I think he’s far worse than BCG. You never saw a BCG team just quit. It’s a staple with Pope’s teams.Not worse than coach g. Not even close.
But hes been pretty average at best.
What does Pope run?Pope is 1-1 against St. Cal lol. What's Pitino's record against St. Cal? Not very good. I can guarantee you 1 thing, Pope has forgotten more about offense than St. Cal will ever know, that man runs 3 plays, floppy action, screen for the guard to drive & pick & roll, once you stop those he's clueless. How many times did we ever see his team score after he draws up a play out of a timeout? Hardly ever. Pope's teams usually score after he draws up a play.
I'm glad Cal came here & won us a title but he was a recruiter more than a coach, still is, once coaches started using a modern offense & he pissed off Phil Knight at Nike, his days were numbered. If we're being honest, had it not been for Anthony Davis, he wouldn't even have the 1 title. All of that talent here & only 1 title. His coaching is exactly why.
Is Mark Pope the answer, I'd have to say a hard "no" but this is the best team he's ever assembled & I think they'll be a lot better than people are saying, he's never had guards that can create shots for others, now he has 2 of them.
Right now I'm more excited about football, we have a bright young offensive mind of a HC & as a season ticket holder I'm excited.
BCG inherited a 12 loss team that lost its top 6 scorers. Yes Tubby recruited PP but couldn’t get him. BCG got him. Even though Tubby tried to recruit him to Minn.Billy Gillispie’s best players in 2008
Patrick Patterson - Wasn’t he recruited by Smith?
Ramey Bradley- Tubby Smith returnee
Joe Crawford - Tubby Smith returnee
Derrick Jasper - Tubby Smith returnee
Perry Stevenson - Tubby Smith returnee
Jodie Meeks - Tubby Smith returnee
Ramon Harris - Tubby Smith returnee
Maybe it felt as though BCG was left with a bare cupboard but Id contest that. Bradley, Meeks and Crawford were very good players. Jasper, Stevenson and Harris were quality role players. No reason to have been an 11 seed with that team, even with the Meeks injury.
BCG got beat 93-52 by Vandy but you believe they gave their all for 40 minutes?I think he’s far worse than BCG. You never saw a BCG team just quit. It’s a staple with Pope’s teams.
Neither should have ever been hired at UK.
This is totally inaccurate. We only lost two of the top 6 scorers with one of them being Perry at 8.4 ppg. Do you bother to look things up or just make it up as you go? There is zero chance Tubby would have had a losing season with that group.BCG inherited a 12 loss team that lost its top 6 scorers. Yes Tubby recruited PP but couldn’t get him. BCG got him. Even though Tubby tried to recruit him to Minn.
Tubby would have had a losing season had he stayed.
BCG was getting ready to start rolling if Mama Legion had have minded her own damn business.BCG inherited a 12 loss team that lost its top 6 scorers. Yes Tubby recruited PP but couldn’t get him. BCG got him. Even though Tubby tried to recruit him to Minn.
Tubby would have had a losing season had he stayed.
Which appears to be the same grade you received in grammar.Mark pope gets a F
Very fair take and I agree. I hope to be proven wrong though.The fairest take on Pope is that his imprint on being successful is yet undetermined, but he gives absolutely zero vibes that he's going to get this thing where it needs to be to satisfy the fanbase. It's a potentially bad situation and could be like Mike Tomlin where he treads water just enough to hold on, meanwhile the credibility of the program waters down.
At least be fair, the SEC was a joke for most of its existence. Only the last 3 seasons has it been anything more than average.Other than the Covid season, you’d have to go back to 1989 to see UK finish lower than fourth in the conference.
Pope has finished 7th twice. He’s 20-16 in conference.
Yup, you're right, the 2009-2020 version of Cal, is >>>>> Pope, but the 21-24 version of Cal, was a complete joke. I would rather have Pope over whoever the clown was that we had from 20/21-2024.Pope gets down double digits almost every game against a team with a pulse. Thats not good coaching.
And Cal had some good coaching moments here. People like u ignore what he did n 2011 after the ncaa screwed UK and took a basically 6 man team to the final four. And in 2014 when he took a bunch of freshmen and poy to the title game after losing wcs to injury.
He definitely should have won more than one title but we also got screwed n some close ncaa tourney losses to unc, ucinn and Wisconsin by the refs. Plus the key injuries in 2014 and 2015. Those injuries prevented a couple titles.
Yet people like u focus on Popes injuries knowing we weren't winning anything thst matters even healthy.
I cant believe we actually having fans pumping pope up over a guy who won a title, 4 final fours and 7 elite 8s.
