Pope

[wfm101981]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

 

[0r1c]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

Every recruit commits to a school because of a relationship (that is often not with the head coach).

 

[DarkPope]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

Thanks for your take, now take your *** back to the salt mines

 

[UK4Life#9]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

Lil Bro fans man, they crack me up!!

 

[Smeegs]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

Finding the money and putting the right connections on your staff are now part of recruiting. So that doesn’t mean he “still can’t recruit”, it just means he’s adjusting to the new way recruiting works in the NIL era.

Whatever puts the right players on your roster makes you a good recruiter. Period. Recruiting is judged by results, not methods.

 

[Anon1766539309]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

Grammer & punctuation is your friend.

 

[Vek96]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

Seriously? Another bash Pope thread? Some of you are just miserable humans.

Quit talking about money. All of the teams with loaded rosters are spending a fortune. Duke, Florida, Michigan, Arizona, Kansas, St John’s, Louisville, all spent an absolute fortune.

 

[Bluegrasskingreboot]

Guys sign then you can recruit and if they don't you can't.

If you have a wonderful relationship but don't have the money then you still can't close the deal for the player.

If the coach gets along swimmingly with a player but they hate the assistants and will not sign then the recruitment failed.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

Actually Pope recruits pretty well. He has no clue or plan that he recruits to but that’s how he coaches too.

Last year’s team was the number 2 class according to many.

They just weren’t used properly. Nor will this class be.

UK has not had a player problem under Pope. UK has a coaching problem.

He does nothing well as a coach.

UK will not be a player on the major stage until Pope is shown the door.

I believe he will be fired mid season next season.

Then let the healing begin.

 

[Rainmaker]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

So when we sign 2 more top guys from the 2027 class what will the excuse be? Just give credit to Mo Williams? Coaches higher assistants to recruit, that’s part of the job. We are in great shape with a ton of high level 2027 guys, it’s going to be a good couple years, let’s hope we can bring home #9 during it.

 

[theKybluedude]

Actually Pope recruits pretty well. He has no clue or plan that he recruits to but that’s how he coaches too.

Last year’s team was the number 2 class according to many.

They just weren’t used properly. Nor will this class be.

UK has not had a player problem under Pope. UK has a coaching problem.

He does nothing well as a coach.

UK will not be a player on the major stage until Pope is shown the door.

I believe he will be fired mid season next season.

Then let the healing begin.

Disagree.

Pope recruited positionally really well this season. Solid depth at all spots. Experienced and proven players.

On track for a great recruiting season next signing period.

Glad to see he is not just recruiting rankings. Appears to have gotten hungry team oriented guys. Blending in youth and maturity.

Like what he’s doing and honestly excited to see this bunch play. Likable guys.

 

[KyKevin]

Actually Pope recruits pretty well. He has no clue or plan that he recruits to but that’s how he coaches too.

Last year’s team was the number 2 class according to many.

They just weren’t used properly. Nor will this class be.

UK has not had a player problem under Pope. UK has a coaching problem.

He does nothing well as a coach.

UK will not be a player on the major stage until Pope is shown the door.

I believe he will be fired mid season next season.

Then let the healing begin.

Says he will be here for the run in the tourny

 

[Doc4UK!]

However your logic might be tainted in that it was Pope who had the smarts to cut two coaches who had not been making the right connections in favor of Mo Williams who has seemingly turned the tide. And perhaps Crawford is on the horizon? There is a good chance Spears or Keller or both end up at UK and that would be the greatest recruiting haul since Towns ,
Booker, and the Harrisons came in 2014.

 

[megablue]

The head coach is in charge of the program.
Successes of a program deserve credit.
Failures of a program deserve blame.
Patience and expectations of the administration, boosters, alumni and fans are the ultimate "arbiters" of a coach's performance and longevity.

Kentucky recruiting certainly appears to have improved.
Mark Pope deserves credit for it.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

OP you defeated your own argument using your own words. On one hand, you argued that getting Momcilovic wasn’t a recruiting win because of what we paid. However, even if what you said was 100% true, it only shows that recruiting is less important in today’s game. Why? Because every school pays and there are bidding wars based purely on money.

