Proud of our coach

[Ridinwithpope]

So proud of Pope for how he has overcome what seems to be one of the longest and most frustrating offseasons in history. So many times the man was ridiculed, told he couldn’t recruit, and that he was a complete joke. Us Kentucky fans really need to just let the man cook.

He was bashed for losing stokes, but pivoted and got Milan. He was able to get Malachi back from a first round projection. He chose the right number 1 option in Mitchell and now Kohler is ineligible. He got presumably two great guards in Wilkins and zoom. My guy knows what he is doing. Yes, last year was terrible; however without injury, his first team might have made an elite 8 or final 4. Dude knows how to put together a roster. Now he has us as a legitimate final 4 contender again. Super happy day for us Kentucky fans and I think Pope deserves some huge credit.. even from the haters.
Let us pray like never before that we can stay healthy this year.
Go Big Blue!!!

 

[Cats_2010]

I’ll withhold any further judgment to see how well the team performs. Have to have a UK like season this year regardless how the roster turns out or injuries for that matter.

 

[Major_Tom]

It's nice that Pope gets some praise - I think some is deserved. Personally, this fan is waiting to see how this season unfolds before judging or getting too excited.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

I’ll withhold any further judgment to see how well the team performs. Have to have a UK like season this year regardless how the roster turns out or injuries for that matter.

We do need a UK like season.. no doubt. But I think our schedule allows for that to happen. If in the portal.. Malachi and Mitchell would be top 10 and he got Milan arguably the number 1. I just think the guy deserves some roses for getting the talent he has gotten when people have crucified time and time again saying that he can’t recruit.

 

[Cats4321]

With the money we can throw at players in this NIL era, recruiting shouldn't be a problem for any UK basketball coach going forward. Still have to get results though.

With that said, I really like this team (if Mitchell plays) and have very high expectations. I just won't be making any excuses if this year isn't exceptional. Fringe top 25 all year and a Sweet 16 isn't going to cut it. Not really a final 4 or bust thing, but we need to look like legitimate contender most of the season.

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

He hasn't done anything. Recall everyone's feelings on the roster a year ago, it's meaningless.

 

[moses1uk]

He hasn't done anything. Recall everyone's feelings on the roster a year ago, it's meaningless.

He didn’t lose to mid majors in the first round of the tourney every year like Cal did

 

[Ridinwithpope]

It's nice that Pope gets some praise - I think some is deserved. Personally, this fan is waiting to see how this season unfolds before judging or getting too excited.

We are Kentucky fans.. we rush towards excitement. It’s what we do best. We are going crazy for football and for a team that will be lucky to win 6 games. Why not act irrational and excited for a team that looks like a final four contender?

With the money we can throw at players in this NIL era, recruiting shouldn't be a problem for any UK basketball coach going forward. Still have to get results though.

With that said, I really like this team (if Mitchell plays) and have very high expectations. I just won't be making any excuses if this year isn't exceptional. Fringe top 25 all year and a Sweet 16 isn't going to cut it. Not really a final 4 or bust thing, but we need to look like legitimate contender most of the season.

I agree with that as well. SEC is loaded again and will be a gauntlet. I think we do it this year. As bad as last year was.. we were one game away from a double bye. You beat Auburn, Missouri or Georgia at home you get that double bye and finish fourth in the conference. This team has wayyy more talent coming in. We need to be ecstatic and pumped for this season

 

[Ridinwithpope]

He hasn't done anything. Recall everyone's feelings on the roster a year ago, it's meaningless.

He also didn’t lose to an Oakland or St. Peter’s after having a “great” regular season like cal did

 

[Catphright23]

louisville cat fan loves cal, don't talk about his boy

 

[AustinTXCat]

4 pages. +/- 2

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

He didn’t lose to mid majors in the first round of the tourney every year like Cal did

He came within a half court miracle shot, then he got demolished 2 days later by a team without their best player.

 

[Major_Tom]

We are Kentucky fans.. we rush towards excitement. It’s what we do best. We are going crazy for football and for a team that will be lucky to win 6 games. Why not act irrational and excited for a team that looks like a final four contender?

