I havent enjoyed the Mark Pope Era...
- Thread starter Anon200440
- Start date
I haven’t either minus a few come back wins, but if he can put together teams that earn us a 1,2 or even a 3 seed in the NCAA, I can learn to hope for the best.
We know OP. U are always negative. U make me look like a Popette. Which i am not.
Thankfully year 3 looks like a massive improvement n product.
Thankfully year 3 looks like a massive improvement n product.
I enjoyed year one, but year two was miserable. If he lands MM and it’s miserable again then it’s not going to work out. Even without him the team “seems” better to me than last year.
Has Pope learned any lessons about substitution patterns and conserving momentum? Can Mark Fox deliver a competent defense? Are any of the current players made of glass?
Has Pope learned any lessons about substitution patterns and conserving momentum? Can Mark Fox deliver a competent defense? Are any of the current players made of glass?
Year one gave me hope and proved he can make some impressive in-game coaching decisions.
Year 2 and early year 3 created concerns about ability to recruit top end talent needed to win it all. You have to have enough top end talent to win at a high rate.
I didn’t enjoy Cal’s last few years even he was a 2 seed with Oscar. Too much mediocrity.
The crazy thing was Cal could recruit, but often looked like he just rolled the ball out and yelled “go!!!” He couldn’t coach against a zone defense! Pope seems struggles to recruit.
Maybe JBatt can talk Cal into returning and being basketball GM!!! Let him run the pre-NBA stuff, then let him stay home and watch Little House on the Prairie during the season. This would be a good gig!!!
Year 2 and early year 3 created concerns about ability to recruit top end talent needed to win it all. You have to have enough top end talent to win at a high rate.
I didn’t enjoy Cal’s last few years even he was a 2 seed with Oscar. Too much mediocrity.
The crazy thing was Cal could recruit, but often looked like he just rolled the ball out and yelled “go!!!” He couldn’t coach against a zone defense! Pope seems struggles to recruit.
Maybe JBatt can talk Cal into returning and being basketball GM!!! Let him run the pre-NBA stuff, then let him stay home and watch Little House on the Prairie during the season. This would be a good gig!!!
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He’s been here two years.
And one of the two years, he accomplished exactly what you asked for in this comment. And didn’t in the other. So not terrible by those standards.
This season has a promising look on paper but Pope is just not a capable coach.
Year one was just like year 2 with a few lucky bounces. Both seasons were unprepared and out shape players that did not get coached up.
Year one had more players that had been coached elsewhere and covered for Pope.
This season looks like we have some of that.
But both seasons the team just quit. I was in MSG the first season for the Ohio St game. That performance was blamed on Chandler’s engagement.
I was in Rupp for the Arkansas game.
I was in Bridgestone for the Oklahoma game we tried to give away and for the Alabama game where we didn’t even show up.
That’s season one. I watched from afar the Mich St game in MSG where we were again a no show.
Again in Bridgestone where we didn’t show against Gonzaga and boo’ed off the floor by UK fans. That was a first and I’ve watched since Rupp.
The complete meltdown at Vandy.
Took a miracle shot and an official not seeing Sendek calling a time out to win the 1st game of the NCAA. Only to get embarrassed yet again in game 2. This was after playing on Wed of the SEC tourney for the first time in history.
And posting the worst 2 year SEC record of any UK coach in history.
How any UK fan forgives the quitting is just beyond my understanding.
Pitino’s first team here went 14-14. They were beloved because they never quit.
Can Pope pull a rabbit out of the hat with experienced players hiding his faults? Sure he could! History says he won’t.
This team will not guard. That’s a given. This team will not rebound. That’s also a given.
Can they just outscore people? Maybe?
There’s 11 seasons of imperial evidence on Pope’s coaching.
If Pope coached the Globetrotters against the Washington Generals he would win 63% of the games.
Year one was just like year 2 with a few lucky bounces. Both seasons were unprepared and out shape players that did not get coached up.
Year one had more players that had been coached elsewhere and covered for Pope.
This season looks like we have some of that.
But both seasons the team just quit. I was in MSG the first season for the Ohio St game. That performance was blamed on Chandler’s engagement.
I was in Rupp for the Arkansas game.
I was in Bridgestone for the Oklahoma game we tried to give away and for the Alabama game where we didn’t even show up.
That’s season one. I watched from afar the Mich St game in MSG where we were again a no show.
Again in Bridgestone where we didn’t show against Gonzaga and boo’ed off the floor by UK fans. That was a first and I’ve watched since Rupp.
The complete meltdown at Vandy.
Took a miracle shot and an official not seeing Sendek calling a time out to win the 1st game of the NCAA. Only to get embarrassed yet again in game 2. This was after playing on Wed of the SEC tourney for the first time in history.
And posting the worst 2 year SEC record of any UK coach in history.
How any UK fan forgives the quitting is just beyond my understanding.