TLDR: In 2026, many recruiting battles are “who has the most money?” Simple as that.

By the way, I don’t buy that Mom’s decision was exclusively based on money. I think role, system proficiency and money were all very important.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Actually Pope recruits pretty well. He has no clue or plan that he recruits to but that’s how he coaches too.

Last year’s team was the number 2 class according to many.

They just weren’t used properly. Nor will this class be.

UK has not had a player problem under Pope. UK has a coaching problem.

He does nothing well as a coach.

UK will not be a player on the major stage until Pope is shown the door.

I believe he will be fired mid season next season.

Then let the healing begin.

I will bet you $100 that he will not be fired midseason next season. Put your money where your mouth is or shut the **** up. You are such a miserable little *****.

 

[Bluetick2100]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

I would rather be lucky than good.

 

[yoshukai]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

LOL ,troll much? Tells me you guys are afraid we will be good .

 

[ComplexTon]

Some head coaches are great recruiters themselves. Others hire great recruiters. Either way, if it results in getting great players, it makes the head coach a great recruiter.

 

[megablue]

Some head coaches are great recruiters themselves. Others hire great recruiters. Either way, if it results in getting great players, it makes the head coach a great recruiter.

Yes ... it's the recruits you have, regardless of who brough them in.

 

[MY_POPE]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

Poap caynt racrute, hillbilly gonna hillbilly

 

[Jeff Hoyt]

Actually Pope recruits pretty well. He has no clue or plan that he recruits to but that’s how he coaches too.

Last year’s team was the number 2 class according to many.

They just weren’t used properly. Nor will this class be.

UK has not had a player problem under Pope. UK has a coaching problem.

He does nothing well as a coach.

UK will not be a player on the major stage until Pope is shown the door.

I believe he will be fired mid season next season.

Then let the healing begin.

You do not really believe the garbage you spew, and I can prove it. I will bet you $100,000 (More if you wish) and we can each place it in an escrowed account that Pope will not be fired before the end of next season. How about it?

 

[legalbeagle123]

This topic has never been discussed. Fantastic job by OP bringing it up.

 

[wfm101981]

Every recruit commits to a school because of a relationship (that is often not with the head coach).

I get it but never have we heard came for pope. Couldn't even keep Colin who followed him to UK. Just sayn.. guy cant recurit.

 

[wfm101981]

Thanks for your take, now take your *** back to the salt mines

I live in New York city. No salt mines here. Im a huge uk fan but its the truth. Guy cant recurit

 

[wfm101981]

Seriously? Another bash Pope thread? Some of you are just miserable humans.

Quit talking about money. All of the teams with loaded rosters are spending a fortune. Duke, Florida, Michigan, Arizona, Kansas, St John’s, Louisville, all spent an absolute fortune.

I dont bash pope. Id like to see him succeed . He cant recruit. Period. What rock do you live under. He was able to recruit kentucky kids last year and one skipped out of town. Hampton only coming cuz of mo Williams. Clearly stated. Pope is a strange dude. Bottom line.

 

[wfm101981]

OP you defeated your own argument using your own words. On one hand, you argued that getting Momcilovic wasn’t a recruiting win because of what we paid. However, even if what you said was 100% true, it only shows that recruiting is less important in today’s game. Why? Because every school pays and there are bidding wars based purely on money.

TLDR: In 2026, many recruiting battles are “who has the most money?” Simple as that.

By the way, I don’t buy that Mom’s decision was exclusively based on money. I think role, system proficiency and money were all very important.

He pnly got milan cuz we had reserves for the 10 15 times he struck out. Got lucky milan withdrew. Delusional you fools sre. He isnt the guy for the job. Period. I wish hd were. The 96 team holds a place in my heart. Still feel it was the best college team ever.

 

[wfm101981]

LOL ,troll much? Tells me you guys are afraid we will be good .