I agree with that as well. SEC is loaded again and will be a gauntlet. I think we do it this year. As bad as last year was.. we were one game away from a double bye. You beat Auburn, Missouri or Georgia at home you get that double bye and finish fourth in the conference. This team has wayyy more talent coming in. We need to be ecstatic and pumped for this season

You do you boo

 

[Catlogic1552]

Kohler is not ineligible.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

He came within a half court miracle shot, then he got demolished 2 days later by a team without their best player.

I’ll take a half court miracle winning shot over a loss to those pathetic teams

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Sorry thought this was a Stein thread

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Pope has to win something that matters. The same losers on here keep stating the obvious hes been better than Cals last 4 years. Big deal and such a pathetic low bar.

He needs to be better than Cals first 3 seasons. This is UK not BYU.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

Kohler is

Pope has to win something that matters. The same losers on here keep stating the obvious hes been better than Cals last 4 years. Big deal and such a pathetic low bar.

He needs to be better than Cals first 3 seasons. This is UK not BYU.

Yes, he does need that but he also needs some health. That first team would have won more games and made an elite 8.. maybe final 4. Look, a lot has to be done to make up for last year, but you can’t tell me that this team does not have a legitimate chance to win BIG. With as much as we worship wall and boogie.. that team barely made an elite 8. As much as we loved maxey… that team struggled. As much as we loved ulis.. that team lost to Indiana in the round of 32. I truly believe that this team has a strong shot on paper.. that’s all you can hope for before the season starts. And a title contender roster is a lot better than MANY believed pope would be able to accomplish.

 

[RunninRichie]

40-0

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Pope has to win something that matters. The same losers on here keep stating the obvious hes been better than Cals last 4 years. Big deal and such a pathetic low bar.

He needs to be better than Cals first 3 seasons. This is UK not BYU.

You have been stating the same garbage all summer. The two most difficult schedules in school history and dealing with an outrageous amount of key injuries must be factored into any fair evaluation.

Better than Cal's first three seasons at UK is a rare accomplishment even here.

 

[cawoodsct]

I’m super proud of Mark

 

[jeffky]

Not ready for lighting candles and kum ba yah's yet ,but this roster on paper is very exciting .

 

[Haggin_Hall_1983]

He hasn't done anything. Recall everyone's feelings on the roster a year ago, it's meaningless.

Beat a LOT of top 20 ranked teams- with injured starters.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Not ready for lighting candles and kum ba yah's yet ,but this roster on paper is very exciting .

With Mitchell that is a really good starting five. In addition our bench would be really strong.

 

[BluWildcatz]

40-0

 

[Starrcade]

40-0

I heard Oatz was taking his new bride to a playground for their honeymoon..........with swing sets and a hopscotch area so she could play.

"Pope knows it's over" (his tenure) early last year you posted. What a laughing stock.

 

[BBNinSCar]

I’m super excited about this team. My only hesitation is that I thought we had a great team this time last year.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

You have been stating the same garbage all summer. The two most difficult schedules in school history and dealing with an outrageous amount of key injuries must be factored into any fair evaluation.

Better than Cal's first three seasons at UK is a rare accomplishment even here.

Yet people like u and even coach pope rah rah better than last 4 seasons of cal. Who cares.

And cal never gets the injury excuse for his tenure. Injuries probably cost UK another couple titles under cal and not to mention the awful officiating n close ncaa losses.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Pope has to win something that matters. The same losers on here keep stating the obvious hes been better than Cals last 4 years. Big deal and such a pathetic low bar.

He needs to be better than Cals first 3 seasons. This is UK not BYU.

You calling somebody a loser is just rich. All you do is ***** and moan.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I'm pleased with the job this recruiting cycle, but why would I be proud of Pope? I had nothing to do with it.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

So proud of Pope for how he has overcome what seems to be one of the longest and most frustrating offseasons in history. So many times the man was ridiculed, told he couldn’t recruit, and that he was a complete joke. Us Kentucky fans really need to just let the man cook.

He was bashed for losing stokes, but pivoted and got Milan. He was able to get Malachi back from a first round projection. He chose the right number 1 option in Mitchell and now Kohler is ineligible. He got presumably two great guards in Wilkins and zoom. My guy knows what he is doing. Yes, last year was terrible; however without injury, his first team might have made an elite 8 or final 4. Dude knows how to put together a roster. Now he has us as a legitimate final 4 contender again. Super happy day for us Kentucky fans and I think Pope deserves some huge credit.. even from the haters.
Let us pray like never before that we can stay healthy this year.
Go Big Blue!!!

