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Sounds like Hampton might be joining this yrs squad

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ScWildcat3

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Eagles_Ball_69 said:
Pope has an 11 yr coaching history. He's never won a conference title, conference tourney title, and has three NCAAT wins total. In a results driven business, I find it hard to define that as "very good". I think he's finished second in his respective conference four times. The other seven seasons have been fifth or worse. Again, hard for me to define that as very good. I get "very good" is subjective, but still.

Guys that win conferences and conference tourney titles are at the far top of the list. To be very good, that's what Pope has to do. If I name a bunch of guys, all you're going to do is use extremely small samples or "their first two years" to disprove it. Mark Pope has to win and people have to stop "Popesplaining" his "successes". Then you can start talking about him being a "very good" coach.

I'll leave you with this...If UK fires Pope at the end of the season...let's say it's a season where the team has some version of the first two years record and a second round NCAAT exit...Who hires him? What kind of job do you think he would get? Tubby left for Minny. Clyde got fired and went to TTU. Cal bounced for Arky. Do you think Pope could get a job equal to that? I, personally, do not.
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Do I think pope could get a job equal to a Minnesota yes or a Texas tech that Billy went to yes. Not the same tech as it is now. They were awful back then.

Pope is still learning and unfortunately he’s learning at a school that isn’t patient nor should they be. But cal stuck us with bad timing and he’s who we got at the time. We have a different coach if cal left earlier.

I think he can be a very successful coach at Kentucky and win a title. Will he buy himself the time to build it is the question. I’m pulling for him hard because I like him as a person and a former UK player. It’s obvious losing eats at him and that’s good. It forces him to get uncomfortable and adapt.
 
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FactsOrOpinions

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ScWildcat3 said:
Do I think pope could get a job equal to a Minnesota yes or a Texas tech that Billy went to yes. Not the same tech as it is now. They were awful back then.

Pope is still learning and unfortunately he’s learning at a school that isn’t patient nor should they be. But cal stuck us with bad timing and he’s who we got at the time. We have a different coach if cal left earlier.

I think he can be a very successful coach at Kentucky and win a title. Will he buy himself the time to build it is the question. I’m pulling for him hard because I like him as a person and a former UK player. It’s obvious losing eats at him and that’s good. It forces him to get uncomfortable and adapt.
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I don't think there's a single coach that enjoys losing so I won't say Pope does. But idk how you can sit there and do nothing on some of these blow out losses. Just stand there and give shoulder pats.

I will say I feel like he gets more pissed at BBN criticizing him over awful play more than he dislikes losing. He seems kind of the same as Cal when it comes to being snobby towards the fanbase.

The guy at the introductory press conference isnt the same guy that coached last year.
 
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ScWildcat3

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FactsOrOpinions said:
I don't think there's a single coach that enjoys losing so I won't say Pope does. But idk how you can sit there and do nothing on some of these blow out losses. Just stand there and give shoulder pats.

I will say I feel like he gets more pissed at BBN criticizing him over awful play more than he dislikes losing. He seems kind of the same as Cal when it comes to being snobby towards the fanbase.

The guy at the introductory press conference isnt the same guy that coached last year.
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What was he supposed to do when they were getting blown out? He tried playing different people. Tried getting techs. They just weren’t good enough. Only thing you can is what he did in the offseason. He got rid of a few coaches and a lot of the players most say were problems. Like I said he’s still relatively a young coach in years it’s just he is at a place that isn’t going to wait for him to figure it out. This is a make or break year.
 
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FactsOrOpinions

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ScWildcat3 said:
What was he supposed to do when they were getting blown out? He tried playing different people. Tried getting techs. They just weren’t good enough. Only thing you can is what he did in the offseason. He got rid of a few coaches and a lot of the players most say were problems. Like I said he’s still relatively a young coach in years it’s just he is at a place that isn’t going to wait for him to figure it out. This is a make or break year.
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He supposed to go crazy and start punching players in the teeth and throwing chairs across the court.

I'm only kidding and I agree I guess he tried some things but I personally would of liked to see some more fire in the moment however he chose to show it. He's just not a fiery guy. I'm sure he loves UK and is passionate about winning he just doesn't have the backbone for this stuff imo. Or UK at least.

I actually think he's a good coach and basketball mind. But this UK job is 1 of 1.

And as I always say..I hope he succeeds and makes my comments completely false. I'll choose him proving me wrong 10 out of 10 times
 
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UKCowboys

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Eagles_Ball_69 said:
Good lord dude. I'm simply replying so you will continue to prove how little you know about basketball. Answer a couple questions for me.

Is getting a stop defense?

List the ways to get a stop without getting a defensive rebound?
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Steal, blocked shot, travel, time clock expires, charge, moving screen...it's like explaining basketball to a 4 year old lol
 
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ScWildcat3

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FactsOrOpinions said:
He supposed to go crazy and start punching players in the teeth and throwing chairs across the court.

I'm only kidding and I agree I guess he tried some things but I personally would of liked to see some more fire in the moment however he chose to show it. He's just not a fiery guy. I'm sure he loves UK and is passionate about winning he just doesn't have the backbone for this stuff imo. Or UK at least.

I actually think he's a good coach and basketball mind. But this UK job is 1 of 1.

And as I always say..I hope he succeeds and makes my comments completely false. I'll choose him proving me wrong 10 out of 10 times
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Haha yea get it for sure. I’m a coach myself and sometimes just not much you can do publicly. He did a lot of uncharacteristic things last year though including calling out refs and getting techs.

But you are correct it’s a 1 of 1 job and he’s still finding his place in coaching. Just hope he finds it this year and takes off from here on out.