You should go watch the Gardner Webb game again.I think he’s far worse than BCG. You never saw a BCG team just quit. It’s a staple with Pope’s teams.
Neither should have ever been hired at UK.
Lot of folks here just don't like Pope the leader. You can't totally dislike him as a person or because of his results yet, as it's only been two seasons and he got UK to the S16 Y1. That's as good as you could have hoped. He laid an egg Y2, but under tough conditions.You should go watch the Gardner Webb game again.
In fact, that entire team wanted to quit. Joe and Ramel have openly talked about wanting to quit many times.
You simply don't know what you are talking about, or you just don't remember.
We get it, weak minded people like you are trying so hard to make Pope seem worse than what he is. You look like an idiot when you say Pope is worse than BCG. BCG was an absolute joke that got ran out of here after 2 years. He went to an NIT playing an incredibly weak schedule, while Pope has played a top 3 and top 4 SOS, made the tournament both seasons and has a sweet 16. BCG never won a game that would make Pope’s top 10.
When you look back at Cal - the reality is he went from an Elite 8 to 2 COVID years which you have to give a full pass on. Then three early exits (1st, 2nd, 1st). He was pushed out for those three years.Pope is 1-1 against St. Cal lol. What's Pitino's record against St. Cal? Not very good. I can guarantee you 1 thing, Pope has forgotten more about offense than St. Cal will ever know, that man runs 3 plays, floppy action, screen for the guard to drive & pick & roll, once you stop those he's clueless. How many times did we ever see his team score after he draws up a play out of a timeout? Hardly ever. Pope's teams usually score after he draws up a play.
I'm glad Cal came here & won us a title but he was a recruiter more than a coach, still is, once coaches started using a modern offense & he pissed off Phil Knight at Nike, his days were numbered. If we're being honest, had it not been for Anthony Davis, he wouldn't even have the 1 title. All of that talent here & only 1 title. His coaching is exactly why.
Is Mark Pope the answer, I'd have to say a hard "no" but this is the best team he's ever assembled & I think they'll be a lot better than people are saying, he's never had guards that can create shots for others, now he has 2 of them.t
Right now I'm more excited about football, we have a bright young offensive mind of a HC & as a season ticket holder I'm excited.
Yeah, I agree on all points. My only hope is MP figures it out and becomes the guy that is capable of winning big here.Lot of folks here just don't like Pope the leader. You can't totally dislike him as a person or because of his results yet, as it's only been two seasons and he got UK to the S16 Y1. That's as good as you could have hoped. He laid an egg Y2, but under tough conditions.
I think most people don't like the man because his leadership traits are uninspiring and fans project themselves onto players they know want to be lead by a real leader. Leadership does not come naturally to everyone, it's a unique skill. When you have a good one, it brings team/fanbase together. When you have what feels like fake version of one, it makes everyone a bit limp.
He feels more like a guy that should be the head of the cheerleading team than the basketball team as of now, from a leadership perspective.
There just haven't been many successful goofy coaches in the history of sports. Leaders tend to be alphas, stern, serious, intense, competitive and professional. Pope is....goofy.
Cal is a bit different, but his niche is being the best salesman in CBB history. If he wasn't a coach, he'd be selling cars.
This is a great post, one of the better ones I have read regarding pope. Well done!!!!Lot of folks here just don't like Pope the leader. You can't totally dislike him as a person or because of his results yet, as it's only been two seasons and he got UK to the S16 Y1. That's as good as you could have hoped. He laid an egg Y2, but under tough conditions.
I think most people don't like the man because his leadership traits are uninspiring and fans project themselves onto players they know want to be lead by a real leader. Leadership does not come naturally to everyone, it's a unique skill. When you have a good one, it brings team/fanbase together. When you have what feels like fake version of one, it makes everyone a bit limp.
He feels more like a guy that should be the head of the cheerleading team than the basketball team as of now, from a leadership perspective.
There just haven't been many successful goofy coaches in the history of sports. Leaders tend to be alphas, stern, serious, intense, competitive and professional. Pope is....goofy.
Cal is a bit different, but his niche is being the best salesman in CBB history. If he wasn't a coach, he'd be selling cars.
TBF myself and others don't really care about "the best team Mark Pope has ever assembled." Because that's still a sweet sixteen team and a middle of the pack SEC finish.Pope is 1-1 against St. Cal lol. What's Pitino's record against St. Cal? Not very good. I can guarantee you 1 thing, Pope has forgotten more about offense than St. Cal will ever know, that man runs 3 plays, floppy action, screen for the guard to drive & pick & roll, once you stop those he's clueless. How many times did we ever see his team score after he draws up a play out of a timeout? Hardly ever. Pope's teams usually score after he draws up a play.