Pitino’s first team here went 14-14. They were beloved because they never quit.
Can Pope pull a rabbit out of the hat with experienced players hiding his faults? Sure he could! History says he won’t.
This team will not guard. That’s a given. This team will not rebound. That’s also a given.
Can they just outscore people? Maybe?
There’s 11 seasons of imperial evidence on Pope’s coaching.
If Pope coached the Globetrotters against the Washington Generals he would win 63% of the games.
Maybe a troll thread but it does bring up an interesting question.
Is anyone happier now vs when Cal is the coach?
Losing to Oakland was embarrassing but losing out on almost every recruitment and getting blown out multiple times a year is more embarrassing imo. Also Cals failures in the tournament were frustrating bc it was unexpected, now I think our expectations are so low with Pope a S16 would be a success
Is anyone happier now vs when Cal is the coach?
Losing to Oakland was embarrassing but losing out on almost every recruitment and getting blown out multiple times a year is more embarrassing imo. Also Cals failures in the tournament were frustrating bc it was unexpected, now I think our expectations are so low with Pope a S16 would be a success
He probably isn't happy with the troll infestation on RR
I absolutely am. Doesn’t mean I’m happy but I was so sick of Cal I wanted him gone. Now did I ever dream it would be Pope? No but I was aware we may not get somebody that would immediately turn it around but I was ready to start the process.
Thanks for the brand new info.
Not many people have because the guy is always trying to find THE player. No one wants to play for him so he’s always trying to get someone and then he hypes him up. And then when the season comes around, we underachieve because Pope spending all of his off-season pursuing recruits up until time for school to start. And I’m OK you know picking up a Mark Mitchell, but I’m not OK that this guy is a maker break type of a player that were pursuing in August.. and for some reason, Pope hasn’t even secured this guy.
Fair enough brother. I wasn't upset with Cal as most but that was mainly bc I was a BCG guy. After that 2013 NIT year I dipped out.
Pope won bigger than Cal in the tourney since Cal couldn’t get us to the sweet 16 ever again
There’s a good chance Pope isn’t the guy for this job or fanbase. But to be fair, I get the impression that your issue has more to do with the fact that you’re a big fan of high school recruiting rankings and projected one-and-done draft positions. And I mean high school recruiting and landing 5-star recruits as a separate element of enjoyment in and of itself.
Nothing wrong with that per se - I get the thrill of the hunt and the excitement that comes with the recruiting hype aspect – but if that is the program’s emphasis then it doesn’t correlate well with FFs and winning NCAA championships. Moreover, it basically means you’re not likely to be too happy with any coach not named John Calipari – because I don’t think Scheyer can currently pull it off anywhere but Duke, and Self/Hurley/Golden are still too interested in chasing another title.
Maybe NIL will result in much less freshmen OAD and thus swing things to where stacking #1 recruiting classes would mean something in regard to winning titles. But until that happens, I don’t think Pope or any coach that comes after him with a primary goal of chasing titles is going to be what you’re looking for.
On the other hand, I think the majority of fans care more about UK being in the hunt for a title more years than not; and as long as that happens they won’t really care if the coach (whoever it is) ever lands another 5-star freshman. To do that you need smart recruiting and roster building, not #1 high school recruiting classes (or necessarily portal classes for that matter).
He lets his teams fall behind by double digits by first tv timeout most games, that’s tough spot for many a team to overcome. I’ll support Pope while he’s coach but I’ll be glad once he has retired or whatever and we have a coach that’s confident in his abilities.
If we don’t make an elite 8 this year he should be canned. Especially if we get Mitchell.
Then you’re not a fan of UK . Appreciate your honesty now FO
It was more fun to watch than the pope era
at least with cals teams they were fun to watch and entertaining, yeah u get the bad losses and early exits but pope gives u those along with snoozefest games
Four key players injured both years. Is that his fault? NO!
That team wasnt doing
fully healthy either lolNo one cares. I really enjoyed his first season, second season less so but only because of the unprecedented amount of injuries. I’m hoping pope can finally catch a break with the injury bug.
Cal has gotten to two since, should have been in an E8 if he didn't blow it his first year. Blowing that game to TTech has gotten a bit buried.
Personally think both are S16 max kind of coaches. Once you get in that E8 range, coaching really matters.
Sorry, I can’t do whatever mental gymnastics you performed to think this was a good response.
Remember that time when one of UK's greatest point gaurds had to hit a jumper to beat Miami, OH at Rupp?
Then how are you a UK fan with these result?
2020-21 9-16
2021-22 1st round NCAAT loss to St Peter's
2022-23 1st round SECT loss to Vandy & 2nd round NCAAT loss to Kansas St.
2023-24 1st round SECT loss to TA&M & 1st round NCAAT loss to Oakland
I want to sincerely apologize for the UK fan base that we got some good news yesterday. I hope you’re doing ok.
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