If we are being honest with ourselves

[Anon200440]

Popes a decent coach but a recruiter, if he could actually get some dudes for once we might have a chance.

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

Thanks for thread 1,267 on Pope's not a good recruiter.

 

[UKCowboys]

Thanks for thread 1,267 on Pope's not a good recruiter.

And its a false narrative. The first year he put together a S16 team starting from scratch in April. Last year he made the mistake of recruiting injured kids. This year he has a good team(IMO)

 

[Maddmatt87]

And its a false narrative. The first year he put together a S16 team starting from scratch in April. Last year he made the mistake of recruiting injured kids. This year he has a good team(IMO)

It’s a hot take I have, but, from my metric of judging a team, year 1 underperformed (probably injuries) and year 2 over performed slightly or close to were I anticipated

 

[Anon200440]

And its a false narrative. The first year he put together a S16 team starting from scratch in April. Last year he made the mistake of recruiting injured kids. This year he has a good team(IMO)

That first year still wasnt a natty roster, last year as well. And this year too

He cant create a roster that can win it all

 

[MidseasonTweak]

Pope has just assembled an impressive squad on paper - his best yet and with the potential addition of Mitchell.

Has Hampton locked in for next year.

 

[BlueBomb]

I'm not convinced he's a good coach. Maybe he is, but he's lost more than 10 games nine times in 11 seasons.

I HOPE he proves his coaching ability this season. And he proves his recruiting ability next season. But, sorry, I'm not holding my breath.

 

[UKCowboys]

That first year still wasnt a natty roster, last year as well. And this year too

He cant create a roster that can win it all

What part of "He started in April with no players" do you not understand? And you don't have the first clue if this is a "natty" roster or not....and if its not, he has good company, because only one team each year does

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Popes a decent coach but a recruiter, if he could actually get some dudes for once we might have a chance.

He's a far better recruiter than coach.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Last year made the mistake a recruiting injured kids. LMAO it’s almost like the guy had to gamble on JQ because HE CANT RECRUIT. That roster was simply poorly constructed when the other guy that is now playing for Georgetown is the other reason people act like that roster failed.

There was nothing special recruiting wise about year one. Coaching wise he did pretty good and we got decent to average results in a S16.

I like the team this year but will be cautious with my hopes based on what history has shown me.

 

[TheBestThereEverWas]

People are extremely underestimating the team he has this year. Quit listening to national pundits and fans of other teams and enjoy the process with the team he has. IF he adds, Mitchell a lot of posters on here have a lot of crow to eat. IF he doesn't, the team has a lot of good to great pieces that can take this team far. At the end of the day, the transfer portal rankings mean very little.

Yaxel Lendeborg​

PJ Haggerty​

Bennett Stirtz
Donovan Dent
Darrion William
Boogie Fland
Ian Jackson
Rob Wright III
Adrian Wooley
Jayden Quaintance
Moustapha Thiam
Jakobi Gillespie​

Silas Demary​

Dedan Thomas Jr.
Bryce Hopkins
Keyshawn Hall
Tucker DeVries
Josh Dix
Isaac McKneely

The top 20 from last year's transfer portal. A lot of hits, but a lot of misses as well. Louisville had 3 top 20 players and didn't even make the sweet sixteen. JQ didn't even play for Kentucky. 4 of the players are back in the portal this year. ​

At the end of the day, no one knows how this team well gel nor any transfer portal heavy team. Enjoy the ride.​

 

[UKgrad22]

That first year team (if healthy) could’ve gone further than S16. People forget Jax and Kerr were out and Lamont was playing with his shoulder hanging on by a thread. Travis Perry was the only PG on the roster…. The team last year was simply Pope overcompensating for deficiencies from the first year but paid a bunch of guys that only cared about money. Also went a full 180 from his coaching philosophies to try and “keep up” with the current SEC. This year is the litmus test. Land Mitchell and that’s the best 3-4-5 in the country outside of Florida.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

I'm not convinced he's a good coach. Maybe he is, but he's lost more than 10 games nine times in 11 seasons.

I HOPE he proves his coaching ability this season. And he proves his recruiting ability next season. But, sorry, I'm not holding my breath.

Yeah I feel like people just say he's a good coach as a way of mitigating the fact that he has definitely not recruited well here or at a level we are used to. Kinda like the opposite of Cal. People would always say "great recruiter, bad coach"............yet I think he was actually a pretty good coach.

But yeah.......what makes him a good coach? I'm not saying he isn't but based on what we've seen so far, that's still very much open to debate here.

To me the biggest indicator is what's the most you can do with what you have. I don't think we've overperformed relative to the talent on our roster previous years under Pope. If anything, I'd make the argument we've underperformed.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

What part of "He started in April with no players" do you not understand? And you don't have the first clue if this is a "natty" roster or not....and if its not, he has good company, because only one team each year does

Sure only one team can win the national title each year. But I think they meant, do we have a roster that can contend for national championships and in that regard it's usually 6 to 10 teams. Obviously it's not realistic to be in that category every year but at UK we should be in that conversation as much as possible and we definitely have not been in recent history.