I'm glad Cal came here & won us a title but he was a recruiter more than a coach, still is, once coaches started using a modern offense & he pissed off Phil Knight at Nike, his days were numbered. If we're being honest, had it not been for Anthony Davis, he wouldn't even have the 1 title. All of that talent here & only 1 title. His coaching is exactly why.
Is Mark Pope the answer, I'd have to say a hard "no" but this is the best team he's ever assembled & I think they'll be a lot better than people are saying, he's never had guards that can create shots for others, now he has 2 of them.
Right now I'm more excited about football, we have a bright young offensive mind of a HC & as a season ticket holder I'm excited.
Did Pope already fail in year 3?Program is dead under Pope. I will still watch. But 0 hope that we are winning anything.
That doesn't really matter though. The SEC might have been a "joke," but Kentucky certainly wasn't. Now under Pope, Kentucky could easily be lumped into "the SEC is a joke" group of teams.At least be fair, the SEC was a joke for most of its existence. Only the last 3 seasons has it been anything more than average.
If you're going to make a statement, at least post all the facts.
He practiced them incredibly hard that day, their legs were shot. The guy was legit nuts and self medicated. I am not bullish on Pope but BCG was rock bottom.You should go watch the Gardner Webb game again.
In fact, that entire team wanted to quit. Joe and Ramel have openly talked about wanting to quit many times.
You simply don't know what you are talking about, or you just don't remember.
We get it, weak minded people like you are trying so hard to make Pope seem worse than what he is. You look like an idiot when you say Pope is worse than BCG. BCG was an absolute joke that got ran out of here after 2 years. He went to an NIT playing an incredibly weak schedule, while Pope has played a top 3 and top 4 SOS, made the tournament both seasons and has a sweet 16. BCG never won a game that would make Pope’s top 10.
He scores out of timeouts when he draws up.plays, something Cal was clueless about. His offenses have always been rated pretty high & they score when he has shooting.What does Pope run?
zoom?
the same offense everyone learns in the 8th grade.
Pope is not a good coach. He is mediocre on offense and can’t spell defense or rebounding.
Probably an F-Which appears to be the same grade you received in grammar.
You seriously think this year's team is middle of the pack in the SEC? Florida is the only team that on paper looks clearly better. Exactly, it's all on paper right now & no one knows. Tennessee & Arkansas nor Alabama look any better than we do. Wait till the SEC media days & you'll see where people in the media rank us in conference.TBF myself and others don't really care about "the best team Mark Pope has ever assembled." Because that's still a sweet sixteen team and a middle of the pack SEC finish.
Having Pope as the coach right now is extremely dangerous for the brand/image and future of Kentucky basketball and I don't think people have really grasped that yet.
There are 5 or 6 rosters as good "on paper" in the SEC and most importantly, Pope consistently loses double digit games and finishes in the middle of the conference.You seriously think this year's team is middle of the pack in the SEC? Florida is the only team that on paper looks clearly better. Exactly, it's all on paper right now & no one knows. Tennessee & Arkansas nor Alabama look any better than we do. Wait till the SEC media days & you'll see where people in the media rank us in conference.
(Not a ranking)You seriously think this year's team is middle of the pack in the SEC? Florida is the only team that on paper looks clearly better. Exactly, it's all on paper right now & no one knows. Tennessee & Arkansas nor Alabama look any better than we do. Wait till the SEC media days & you'll see where people in the media rank us in conference.
Games aren't won on paper period. Again, I get the part where he's never finished above middle of the pack in conference, however, let's see how this plays out with this team before we get all gloom & doom. If he can't do anything with this squad then he needs to go.There are 5 or 6 rosters as good "on paper" in the SEC and most importantly, Pope consistently loses double digit games and finishes in the middle of the conference.
You don't have to say "on paper" when we have a coach who has proven over and over he will finish in the middle. Games aren't only won and lost by rosters on paper.
I'm not trying to argue about keeping him, I wasn't in favor of hiring him in the first place. I'm saying give the man a chance with this team, it's more talent than he's ever had anywhere. Do we honestly have a choice anyways lol? He's our coach (for now) & I'm certainly not pulling for Kentucky to lose games.(Not a ranking)
- John Calipari — Arkansas
- Rick Barnes — Tennessee
- Sean Miller — Texas
- Nate Oats — Alabama
- Todd Golden — Florida
- Chris Beard — Ole Miss
- Mike White — Georgia
- Chris Jans — Mississippi State
- Mark Pope — Kentucky
- Porter Moser — Oklahoma
- Lamont Paris — South Carolina
- Dennis Gates — Missouri
- Will Wade - LSU
- Bucky McMillan — Texas A&M
- Steven Pearl — Auburn
- Mark Byington — Vanderbilt
Pope is around the #7-12th best coach in the SEC and is definitely not a top-25 coach. I don't understand what the argument is for keeping him, at all.
