If it is the two year deal, why not just scrap it to one to ensure he comes here? We can worry about year two after that.
Travis Branham crystal ball Kentucky
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Because he probably isn’t worth the money in year 1 if you don’t get a year 2. Euros usually are slow to acclimate and he’s young and raw. His deal is believed to be backloaded, but others are negatively recruiting to convince him Pope won’t remain employed for his second year, which is the lucrative part of his deal. Allegedly.
I think that’s a made up thing. Nobody with a brain can look at this roster and if you add him and say pope won’t be coaching the following year. Especially if this kid believes he is as good as he is. I think it’s just made up media going for clicks like most recruiting stuff ends up being.
Ok…
It’s being reported by Jack Pilgrim, with specific details. Corroborated by another “insider” on the premium side.
Believe what you will.
Jack and being correct don’t usually go in the same sentence. Why would pope not being here matter? Means he could freely leave. If a 1 year deal is enticing pope being fired would mean a 1 year deal essentially. Not hard to put in a contract if pope is gone he can leave. Hampton will. It’s contradictory
The reason it would matter is the way the deal is structured. UK’s deal would pay good year 1 but insanely good year 2. Gotta understand this is a kid that couldn’t find Kentucky on a map and they’re learning everything about college basketball, Kentucky and Pope very quickly . It doesn’t matter if the negative recruiting is based on truth or not — it only matters that it may seem true to someone who doesn’t follow this stuff 24/7/365 like we do.
I would doubt the NCAA permits contracts that defy NCAA rules. A player by NCAA rule can leave if their coach leaves.
I hope so. If its just money, we are the frontrunner
Still contradictory. Rumors are we are paying more year 1 than everyone else regardless. It’s just a 2 year deal oppose to a 1 year deal at Michigan or Gonzaga. Where Kentucky or any other school is doesn’t matter. The thought pope might get fired so he don’t want a 2 year deal is just stupid. Makes zero sense. He will make more at Kentucky year 1 than other places. If pope is gone he leaves and makes even more year 2 just like he would at Kentucky anyway if pope is back which he will be. It’s all agent chatter more than likely to make sure they have the upper hand on negotiations.
Because the 2 year deal is backloaded. Meaning less money in year 1 than he can make at another school on a 1 year deal at Gonzaga or Michigan. UK is trying to insulate itself by offering big money year 2 to ensure he stays here for the second year because there isn't starter/heavy rotation minutes available for him on this years roster. (Hypothetical numbers here) Say UK is offering 2 million this year, 6 million next year for a 2 year deal. But Michigan is offering 3 million for just this year and promising a starting role or 6th man with 20-25 minutes promised. That's what the paid insiders are saying is clogging this up. It's also Not "Mark Pope" wants 2 years or bust. There are forces beyond Pope people forget about when it comes to compliance, contracts, and legalities of deals, especially with international minors. Lots of moving parts. Again, according to the pay sites, UK is in a good position and Nikola prefers UK, the legal loopholes are a hurdle in this state with an international minor but not impossible, the 1 year verses 2 year deal is a minor speedbump by comparison.
We are still paying more, in year 1 and year 2. I won’t go back and forth on it. I’m no insider. I’m just sharing what has been reported.
And yes these folks have been incorrect on many things so it’s fair to have skepticism.
Personally, I 100% believe this report.
I know what backloaded means. It’s also been reported we are offering more year 1 than anyone. Meaning he would still make more at Kentucky no matter what. I don’t understand how you are confused.
What makes you think I’m confused? Are you under the impression that I do not understand he’d be making more at UK year 1? I even said that in my last reply. You keep replying as though I’m the one reporting this.
Again, I don’t know anything. I have no connections. No recruiting Intel. No relationships with agents.
Take what I say as secondhand information from others, not from me. Or entirely disregard it. You keep going back and forth like you’re talking to a primary source or something lol.
Like what? You’ll say “don’t you understand, bud!!???” and that will prompt me to change corroborated reports from others? Cmon man, point your pew pew at the right people. I’m sharing stuff for free and you’re killing the messenger.
As far as why it matters to the kid whether or not Pope is here year 2, no clue. Maybe he doesn’t want to deal with recruiting circus. Maybe he’s concerned about an injury or something causing him not to perform as well and then he lost guaranteed money. I really don’t know, but the report is what it is.
There probably wont be a year 4 (or year 2 with this guy) if we dont get him for coming season. Pope needs to make a final four or at least a close elite 8 loss to convice the majority of fanbase he has potential to win a title.
Right now, no one believes that.
Right now, no one believes that.
He makes it to sweet 16 he will be back for year 4. This team is plenty good enough to get that far as is now. A lot of people underestimating some of these guys like Wilkins.