 

[Catlogic1552]

“If we could just add ________, then we could be________”.
The Pope mantra.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

“If we could just add ________, then we could be________”.
The Pope mantra.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say that. Especially repeatedly.

 

[Skyguyb27]

I'm not convinced he's a good coach. Maybe he is, but he's lost more than 10 games nine times in 11 seasons.

I HOPE he proves his coaching ability this season. And he proves his recruiting ability next season. But, sorry, I'm not holding my breath.

Yeah, I’m with you. Would have been an amazing story to see him do great here and I wish he does. I just don’t think that’s who he is. I think he’s a middle of the pack coach.

 

[Skyguyb27]

That first year team (if healthy) could’ve gone further than S16. People forget Jax and Kerr were out and Lamont was playing with his shoulder hanging on by a thread. Travis Perry was the only PG on the roster…. The team last year was simply Pope overcompensating for deficiencies from the first year but paid a bunch of guys that only cared about money. Also went a full 180 from his coaching philosophies to try and “keep up” with the current SEC. This year is the litmus test. Land Mitchell and that’s the best 3-4-5 in the country outside of Florida.

I disagree with this wholeheartedly. People
love to imagine what if but that team lacked a lot of athleticism. Go back and watch the Arkansas game. That would be the glimpse of the deep run if he had gotten another win. That team was never gonna beat talented and athletic teams. The only reason they beat Puke was because Flagg hadn’t figured things out yet. Just like every top tier talented freshman that even Cal had not named AD or JW.

 

[Anon200440]

What part of "He started in April with no players" do you not understand? And you don't have the first clue if this is a "natty" roster or not....and if its not, he has good company, because only one team each year does

Well since our goal is to win a natty a start would be having a roster that's actually capable of doing so yk

 

[UKgrad22]

I disagree with this wholeheartedly. People
love to imagine what if but that team lacked a lot of athleticism. Go back and watch the Arkansas game. That would be the glimpse of the deep run if he had gotten another win. That team was never gonna beat talented and athletic teams. The only reason they beat Puke was because Flagg hadn’t figured things out yet. Just like every top tier talented freshman that even Cal had not named AD or JW.

We played TN in the S16. We had beaten TN twice before that. I think with a healthy roster we do it again, past that, complete toss up

 

[chroix]

Only one coach a season puts together a championship caliber team. Every single other coach fails at that task.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

We played TN in the S16. We had beaten TN twice before that. I think with a healthy roster we do it again, past that, complete toss up

Plenty of bad losses for sure but to say that team couldn’t beat talented and athletic teams is absurd. If you’ve noticed, these types ALWAYS show grace for the other team’s problems but never for their “favorite” team.

 

[Anon200440]

Only one coach a season puts together a championship caliber team. Every single other coach fails at that task.

So by that logic south carolina basically has a championship roster
Until they dont?

 

[theBlues]

I actually like the talent he's assembled for next year but I'm not sure how good a coach he really is... I'm hoping he can prove he is good enough this year because I want Kentucky to win but I'm more hopeful than confident.

 

[UKgrad22]

Plenty of bad losses for sure but to say that team couldn’t beat talented and athletic teams is absurd. If you’ve noticed, these types ALWAYS show grace for the other team’s problems but never for their “favorite” team.

My thought too, we weren’t athletic or defensively solid, but we beat a slew of teams that tore through competition (Florida, Duke, Gonzaga, etc.). Tournament is when anyone can get hot and at the end of the day, the team that wins is the team that stays the healthiest. We had a chance. I truly believe that

 

[BBNinSCar]

And its a false narrative. The first year he put together a S16 team starting from scratch in April. Last year he made the mistake of recruiting injured kids. This year he has a good team(IMO)

Agree with you completely. If Pope’s first team had a healthy Butler, Robinson and Carr- they had a real shot at a F4. They ended the season ranked #12 with all those injuries.
I believe Pope ends most of the complainers ammo this season.

 

[chroix]

So by that logic south carolina basically has a championship roster
Until they dont?

That doesn't make any sense.

 

[Wildcatmenace]

Popes first year had a team of guys from random schools that nobody had heard of and set the record for most top 15 wins in a year. If they stayed healthy they absolutely could have went to a championship. Last year he overcorrected and it failed. This year is what he’ll be remembered for good or bad. I’m hopeful but I need to see it. Get MM and I’ll be excited. Go cats!

 

[UKCowboys]

Agree with you completely. If Pope’s first team had a healthy Butler, Robinson and Carr- they had a real shot at a F4. They ended the season ranked #12 with all those injuries.
I believe Pope ends most of the complainers ammo this season.

