Would you be fine with a 6th place finish in basketball?

Is a 6th place finish good enough for Pope’s 3rd year?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 0.9%
  • No

    Votes: 111 99.1%

  • Total voters
    112

Catastic5

Junior
Sep 12, 2026
120
316
63
What kind of stupid question is that?
Considering how much of this fanbase has pretty much given up on being elite, I consider the question valid and frankly concerning. We’re spiraling towards becoming the next Indiana and too many so-called fans are perfectly happy with the dope coaching us right now.
 
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DudahUK

Heisman
Jul 23, 2020
8,968
13,696
113
Considering how much of this fanbase has pretty much given up on being elite, I consider the question valid and frankly concerning. We’re spiraling towards becoming the next Indiana and too many so-called fans are perfectly happy with the dope coaching us right now.
And to answer your question. F no. I’m not expecting anything this year considering Pope hasn’t won a raffle let alone anything meaningful and damn sure hasn’t won anything significant in basketball.
 
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bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
48,181
71,789
113
No.. Unless a final four comes from it.. Don't matter if finish 1st,, unless a final four comes from it then he needs gone..
If we win the SEC, SECT, and made the E8 that would be good for another year. Hell it’d be the best year we’ve had in 6 freaking years.
 

DudahUK

Heisman
Jul 23, 2020
8,968
13,696
113
If we win the SEC, SECT, and made the E8 that would be good for another year. Hell it’d be the best year we’ve had in 6 freaking years.
Which we all know won’t happen. We are looking at double digit losses again. 10+ loss Pope is a real thing. Just look at his career. I love that we hired a 60ish percentage coach and some idiots expected different.
 

DudahUK

Heisman
Jul 23, 2020
8,968
13,696
113
2019. Then we lost Auburn in the E8.
Damn. Why did you remind me of that season? Lol. Ughhh. Was that the Herro team or the Monk team? I’ve done too many drugs and alcohol to where my memory isn’t what it used to be unfortunately and sadly.
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
48,181
71,789
113
Damn. Why did you remind me of that season? Lol. Ughhh. Was that the Herro team or the Monk team? I’ve done too many drugs and alcohol to where my memory isn’t what it used to be unfortunately and sadly.
No that was the Qucikley PJ Herro team. Last year we were really good.
 

@BigBlueFanGA

Junior
Jul 6, 2025
204
215
43
I’ve been seeing a lot of 5th or 6th place finishes from a few experts online and that seems like our likeliest position once we get preseason SEC standings from media day. I’ve seen some fans who seem to outright find those results “acceptable”. But would you be fine with that? Would that be enough for you to want Mark Pope to return for a 4th season?
No. 1 more season after that, fix it or Pope will be fired.
 

Im The Village Idiot

All-American
Sep 7, 2025
2,696
6,735
113
If we win the SEC, SECT, and made the E8 that would be good for another year. Hell it’d be the best year we’ve had in 6 freaking years.

I can’t remember the last time we did that.

2019. Then we lost Auburn in the E8.
We didn’t win the SEC, SECT and make E8 in 2019 season (but did make E8.) We lost to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament. We also didn’t win the regular season title that year either — LSU did.

The 2016-17 season was the last time Kentucky won the SEC regular season title, won the SEC tournament title and made the Elite Eight.

Also, worth noting — in my lifetime these are the Kentucky teams who accomplished all three in the same season:

1995, 1998, 2003, 2010, 2015, 2017.

Thats the entire list. Seems more common than it actually is.
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
20,536
36,616
113
We didn’t win the SEC, SECT and make E8 in 2019 season (but did make E8.) We lost to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament. We also didn’t win the regular season title that year either — LSU did.

The 2016-17 season was the last time Kentucky won the SEC regular season title, won the SEC tournament title and made the Elite Eight.

Also, worth noting — in my lifetime these are the Kentucky teams who accomplished all three in the same season:

1995, 1998, 2003, 2010, 2015, 2017.

Thats the entire list. Seems more common than it actually is.

Incredible choke job vs UT in sec tournament. Still remember that from 2019. Then choked against auburn n 2019 n ncaa.
 

DudahUK

Heisman
Jul 23, 2020
8,968
13,696
113
We didn’t win the SEC, SECT and make E8 in 2019 season (but did make E8.) We lost to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament. We also didn’t win the regular season title that year either — LSU did.

The 2016-17 season was the last time Kentucky won the SEC regular season title, won the SEC tournament title and made the Elite Eight.

Also, worth noting — in my lifetime these are the Kentucky teams who accomplished all three in the same season:

1995, 1998, 2003, 2010, 2015, 2017.

Thats the entire list. Seems more common than it actually is.
My dawg. Thanks for the research.

and dang, you would think we have done that more than that. I believe you are my age right? I’m 39.
 

Im The Village Idiot

All-American
Sep 7, 2025
2,696
6,735
113
My dawg. Thanks for the research.

and dang, you would think we have done that more than that. I believe you are my age right? I’m 39.
Yep same age.

I think the issue is each of those things are fairly common but accomplishing all three in one year is hard. 2012 and 1996 didn’t even do all three and that’s the two best Kentucky teams during my stint on this blue ball haha
 
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DudahUK

Heisman
Jul 23, 2020
8,968
13,696
113
Yep same age.