Meh, f*ck Michigan. Have always hated that program and institution for that matter. Hope we beat them out for this guy. Also, hate the “Fab 5”.
Tin foil hat here: I think Nate Oats contract makes it very likely that Pope will get a year 4 unless it goes south. I think things have changed with the new AD, who I believe will want to install Oats specifically. I expect a Sweet 16 keeps Pope for a year 4. Oats’ buyout goes down dramatically. After March 2028, his buyout becomes $0.
Therefore, I think Pope is on a two year plan to prove himself. If he doesn’t, we go get Oats
Yeah, rumor was Michigan positioned itself to see what our year 1 offer was and came in with a new offer over the top yesterday. I'm sure by now UK has increased their offer is back in the lead for year 1 money, and both sides are just playing ping pong with offers through the agent. Gotta love NIL era recruiting.
I’m not going to explicitly say that. It’s the only place I have to get any recruiting news. Off topic question: is there a premium site on here where insiders such as Jakk Peelgrim and others share Intel?
I think its because he just turned 17. He is a huge talent but will have going pains thus season, could be a monster year two. If you break the bank on a one year and he doesn't start day one, it woll be tough to keep him when everyone comes with huge money year two and you end up overpaying for a role player for a year. You overpay this year and make up your investment in year two
A sweet 16 shouldn't keep Pope around another season. He needs a final 4.
I’d be willing to give him another season if we have a great regular season and finish with a hard fought S16/E8 loss. I like the changes I’ve seen lately. If he continues to recruit at this level he could do some good things soon. It’s all about how he adjusts and shows progress to me. More prepared. Compete every night, 2 good halves of basketball.
I tend to think Elite 8 will keep Pope around. We need to not lose 10 games.
Agreed and that’s what we should do. Pope deserves a chance if he continues to recruit like this. If he gets this kid and keeps it up with the next class for sure.
Last I had read was our offer was top of the market for two years and it scared all the other schools off. Like 5-6 million a year for two years.
I believe coaches will say whatever they have to say to get a recruit. Totally believable that they tell him Pope is on the hot seat. It’s cooled recently, but he needs a great year for confidence going forward.
I don’t think any legal stuff will hold it up. Plenty of UK fans in the state government that can move this along.
I don’t disagree with you but this team could end up being pretty dang good and still lose 10 games. I think they’d have to lose only 7 in the regular season to stay under 10.
There was a 1 seed last year with almost that many losses and I think two 2 seeds with more.
For those saying a sweet 16. Why? What if we lose by double digits n ncaa tourney loss 3 years n a row?
If we get blown out again n sweet 16 dont think u have much of a fanbase for year 4.
1 Seeds
Michigan (37-3)
Arizona (36-3)
Duke (35-3)
Florida (27-8)
2 Seeds
Purdue (30-9)
UConn (34-6)
Houston (30-7)
Iowa St (29-8)
3 Seeds
Illinois (28-9)
Michigan St. (27-8)
Gonzaga (31-4)
Virginia (30-6)
Florida was a #1 seed and finished with 8 losses. When you look at the rest of the top 12 seeds from a year ago, it kind of drives home your point — the SEC is brutal and total losses in that conference are not the same as total losses in other conferences IMO.
We will probably need to have less than 10 losses to get a very good seed, I’d think though.
I think some are putting too much weight on the tournament. Of course we all want a deep run but if this team were to turn it on and get a 2 seed and get upset in the second round, he’s not getting fired. New AD or not.
I think the timeline around Pope should be built around whether you want Oats or whether you want to swing again on Billy D.
If you want want Billy D, you probably don’t wait for a Pope year 4 to make changes, assuming subpar performance.
If you want Oats, you probably want a Pope year 4. Oats’ buyout is $12M and then goes to zero the year after.
Ultimately, and I’ll say this everytime, I still think the best case scenario is Pope crushing it.
If you want want Billy D, you probably don’t wait for a Pope year 4 to make changes, assuming subpar performance.
If you want Oats, you probably want a Pope year 4. Oats’ buyout is $12M and then goes to zero the year after.
Ultimately, and I’ll say this everytime, I still think the best case scenario is Pope crushing it.
Absolutely Don’t want Billy d. The game has passed him by.
Completely agree. The AD will have to be savvy about when a move is made. If you have a coach with 10 losses but a 2 seed and a Sweet 16 kind of like the 2001 Kentucky team, you’re not going to make the move IMO
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Pope has signed some good players and has salvaged the off-season from the brink. Add Kusturica and you have a roster that can rip and run with anyone. We can play small, we can play big, we have guys who can actually get us set up and running sets.
The tournament is kinda the entire point. Oscar’s team and The Reed/Rob team both had pretty good regular seasons. 2 seed, 3 seed. No one remembers that, really. They remember St. Peter’s and Jack Gohlke.