I think so do. I expect a great season and a bang up recruiting class

 

[UKCowboys]

Well since our goal is to win a natty a start would be having a roster that's actually capable of doing so yk

Year one was capable if not for injuries and we don't know what this roster can do yet, so by your own metric he is one for two which ain't bad for two seasons in

 

[UKCowboys]

Sure only one team can win the national title each year. But I think they meant, do we have a roster that can contend for national championships and in that regard it's usually 6 to 10 teams. Obviously it's not realistic to be in that category every year but at UK we should be in that conversation as much as possible and we definitely have not been in recent history.

I think we were his first year and possibly could be this year

 

[UKBB4Ever]

That first year team (if healthy) could’ve gone further than S16. People forget Jax and Kerr were out and Lamont was playing with his shoulder hanging on by a thread. Travis Perry was the only PG on the roster…. The team last year was simply Pope overcompensating for deficiencies from the first year but paid a bunch of guys that only cared about money. Also went a full 180 from his coaching philosophies to try and “keep up” with the current SEC. This year is the litmus test. Land Mitchell and that’s the best 3-4-5 in the country outside of Florida.

No they wouldn't have. You seem to forget that pope's teams just quit.

 

[CATALCOHOLIC]

I disagree with this wholeheartedly. People
love to imagine what if but that team lacked a lot of athleticism. Go back and watch the Arkansas game. That would be the glimpse of the deep run if he had gotten another win. That team was never gonna beat talented and athletic teams. The only reason they beat Puke was because Flagg hadn’t figured things out yet. Just like every top tier talented freshman that even Cal had not named AD or JW.

Carr’s back was bad in that game and Butler didn’t even suit up that game. You evidently don’t watch many UK games. Butler was a huge part of our team. Jax had to play out of position for that game. Jax got hurt later and really hurt that team. If you remember we defeated like a record of top 15 teams that year.

 

[BBNinSCar]

Carr’s back was bad in that game and Butler didn’t even suit up that game. You evidently don’t watch many UK games. Butler was a huge part of our team. Jax had to play out of position for that game. Jax got hurt later and really hurt that team. If you remember we defeated like a record of top 15 teams that year.

I would have loved to see that team’s potential with a healthy Butler and Carr.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Carr’s back was bad in that game and Butler didn’t even suit up that game. You evidently don’t watch many UK games. Butler was a huge part of our team. Jax had to play out of position for that game. Jax got hurt later and really hurt that team. If you remember we defeated like a record of top 15 teams that year.

You got me pal. It wasn’t evident all year they lacked athleticism to compete. I been on this site almost 25 years because I don’t watch that many games. SMH. Some of you don’t stop with the bs excuses. I hope Pope succeeds for the programs sakes but if he flops at least I know I won’t have to hear people like you crying about injuries again. They happen to every team man up and stop stop being a little B.

 

[UKCowboys]

Carr’s back was bad in that game and Butler didn’t even suit up that game. You evidently don’t watch many UK games. Butler was a huge part of our team. Jax had to play out of position for that game. Jax got hurt later and really hurt that team. If you remember we defeated like a record of top 15 teams that year.

Spot on....it would be like UConn that yean having to play without Tristen Newton at the point and having Karaban play with a bad back. No Natty if that's the case

 

[NineIsOnTheWay]

Fast forward to the 8:20 mark and listen until about the 10 minute mark. That basically sums up my opinion of Pope. I'm not sure if Kentucky is a job where the pat on the shoulder stuff is going to bring the best results. You have to have some kind of energy and connection. It's ok to get fired up.

This is coming from his teammate and person that respects him tremendously. DA said he doesn't know it Pope has the ra ra that's he needs. Said he's never been that person even back in the day. When DA dunked on somebody he liked to talk a little trash. That's what you need at a place like Kentucky.

 

[chroix]

So by that logic south carolina basically has a championship roster
Until they dont?

They have a chance to win the championship just like all of the rest of the teams. That does not mean they have a championship roster. Only one team per year has that. They have the potential to be that team, but that does not mean that they are that team. Clemson had the potential to win the natty in football but Indiana did therefor Indiana is the only team that fielded a national championship roster last year. Plenty of other teams could have won. Only one did.

 

[preacherfan]

That first year still wasnt a natty roster, last year as well. And this year too

He cant create a roster that can win it all

I hate the word "natty" almost as much as I hate the word "nuggs." The classic reddit quote was that "only an idiot or a young child would use the word 'nuggs'. Parents, please don't let your children grow up to be idiots."

 

[MonsterMash79]

I'm not convinced he's a good coach. Maybe he is, but he's lost more than 10 games nine times in 11 seasons.

I HOPE he proves his coaching ability this season. And he proves his recruiting ability next season. But, sorry, I'm not holding my breath.

Oh…. He has no choice but to succeed, or he’s canned.