not a good day for you

 

[UK4Life#9]

“I came here to chew bubblegum and to eat crow, and I’m all out of bubblegum!”

And eat crow, I happily will! Great great add for Pope and the team, and I hope these guys all compliment each other, and just leave it all on the court every game…

We all had sufficient reasons to believe Pope couldn’t get it done, but after 3 years, he finally did, and I was particularly hard on him since midway through last season for a multitude of reasons!

Now, let’s let Pope mold the team into his vision, and see what he puts together on the court next season, and get behind him in the meantime.

Go Cats

 

[LakeLifeCat]

I think what this tells us is that Pope has learned a lesson about being the head coach at Kentucky. Last season I read an article on KSR that talked about one recruit specifically (think it was Caleb Wilson) and Pope said he would not get into a bidding war over him and so he went somewhere else. Pope's mindset was this is Kentucky...we don't get into bidding wars. But now it seems he is willing to change his mind on that.

I think we were absolutely in a bidding war over the weekend with UofL and Pope finally paid whatever it took to land Momcilovic.

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

This roster will once again exceed $20 million.

Pope's apologists can officially remove the "he isn't getting the money he needs" excuse.

It's put up or shut up time.


The best part is that BBN will also give him one last shot. With the roster, the fan support, and support from the boosters, Pope should be unleashed this season.


No excuses for Coach Pope at this point.

It's time to win big.

Link ? ? ?

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

This roster will once again exceed $20 million.

Pope's apologists can officially remove the "he isn't getting the money he needs" excuse.

It's put up or shut up time.


The best part is that BBN will also give him one last shot. With the roster, the fan support, and support from the boosters, Pope should be unleashed this season.


No excuses for Coach Pope at this point.

It's time to win big.

Thanks for your response, otherwise we’d never know what you think about Pope. 95% of those here know it is put up or shut up time. It’s amazing to me that some of you obsess over the 5%.

 

[CELTICAT]

If you’re pumped for next season, then good for you. I was pumped a year ago, too.

personally, I think wait and see makes the most sense. I don’t look at this roster and coach and think this is somehow a top 15 team. A year ago I thought there was no way there were 5 teams more talented. I was wrong. Hope I’m wrong about this upcoming squad too, but in a good way.

for the posters that tie their personal worth to Pope’s tenure and are so anxious to rub people’s face in it, just remember it cuts both ways.

 

[83Cat_rivals79182]

This roster will once again exceed $20 million.

Pope's apologists can officially remove the "he isn't getting the money he needs" excuse.

It's put up or shut up time.


The best part is that BBN will also give him one last shot. With the roster, the fan support, and support from the boosters, Pope should be unleashed this season.


No excuses for Coach Pope at this point.

It's time to win big.

Most all of the major boosters that I know were not throwing in the towel on Pope at any time during this year's team building process. They all had given him a 5 year time frame to rebuild the program from the empty plate that Calipari left us with. The NIL was not as out of control when they signed him either. Just because we tend to live in fear, they knew a lot more about the family discussions going on so they had much more faith in the process.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

I would imagine he's gone with a 5-seed, S16 but it depends on what the new AD thinks. To me, that would be underperforming with this roster.

Let's wait it out and see.

At that point I don't even think it will be up to a new AD it will be up to the boosters that keep fronting the bill. If they are sick of paying all this $ and not getting what they think is good in return then Pope will be gone. They will cut what hurts the most and we all now what that is...

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Most all of the major boosters that I know were not throwing in the towel on Pope at any time during this year's team building process. They all had given him a 5 year time frame to rebuild the program from the empty plate that Calipari left us with. The NIL was not as out of control when they signed him either. Just because we tend to live in fear, they knew a lot more about the family discussions going on so they had much more faith in the process.

you have to be kidding

 

[CatBearPig]

Tubby 2.0 scenario.

Tubby won a national title was the #1 over all seed in 2 consecutive seasons and 3 times in his first 8 years. He also went to 3 Elite 8’s and and in 4 of those 8 seasons lost 6 games or less.

 

[JonathanW2]

"giving 1 more chance"

Well, the consensus w/ BBN after year 1 was that it was successful (under the circumstances).
The consensus after year 2 was that it was unsuccessful, not a complete failure though.
So having had just 1 bad season, is too soon to pull the plug. Otherwise, I hate to think how that same type of thinking would have reacted to Pitino's 14-14 team.

 

[chroix]

Tubby won a national title was the #1 over all seed in 2 consecutive seasons and 3 times in his first 8 years. He also went to 3 Elite 8’s and and in 4 of those 8 seasons lost 6 games or less.

He was a great in certain ways for sure. One of my favorites but how’d he do recruiting wise which is what my comment was in response to? Even the most objective of us can acknowledge he wasn’t good at recruiting.

 

[gbl97]

Most all of the major boosters that I know were not throwing in the towel on Pope at any time during this year's team building process. They all had given him a 5 year time frame to rebuild the program from the empty plate that Calipari left us with. The NIL was not as out of control when they signed him either. Just because we tend to live in fear, they knew a lot more about the family discussions going on so they had much more faith in the process.

The "need time to rebuild" excuse has been retired thanks to Dusty May and Curt Cignetti.

 

[rivercatinfl]

An

None at all...but we just signed a great player who gives us a legit top 10-12 team in the country. This should be nothing but a happy day for UK fans and yet part of the board can't help but insult Pope anyway. Thats tge definition of a troll

And the difference between a real UK fan and someone who bitches about everything no matter if it’s positive or not. SMH

 

[TotheMoon88]

I would imagine he's gone with a 5-seed, S16 but it depends on what the new AD thinks. To me, that would be underperforming with this roster.

Let's wait it out and see.

I think he has to be top 3 in sec and/or win the sec tournament and at least an elite 8 to keep his job. And no blowouts lol