I think that this is very reasonable and all that most of us labeled as "Popettes" and pumpers are saying. But there is a group that will accept nothing but fire him immediately or you are placed in the "Popette" group. There is no reasonable discourse with them.Games aren't won on paper period. Again, I get the part where he's never finished above middle of the pack in conference, however, let's see how this plays out with this team before we get all gloom & doom. If he can't do anything with this squad then he needs to go.
Well, that's just your opinion, but you’re passing it off as a fact and saying my actual facts aren’t important.That doesn't really matter though. The SEC might have been a "joke," but Kentucky certainly wasn't. Now under Pope, Kentucky could easily be lumped into "the SEC is a joke" group of teams.
Yeah, I heard all the excuses about the GW loss and all the other losses, but Pope has excuses too, why should we just accept BCG's excuses, but not do the same for Pope?He practiced them incredibly hard that day, their legs were shot. The guy was legit nuts and self medicated. I am not bullish on Pope but BCG was rock bottom.
No one complained under Gillespie, no one whined about recruiting eitherYeah, I heard all the excuses about the GW loss and all the other losses, but Pope has excuses too, why should we just accept BCG's excuses, but not do the same for Pope?
BCG had a charmin schedule and went to the NIT. Pope played the #3 SOS, beat the eventual title winner, beat duke, who was loaded, won at Gonzaga, swept Tennessee and went to a sweet 16, while navigating heavy injury issues to starters.
Anyone saying Pope is worse than BCG, is a moron, simply put.
So, if UK finishes ahead of those "5 or 6 rosters", what will your take be then? I bet you'll say those 5 or 6 other rosters had injuries, or their coaches aren't very good.There are 5 or 6 rosters as good "on paper" in the SEC and most importantly, Pope consistently loses double digit games and finishes in the middle of the conference.
You don't have to say "on paper" when we have a coach who has proven over and over he will finish in the middle. Games aren't only won and lost by rosters on paper.
Let’s be real, while the restless fanbase didn’t help. Cal left because of a power struggle between him and Mitch Barnhart, and boosters refusing to fund NIL for whatever reason (political nonsense, opinions of Cal personally, I don’t know),When you look back at Cal - the reality is he went from an Elite 8 to 2 COVID years which you have to give a full pass on. Then three early exits (1st, 2nd, 1st). He was pushed out for those three years.
Take a look at a guy like Jim Calhoun, who's considered a top 5 coach in the sport. In the 6 years between his titles, he missed the tourney twice, lost to George Mason in the Elite 8 and got knocked out in the 1st and 2nd round two years. Sometimes you have to be patient.
This fanbase has zero. Why I question any established comfortable coach coming.
Because you were in grade school and there wasn't much of a forum back then.No one complained under Gillespie, no one whined about recruiting either
Rondo or ppat over ANYONE in the pope eraBecause you were in grade school and there wasn't much of a forum back then.
But this is funny, you literally can't prove this and you know it's false, you just have nothing else to say. The truth is, we were all scratching our heads at wtf Billy was doing back then.
I guess Dakota Euton >>>Momcilivic.
How anyone can actually defend Billy at Pope's expense, is hilarious. Pope's accomplishmenys here are a thousand miles better than BCG, but apparently some of you fools have a serious memory problem. If Pope lost games at the rate BCG lost, this place would be on fire.
You guys are so weak minded. The only thing Billy can beat Pope at, is drinking and chasing coeds.
We had a top 15 to 20 team before Mitchell. That's not good enough. Pope didn't add enough quality pieces and forced us to where we had to pursue Mitchell.That one is on Stankey.
He also struck out (again) on Kohler and passed on Hall (dumb considering he knew Mitchell was probably a long shot to be eligible). He just consistently makes the wrong choices.We had a top 15 to 20 team before Mitchell. That's not good enough. Pope didn't add enough quality pieces and forced us to where we had to pursue Mitchell.
LOL, check your "facts", Rondo didn’t play for BCG and from what I know of RR, he wouldn't put up with BCG for 2 minutes.Rondo or ppat over ANYONE in the pope era
nuff said
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