I think the issue is each of those things are fairly common but accomplishing all three in one year is hard. 2012 and 1996 didn’t even do all three and that’s the two best Kentucky teams during my stint on this blue ball haha
Yeah. I don’t really care about all 3 but 2 of 3 or at least 1 of them I don’t think is too much to ask. Will that happen this year? I very much doubt it. Makes me sad and mad at the same time. This is probably the first year I couldn’t care much less about basketball. Could be because of FB but Pope inspires zero for me. He’s an absolute joke of a coach and freaking weirdo to boot.
 

Im The Village Idiot

All-American
Sep 7, 2025
2,696
6,735
113
Yeah. I don’t really care about all 3 but 2 of 3 or at least 1 of them I don’t think is too much to ask. Will that happen this year? I very much doubt it. Makes me sad and mad at the same time. This is probably the first year I couldn’t care much less about basketball. Could be because of FB but Pope inspires zero for me. He’s an absolute joke of a coach and freaking weirdo to boot.
I like Pope and I want it to work. Gun to my head? Yeah, I doubt we win the SEC regular season. I could see team getting a good draw and winning SECT. Elite Eight is possible but not likely.

I’m just gonna cheer and hope for the best. But I don’t have faith or confidence in Pope as much as I’d want. I’m about a 40% on the favorability scale, but I’m easy to win over — I only care about winning, do that and I don’t care about the rest.
 

DudahUK

Heisman
Jul 23, 2020
8,968
13,696
113
I like Pope and I want it to work. Gun to my head? Yeah, I doubt we win the SEC regular season. I could see team getting a good draw and winning SECT. Elite Eight is possible but not likely.

I’m just gonna cheer and hope for the best. But I don’t have faith or confidence in Pope as much as I’d want. I’m about a 40% on the favorability scale, but I’m easy to win over — I only care about winning, do that and I don’t care about the rest.
I like Pope too. Seems like a good dude. Just a crap coach and never knew how extremely weird he is. No way would I let him baby sit my kid.
 
Aug 23, 2024
3,169
6,745
113
WTF is wrong with you? How are any of those results acceptable, even with injuries? We’ve had plenty of injuries in the past and never ended that poorly in the SEC standings.

The poster who kept going after me for suggesting that some UK fans are fine with these mediocre results and here you are flaunting every excuse imaginable as to why these mediocre results are acceptable. If you’re a Kentucky basketball fan, you’re one poor excuse for one.

And don’t tell me you’re not fine with these results, you make EVERY-SINGLE-EXCUSE for Pope. You are completely, 100% fine with the direction of our program. It’s pathetic. No one makes this many excuses otherwise. They sure as heck do not waste this much time in their lives online telling everyone why this is fine if they didn’t agree with these results.
I never said it was acceptable but that doesn't make lying about having established 8th to 10th place finishes acceptable. Stating actual facts is not the same as making excuses.
 
Aug 23, 2024
3,169
6,745
113
Cool.

What did Cal do n his first 2 years at UK?

Tubby?

Hall?

Pitino n first 2 years he was allowed to coach n ncaa?

Since u are so keen with comparing every non UKs coach first 2 years at a school.i figured comparing Pope to his UK fraternity makes more sense as UK is the gold standard of basketball.

None of the above coaches got a huge *** NIL war chest either but all managed a final four n first or second season of ncaa tournament eligibility.
This is false. Hall went 13-13 in year 2. You should at least check your facts when you do this. You also left out Sutton and BCG. I never claimed Pope was the greatest or matched up to all of previous coaches. I merely gave examples of coaches who did extremely well after lackluster starts.
 

scratchycat3

All-Conference
Mar 21, 2026
2,798
1,554
113
This is false. Hall went 13-13 in year 2. You should at least check your facts when you do this. You also left out Sutton and BCG. I never claimed Pope was the greatest or matched up to all of previous coaches. I merely gave examples of coaches who did extremely well after lackluster starts.
Pope has failed and always will not at one school did he ever have success EVER
 
Aug 23, 2024
3,169
6,745
113
So if we finished 7th, why weren't we the 7 seed?

Interested Ooo GIF by reactionseditor
Do you really need it explained to you that you can't have multiple 7 seeds in the tournament? Can you comprehend that tie-breakers would not be necessary if we weren't in fact tied?
 

JonathanW2

Senior
Aug 6, 2025
651
983
93
I’ve been seeing a lot of 5th or 6th place finishes from a few experts online and that seems like our likeliest position once we get preseason SEC standings from media day. I’ve seen some fans who seem to outright find those results “acceptable”. But would you be fine with that? Would that be enough for you to want Mark Pope to return for a 4th season?
Only if there are 5-6 top 10-15 SEC teams.
Our goal at UK isn’t SEC championships, it is NCAA championships. Thus to be one of the top 10-15 teams with a realistic chance at winning it all.
 
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Aug 23, 2024
3,169
6,745
113
They will suck regardless and pope sucks he was never qualified to coach here . We all know how this season is gonna go . Hes never had a season where he hasn’t had double digit losses it’s who he is . That’s not magically gonna change
Yet another post with incorrect information that is easily verifiable. Are you too lazy to actually look up any facts or are you simply trolling?
 

JakeKx

All-Conference
Oct 5, 2023
1,226
2,359
112
Call me crazy 🤪 but anything other than a national title is a failure. FFS what are we doing. Has pope killed this program so much we’re talking about 6th place SEC finishes?!? WTF are we doing
 

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,446
25,849
113
OUtside of Florida.....why should UK not be in the next echelon of SEC?

I do think Tennessee has a really good roster....but Texas, Arkansas, etc....Pope better get this team top 3 in SEC>
 
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