You can be as proud as you want of a coach that puts teams on the floor that just quit. Recruiting has never been his problem. that's just one excuse. Coaching the game is his problem. The quitting is the straw that broke the camel's back.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

You can be as proud as you want of a coach that puts teams on the floor that just quit. Recruiting has never been his problem. that's just one excuse. Coaching the game is his problem. The quitting is the straw that broke the camel's back.

Yes, last year sucked and the team struggled in the beginning. However I remember quite a few teams before Pope even got here that quit in certain games. I remember us getting killed against Duke, Kansas, and other teams as well. In fact I remember us losing to mid majors at HOME!!! Those coaches suck too right? I remember tubby, Pitino, and cal all getting blown out at some point in their careers. By your logic, I guess they suck too

 

[Starrcade]

You calling somebody a loser is just rich. All you do is ***** and moan.

He's one of the absolute worst. Calls people names yet never graduated from his diapers. Takes all kinds.

 

[Starrcade]

You can be as proud as you want of a coach that puts teams on the floor that just quit. Recruiting has never been his problem. that's just one excuse. Coaching the game is his problem. The quitting is the straw that broke the camel's back.

You're still trying to trick people into thinking your're anything but a troll, lmao. What a waste of your time.

 

[UKCowboys]

So proud of Pope for how he has overcome what seems to be one of the longest and most frustrating offseasons in history. So many times the man was ridiculed, told he couldn’t recruit, and that he was a complete joke. Us Kentucky fans really need to just let the man cook.

He was bashed for losing stokes, but pivoted and got Milan. He was able to get Malachi back from a first round projection. He chose the right number 1 option in Mitchell and now Kohler is ineligible. He got presumably two great guards in Wilkins and zoom. My guy knows what he is doing. Yes, last year was terrible; however without injury, his first team might have made an elite 8 or final 4. Dude knows how to put together a roster. Now he has us as a legitimate final 4 contender again. Super happy day for us Kentucky fans and I think Pope deserves some huge credit.. even from the haters.
Let us pray like never before that we can stay healthy this year.
Go Big Blue!!!

Well said

 

[UKCowboys]

40-0

You run around dogging the Pope and the team out every chance you get, post a laughing emoji anytime someone says something positive, and pile on every UK hating post on the board. If there was every a closet Duke fan on this board, you are it

 

[PooPooPeePeePoo]

Yet people like u and even coach pope rah rah better than last 4 seasons of cal. Who cares.

And cal never gets the injury excuse for his tenure. Injuries probably cost UK another couple titles under cal and not to mention the awful officiating n close ncaa losses.

This. All these Pope pumpers are hilarious trying to use injuries as an excuse but Cal lost a plethora of big time guys to injuries and it’s never brought up.

 

[Runt#1969]

This is his best roster since he has been here. He's bringing in players that can compete for a title now. He's overcome a lot of negative media and negative fan criticism. Hanging tough, staying positive, engaged with the fans ( unlike his immediate predecessor).

I approve of all this, and the results, well, he's done as well as I could've expected him to do under the circumstances. I will not fault him for much. He took less talented rosters than what CCC had at his end further than Cal could.

But legitimate criticisms have its' place, I think he would be the first to say so. That is still FAR BETTER than anything CCC's ego could apparently endure.

It was always going to be tough to transition, but he's put himself in the position to make a lot of people eat crow. I hope he does. But he still has to prove it all on the court. Only then will he be truly vindicated.

He's doing his job. Let the man some room to breathe and for the team to get to work without a negative drumbeat and constant moaning over every little thing. Try giving him some positive support. Can't hurt.

I'm excited to see what they can do this season. Should be a breath of fresh air if they can bring things back to a success around here.

We shall see.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

This. All these Pope pumpers are hilarious trying to use injuries as an excuse but Cal lost a plethora of big time guys to injuries and it’s never brought up.

Because Cal had all the talent in the world and would still lose!! Besides nerlens in 13 and poythress in 15.. what other major injuries were there? Pope has had multiple guys out from the same team.. cal only had 1 guy out.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Because Cal had all the talent in the world and would still lose!! Besides nerlens in 13 and poythress in 15.. what other major injuries were there? Pope has had multiple guys out from the same team.. cal only had 1 guy out.

WCS injury hurt us in 2014 right?