Lol I wish we would be good. Theres a reason we borderline top25 even with milan. Pope strikes out more than a batter with no arms. Will continue like this. We will be transfers last pick and only the late withdrawals.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

He pnly got milan cuz we had reserves for the 10 15 times he struck out. Got lucky milan withdrew. Delusional you fools sre. He isnt the guy for the job. Period. I wish hd were. The 96 team holds a place in my heart. Still feel it was the best college team ever.

I’m very open to the idea that Pope isn’t the guy, maybe he isn’t. None of us know.

Like you said, “I wish he were.” Well, I hope he is. I don’t think any reason he got Milan matters to me one way or the other. Pope has to win to keep everyone behind him. Period.

But downplaying the idea of getting Milan is counterproductive in my mind. You can say it was only because of big bags, but that’s what recruiting has mostly become. So, your argument is self-defeating:

- Pope isn’t the man for the job because he can’t recruit

- He got a top player because of money, despite being a poor recruiter.

^ Ok, don’t you see that your stance nullifies the need of recruiting prowess? You end up right back to where you started — Pope has to win on the court.

 

[Cats_2010]

You do not really believe the garbage you spew, and I can prove it. I will bet you $100,000 (More if you wish) and we can each place it in an escrowed account that Pope will not be fired before the end of next season. How about it?

It’s really not about if pope gets fired during the season or not but rather is he successful next season or not. He very easily could fail again next season and still not be fired during the season. Now should he be fired mid season is another debate, I think he should have been fired during last season but that’s just me.

Pope has to get his **** straight next year or hit the road. Stop getting blown out in the first half of games, team needs to stay engaged from opening tip to the horn, get substitution patterns correct, learn to teach defense, learn to work refs appropriately, show some fire on the sideline and lean how to be a leader of your team. Pope has a long way to go to becoming an elite level coach which is what this university deserves. I hope I’m wrong but I see another 12-14 loss season coming and another 6th-8th place finish in the SEC. That’s not gonna cut it here as the norm and that will be what is setting in on the pope era.

 

[wfm101981]

I’m very open to the idea that Pope isn’t the guy, maybe he isn’t. None of us know.

Like you said, “I wish he were.” Well, I hope he is. I don’t think any reason he got Milan matters to me one way or the other. Pope has to win to keep everyone behind him. Period.

But downplaying the idea of getting Milan is counterproductive in my mind. You can say it was only because of big bags, but that’s what recruiting has mostly become. So, your argument is self-defeating:

- Pope isn’t the man for the job because he can’t recruit

- He got a top player because of money, despite being a poor recruiter.

^ Ok, don’t you see that your stance nullifies the need of recruiting prowess? You end up right back to where you started — Pope has to win on the court.

My argument isnt self defeated. We had the most money left cuz he swung n missed so much. If milan doesnt withdrawal we were left with a team that wouldnt crazy top25 in ANYONES Ranking. Milan is a godsend for us. A floor spacer we depeseratly needed but rest assured I can bet my last penny if milan decided early on he was gonna stick to college when others had bags we weren't getting him. Pope is unlikeable by many ppl he meets for some reason. Hes freaking strange. I said it since year 1. Weird guy. On top of all that morman bs and live is peachy and rainbows etc.

 

[Reggie Noble]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

That’s how it works. A certain other coach got started by forming a relationship with World Wide Wes and hiring Milt Wagner and NIL before it was legal.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

My argument isnt self defeated. We had the most money left cuz he swung n missed so much. If milan doesnt withdrawal we were left with a team that wouldnt crazy top25 in ANYONES Ranking. Milan is a godsend for us. A floor spacer we depeseratly needed but rest assured I can bet my last penny if milan decided early on he was gonna stick to college when others had bags we weren't getting him. Pope is unlikeable by many ppl he meets for some reason. Hes freaking strange. I said it since year 1. Weird guy. On top of all that morman bs and live is peachy and rainbows etc.

Yeah it’s still self-defeating.