I don’t worry about the fiery stuff. A lot do very successful coaches aren’t as animated as say a Nate oats.
 
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Beatle Bum

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We have a spot. Hampton would have greatly benefited by the summer session if he planned to reclassify. Getting here for fall practice will place him behind the other players in many ways. I doubt he could be an early contributor but could offer depth come SEC play. The year should be focused on getting experience for year 2. If UK needs a 15th player, it seems to me someone for the frontcourt and paint makes more sense. If that person does not exist (what happened to the big from Europe?), letting Ryan learn and grow seems like a good use of that last spot.
 
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ScWildcat3

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Beatle Bum said:
We have a spot. Hampton would have greatly benefited by the summer session if he planned to reclassify. Getting here for fall practice will place him behind the other players in many ways. I doubt he could be an early contributor but could offer depth come SEC play. The year should be focused on getting experience for year 2. If UK needs a 15th player, it seems to me someone for the frontcourt and paint makes more sense. If that person does not exist (what happened to the big from Europe?), letting Ryan learn and grow seems like a good use of that last spot.
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I do believe that is the plan. He would’ve already reclassed and been at UK if UK staff didn’t push back on it. Front court at the backup 5 is still a concern just because of Franck being injury prone. If we don’t fill it the likelihood is high Hampton takes that spot.
 
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FactsOrOpinions

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ScWildcat3 said:
Haha yea get it for sure. I’m a coach myself and sometimes just not much you can do publicly. He did a lot of uncharacteristic things last year though including calling out refs and getting techs.

But you are correct it’s a 1 of 1 job and he’s still finding his place in coaching. Just hope he finds it this year and takes off from here on out.

I don’t worry about the fiery stuff. A lot do very successful coaches aren’t as animated as say a Nate oats.
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Basically this is all I ask of Pope

 
K

KYFOSSIL

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Eagles_Ball_69 said:
No, but he’s better than Kam or Hawthorne. And I honestly believe Mom plays more 4 than 3. Partly because I also believe the 4 options aren’t going to be very good either. McBride is super limited athletically. N’Diaye is another of the Euros we have zero clue what we’re getting. But most don’t seem to be physically ready.
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Eagles_Ball_69 said:
I struggled to watch Otega play. He was frustrating as all get out sometimes. He was also the best player on the floor for the Cats almost every single game he was here. The fact people think some sophomore that played at Furman last year is DEFINITELY going to be better than that...it's just mind-boggling to me.
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I don't think it's mind-boggling since it's more about how does he fit and roll with the team than comparing side-by-side skill sets. I was a big fan of double O's but at times he could take it to Team right out of the game.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

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ScWildcat3 said:
Do I think pope could get a job equal to a Minnesota yes or a Texas tech that Billy went to yes. Not the same tech as it is now. They were awful back then.

Pope is still learning and unfortunately he’s learning at a school that isn’t patient nor should they be. But cal stuck us with bad timing and he’s who we got at the time. We have a different coach if cal left earlier.

I think he can be a very successful coach at Kentucky and win a title. Will he buy himself the time to build it is the question. I’m pulling for him hard because I like him as a person and a former UK player. It’s obvious losing eats at him and that’s good. It forces him to get uncomfortable and adapt.
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Losing eats at any coach at this level.

11 years in and he’s still learning? And Mark Fox is his right hand? I don’t disagree. Just pointing out how awful that is. It’s a hard pill to swallow.

Difference between you and I. You value he played here and what kind of a guy he is. It probably clouds your viewpoint. I get it. I have a soft spot for Clyde. Thing is, I couldn’t care any less if the coach played at UK. Or that he’s a good guy. I just need a stone cold killer that can coach.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

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ScWildcat3 said:
What was he supposed to do when they were getting blown out? He tried playing different people. Tried getting techs. They just weren’t good enough. Only thing you can is what he did in the offseason. He got rid of a few coaches and a lot of the players most say were problems. Like I said he’s still relatively a young coach in years it’s just he is at a place that isn’t going to wait for him to figure it out. This is a make or break year.
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Stop. 11 years isn’t a “relatively young coach”.

Cal had won 7 conferences been to an E8 and FF.

Nate Oats has been a head coach 11 years too. How’s he doing?

11 yrs isn’t young at all.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

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KYFOSSIL said:
I don't think it's mind-boggling since it's more about how does he fit and roll with the team than comparing side-by-side skill sets. I was a big fan of double O's but at times he could take it to Team right out of the game.
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The mind boggling part is people just being convinced some dude can Furman can make the same type of impact. He played at effing Furman last year. Ansley Almonor averaged nearly the same numbers at whatever low level conference school he was at. I have no doubt Wilkens is better than AA…but I’m not just going to buy he can make the impact Otega did. That’s just wild.

Im fairly confident in saying if Wilkens is the best player, much the same as I felt about Otega, your team just isn’t going to be really good.
 
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ScWildcat3

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No
Eagles_Ball_69 said:
The mind boggling part is people just being convinced some dude can Furman can make the same type of impact. He played at effing Furman last year. Ansley Almonor averaged nearly the same numbers at whatever low level conference school he was at. I have no doubt Wilkens is better than AA…but I’m not just going to buy he can make the impact Otega did. That’s just wild.

Im fairly confident in saying if Wilkens is the best player, much the same as I felt about Otega, your team just isn’t going to be really good.
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Nobody compared them 2
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

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SenseMaker_Cats said:
These things? “Steal, blocked shot, travel, time clock expires, charge, moving screen...”

Probably more than defensive rebounds a lot of games.
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I’d be willing to place a huge bet against that. Btw…you still have to gain possession of the block somehow. Either by REBOUNDING or…
 
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