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Trent Noah says Pope bringing in players that are “good for the locker room”

ftp000

ftp000

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BlueBomb said:
If that's true, then it's complete happenstance and not a strategy. He whiffed on 20+ recruits (high school and portal), so the team makeup was only dependent on who accepted...or not.

This isn't meant to be another bash on Pope; it's just reality and proof this was no strategy.
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How is it "reality"?
You don't know how many were offered, what they demanded, or what promises were made or refused. None of that is released, nor is it common knowledge. Some expect a promise of a starting position, or a certain amount of PT.
You are stuck on the old model, before NIL. An offer from a blue blood was enough. Now agents make demands. Ask for too much. You have no idea how many of the 20 you mention were misses, or were passed on.
 
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BlueBomb

BlueBomb

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ftp000 said:
How is it "reality"?
You don't know how many were offered, what they demanded, or what promises were made or refused. None of that is released, nor is it common knowledge. Some expect a promise of a starting position, or a certain amount of PT.
You are stuck on the old model, before NIL. An offer from a blue blood was enough. Now agents make demands. Ask for too much. You have no idea how many of the 20 you mention were misses, or were passed on.
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It's reported when we make offers. Yes, it's true that offers can be rescinded. I'm guessing that number is fairly low. But yes, I do not know that for sure. Just using logic.
 
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Mdnerd

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ZaytovenCat said:
They definitely chose to go elsewhere but it wasn’t because pope quit recruiting them as hard. That’s just dumb. He would have given his arm for Stokes and he tried as hard as he could for Wright too.
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You guys are totally missing the point of his post. He didn't say Pope wouldn't take them or didn't want them. Pope did. However he also wanted then to buy in and they didn't like that idea. So they chose to go elsewhere. It was the players decision, not Pope.
 
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Mdnerd

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BBNinSCar said:
I am glad Stokes is not part of our program.
Calipari was exceptional at keeping the problem players out of Kentucky while he was here- although not many will admit it. We had almost zero player issues with his recruits and he was getting the best players in the country.
I hope Pope can do the same.
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Sorry, that's not the slightest bit true. We avoided the drama because CAL never held his players accountable. He understood that today's top players dont take discipline and accountability well at all. So they loved CAL for that.

So the players played for themselves and not the team. The results of that system speak for itself over his last 6 or 7 years.

2012 only happened due to the NBA lockout which kept a few guys around to be sophomores and also a once in a generation talent. Take away the lockout and Cal doesnt even win with Anthony Davis, just like he didn't win with John Wall.
 
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Anon1768287303

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MdWIldcat55 said:
Did it ever occur to you he whiffed on some of those guys (cough Stokes, cough Freeman cough Wright...) BECAUSE after meeting with them and explaining what it meant to play for Kentucky, what he wanted out of them in the locker room, what their role would be and how they were going to have to sublimate their egos they chose to go elsewhere? Or Pope stopped recruiting them as hard?

There are lots of guys who look great on paper, or watching a highlight reel. Are they also guys who think about doing whatever it takes to win basketball games, rather than making themselves look good?
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That would be my take. He may have told them "that's how it is or hit the door." They the door.
 
B

Bleedin Blue in Ohio

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Lameguy said:
It sure looked like last years team was a collection of me first players. I would say all
Of the following: DA, OO, Mo D, BG, JJ, and JQ were all right there. You have to go back to Tubbys team turmoil to find a group that dysfunctional.
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I believe it felt that way because of Jaland Lowe's injury. Without having a true point guard to distribute and run offense things look very awkward.
 
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ftp000

ftp000

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BlueBomb said:
It's reported when we make offers. Yes, it's true that offers can be rescinded. I'm guessing that number is fairly low. But yes, I do not know that for sure. Just using logic.
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I believe we missed on plenty. But I don't think it's near 20. We may have said here's what we're offering, money and PT, and expectations. Not trying to meet their demands, but offering what they're worth to us.
I'd prefer that attitude over being a pushover
 
NociHTTP

NociHTTP

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BlueBomb said:
If that's true, then it's complete happenstance and not a strategy. He whiffed on 20+ recruits (high school and portal), so the team makeup was only dependent on who accepted...or not.

This isn't meant to be another bash on Pope; it's just reality and proof this was no strategy.
Click to expand...
Never change.
 
Ednunn

Ednunn

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Mar 8, 2023
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BlueBomb said:
If that's true, then it's complete happenstance and not a strategy. He whiffed on 20+ recruits (high school and portal), so the team makeup was only dependent on who accepted...or not.

This isn't meant to be another bash on Pope; it's just reality and proof this was no strategy.
Click to expand...
Your reality No proof.
 
K

Ky_Bred_Cat

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Johnnie Africa said:
Last year was such an unmitigated disaster, especially compared to year one, that I’m open to thinking not only was the makeup terrible (Mo D the starting 4 in a mark pope offense lol JFC) but that there were chemistry issues as well. Really no excuses for this year it’s put up or shut up time. 5 seed and sweet sixteen would be a disaster imo
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While last year's team had all these issues for sure, one thing has to be included when grading the season. We had no frickin Point Guard all year. Zero point guard. I'm not taking up for Pope but this was a major contributing factor and why that team had a low ceiling compared to its level of talent.
 
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LineSkiCat14

LineSkiCat14

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Ive been critical of Pope, but I 100% think that last years group was just a piss-poor collection of mentalities and mindsets. Almost the polar opposite of year 1. Many times during the year I thought "do i want to see any of these guys back?"
 
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paulcalhoun_rivals397471

paulcalhoun_rivals397471

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CB3UK said:
Absolutely. No one is going to convince that team didn't flat out quit v Gonzaga. Period. It was complete bullsh*t.

And if Pope isn't the kind of guy who can navigate that sh*t properly and get them to get over whatever bullsh*t reasons they don't like each other, then he has to go, because that is absolutely part of being a successful coach.

You can be a mediocre coach and have that sh*t. Cal at least, for all his other faults, knew how to handle egos of elite players. Pope's over here struggling to manage the attitudes of guys who finished 9th in the SEC. I'd tell them "look you motherf*ckers, you're not even good enough to have a bad attitude about sh*t yet."
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Has Pope had a 9-16 season at Kentucky?
 
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BigBluePap

BigBluePap

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Ky_Bred_Cat said:
While last year's team had all these issues for sure, one thing has to be included when grading the season. We had no frickin Point Guard all year. Zero point guard. I'm not taking up for Pope but this was a major contributing factor and why that team had a low ceiling compared to its level of talent.
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not disagreeing, but even tho not planned for or expected, make no mistake, this is what DA wanted ... JMO
 
paulcalhoun_rivals397471

paulcalhoun_rivals397471

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CB3UK said:
Point being no one gives a damn about you lecturing everyone else on here. Learn to read the room douchebag
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If you keep creating idiotic takes just to insult Pope I will continue to push back on it. Your childish name calling just demonstrates your inability to control your emotions and will not work to suppress my opinion in any way.
 
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CB3UK

CB3UK

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paulcalhoun_rivals397471 said:
If you keep creating idiotic takes just to insult Pope I will continue to push back on it. Your childish name calling just demonstrates your inability to control your emotions and will not work to suppress my opinion in any way.
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