He had a big bunch of money because he whiffed and he’s weird? Yet the 2nd ranked portal player was still willing to come DESPITE YOUR POINT THAT HE IS WEIRD. That is the point, my man. Your argument is wonderful if you are trying to make the point that it doesn’t matter if you are weird and bad at recruiting, since you can just pay and get top players regardless.

It’s moving around chairs and arguing semantics. Pope will have to win on the court. Simple as that, and I think the roster he has assembled gives him a good chance to do that.

 

[Reggie Noble]

However your logic might be tainted in that it was Pope who had the smarts to cut two coaches who had not been making the right connections in favor of Mo Williams who has seemingly turned the tide. And perhaps Crawford is on the horizon? There is a good chance Spears or Keller or both end up at UK and that would be the greatest recruiting haul since Towns ,
Booker, and the Harrisons came in 2014.

Mark Pope has shown that he’s willing to adapt, which is what changed my opinion of him.

 

[Jeff Hoyt]

It’s really not about if pope gets fired during the season or not but rather is he successful next season or not. He very easily could fail again next season and still not be fired during the season. Now should he be fired mid season is another debate, I think he should have been fired during last season but that’s just me.

Pope has to get his **** straight next year or hit the road. Stop getting blown out in the first half of games, team needs to stay engaged from opening tip to the horn, get substitution patterns correct, learn to teach defense, learn to work refs appropriately, show some fire on the sideline and lean how to be a leader of your team. Pope has a long way to go to becoming an elite level coach which is what this university deserves. I hope I’m wrong but I see another 12-14 loss season coming and another 6th-8th place finish in the SEC. That’s not gonna cut it here as the norm and that will be what is setting in on the pope era.

Oh, THAT was his point. Silly me to just respond to what he actually said. Maybe my point was just he was a phony and I was calling him out on it.

 

[RunninRichie]

40-0

 

[Dward13]

I mean his win/loss percentage on recruiting for this off season is still comically low.

But it seems like guys were turning him down regardless of how much money we were throwing at them and at least one kid laughin in his face at the idea of playing for him regardless of the money amount.

So no matter how much money he spent on Milan it’s still a major step in the right direction. Because that was a kid that literally everyone wanted. A prolific 6-8 shooting wing is a massive priority for any championship hopeful. Spacing and shooting might be the most important aspect of the game right now.

 

[moses1uk]

Still cang recruit. Let's be real here.
. Milan came cuz we offered him big money and probably the most by far of the other schools trying to get him... and Ryan hampton came because his father and mo Williams have a good relationship. So it was $$ and friendship with someone else.. more like pope got lucky. I want him to succeed but he cant recruit.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

My argument isnt self defeated. We had the most money left cuz he swung n missed so much. If milan doesnt withdrawal we were left with a team that wouldnt crazy top25 in ANYONES Ranking. Milan is a godsend for us. A floor spacer we depeseratly needed but rest assured I can bet my last penny if milan decided early on he was gonna stick to college when others had bags we weren't getting him. Pope is unlikeable by many ppl he meets for some reason. Hes freaking strange. I said it since year 1. Weird guy. On top of all that morman bs and live is peachy and rainbows etc.

It's pathetic if someone who is a UK fan, which I have serious doubt about in your case, promotes the idea that our coach is weird and attacks his religious beliefs. The weird thing is your imagination/opinion and is not based on fact.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

I mean his win/loss percentage on recruiting for this off season is still comically low.

But it seems like guys were turning him down regardless of how much money we were throwing at them and at least one kid laughin in his face at the idea of playing for him regardless of the money amount.

So no matter how much money he spent on Milan it’s still a major step in the right direction. Because that was a kid that literally everyone wanted. A prolific 6-8 shooting wing is a massive priority for any championship hopeful. Spacing and shooting might be the most important aspect of the game right now.

Stokes behavior was more of a reflection of his poor character than it was ever an indictment of Pope. The kid no doubt has talent but everyone is aware that his character is questionable. It is yet to be seen whether he is a big benefit to Kansas or the biggest headache Bill Self has ever dealt with.