Looking forard to it with hope. I'ver been so happy about football so far, I hope we can have similar success with basketball.
Kentucky Exhibition VS Little Rock Friday at 7 any thoughts?
- Thread starter ThreeDogNight2
- Start date
I had no idea we had an exhibition tomorrow until someone text me they had an extra ticket
All I care about is saturday
All I care about is saturday
Normally I would have had this circled on a calendar for months but I didn’t even know we played until just reading this. I won’t be watching it. I also didn’t watch BBM. I already had apathy towards the program but with football doing what it’s doing, I really couldn’t care less about the basketball program. Atleast until Pope is gone and they hire a legit coach.
If you don't care and you aren't even going to watch do us a favor and stop all the whining.
I think the schedule is tougher than the OP thinks but like the optimism.
The 24/25 season gave us no return? That team played the toughest schedule in UK history, was riddled with injuries to starters, but still beat the eventual title winner in a great game, swept UT, beat UL, won at Gonzaga and beat a loaded FF duke team on a neutral.
They got a 3 seed and a sweet 16 while missing Robinson, a backup pg and playing with 2 hobbled players.
I know we have high standards, but given the circumstances of that season, it checked off most of the boxes and it was exciting.
Nobody is mentioning Travis Ford? I guess this game is a favor to an esteemed former cat, but I kinda liked that Pope had moved away from playing total cupcakes in the preseason. Last year with Purdue we thought we would rule the world and then with Georgetown we got a taste of what the season would really be like.
Speak for yourself. I get there maybe some trepidation because last year the majority of cat fans are pumped up the season about to start.
so what I don't understand is if you have empathy, you don't care about the basketball program. Do you really need to make sure we all know that on a basketball thread?
Either way.
We win by 40? Final Four bound!
We win by 13? NIT bound, season canceled
I care about both Football and basketball. Great to see us having success in football this year! But it could turn south and we could lose several games straight away and force everything back to Earth. I'm standing pat on being saqtisfied with 6 wins, and now, certainly, want and hope we get more! But Stein's first season has been a resounding success so far, and should end up very favorably, if not phenomenally.
As for the hoops side ....
After seeing last year alone (beat Purdue, lost to the Hoyas) we know not to overreact or underreact. But these exhibition games can be learning moments.
We just saw Tennessee get absolutely THROTTLED by lil' Pitino jr. and Xavier at Knoxville. I mean, once it got to a 20 point beatdown with 2 minutes left....my GOD, that was horrible. Nobody has seen anyone yet. So we at least get to see what a team may look like....
Vols got destroyed in every facet of the game. Defensively, that was the worst performance I;ve ever seen a Barnes team play. No rebounding, easy straight line drives to the basket given up, poor shot selection. Way too much one on one offense. They played like they would simply outscore Xavier in the end. Every criticism Coach Barnes said post game was true.
So yes, I want to see Kentucky START OUT with their hair on fire. For a change from what Pope teams have done here.
I want to see some synergy with our guards, low turnovers, good rebounding and good defense .... all those things are concerns and has been knocks on Pope's teams here.
I want to see them execute offensively the way they *should*. Which is at a very high level. They should take advantage of their size and length.
All these things are important to gague coming off an exhibition game. And yes, I care very much about both football and basketball, and why yes, I want to see our WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL continue the sucess they have established.
No reason not to be excited about basketball and football and yes, the volleyball team too !
I hope we get out there and destroy teams this year.
As for the hoops side ....
After seeing last year alone (beat Purdue, lost to the Hoyas) we know not to overreact or underreact. But these exhibition games can be learning moments.
We just saw Tennessee get absolutely THROTTLED by lil' Pitino jr. and Xavier at Knoxville. I mean, once it got to a 20 point beatdown with 2 minutes left....my GOD, that was horrible. Nobody has seen anyone yet. So we at least get to see what a team may look like....
Vols got destroyed in every facet of the game. Defensively, that was the worst performance I;ve ever seen a Barnes team play. No rebounding, easy straight line drives to the basket given up, poor shot selection. Way too much one on one offense. They played like they would simply outscore Xavier in the end. Every criticism Coach Barnes said post game was true.
So yes, I want to see Kentucky START OUT with their hair on fire. For a change from what Pope teams have done here.
I want to see some synergy with our guards, low turnovers, good rebounding and good defense .... all those things are concerns and has been knocks on Pope's teams here.
I want to see them execute offensively the way they *should*. Which is at a very high level. They should take advantage of their size and length.
All these things are important to gague coming off an exhibition game. And yes, I care very much about both football and basketball, and why yes, I want to see our WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL continue the sucess they have established.
No reason not to be excited about basketball and football and yes, the volleyball team too !
I hope we get out there and destroy teams this year.
so what I don't understand is if you have empathy, you don't care about the basketball program. Do you really need to make sure we all know that on a basketball thread?
Some of these people are defeatists who use negativity as a coping mechanism to make themselves feel better if the season goes off the rails. “See, I was right all along!”
What teams have more than 1-3 main option guys? Most teams are a few alphas then complimentary players. That’s called a TEAM. This isn’t dynasty mode where you put 10 superstars on a roster.
Thats exactly right. If you aren't excited to see the Cats then you may not be the fan you claim to be
My thoughts - Mom will be the best player on the floor in a lot of games this season but none of us will love his defense - let's hope it is servicable.
Wilkins will be exciting but we will need to forgive him being a bit of a hog at times. (we won't forgive him)
Zoom will be solid but not wowing anyone
N'Diaye will be better than any of us had even imagined, and he won't complain just play hard.
Our centers will be solid
The 3 spot though, I dunno maybe one of them will work out. I think Mcbride could surprise us, I would love to have a healthy Cam.
I still think Hawthorne is just 2 skinney to help us. I hope he becomes Prince but mostly like just another Perry.
Lastly I think our Defense will be as average as it has always been under Pope, he is 2 laid back to get this done. Maybe we can do enough there, and just flat outscore guys.
Probable prediction we end inside the top 20, make the sweet 16 and have to make a decision on Pope.
Optimistic - Elite 8 and end with a great record.
My prayer, we become elite defensively and our offense as usual is good enough to get us to a final 4.
Wilkins will be exciting but we will need to forgive him being a bit of a hog at times. (we won't forgive him)
Zoom will be solid but not wowing anyone
N'Diaye will be better than any of us had even imagined, and he won't complain just play hard.
Our centers will be solid
The 3 spot though, I dunno maybe one of them will work out. I think Mcbride could surprise us, I would love to have a healthy Cam.
I still think Hawthorne is just 2 skinney to help us. I hope he becomes Prince but mostly like just another Perry.
Lastly I think our Defense will be as average as it has always been under Pope, he is 2 laid back to get this done. Maybe we can do enough there, and just flat outscore guys.
Probable prediction we end inside the top 20, make the sweet 16 and have to make a decision on Pope.
Optimistic - Elite 8 and end with a great record.
My prayer, we become elite defensively and our offense as usual is good enough to get us to a final 4.
Remember joker Phillips? Fans didn’t show up and many wanted him to lose! Mark pope is that man now! I hope he loses every game! He’s a complete fraud!
God your a pathetic loser, spending your time doing this instead of anything else.
I hope your a bot
Yeah that’s why he is at Little Rock and mark pope is at Kentucky dummy, even your trolling is Sad and unoriginal.
Big ole useless, waste of space,air,food,and water loser you is
Pretty sure “Rupp Rafters” is a basketball forward forum dummy
Proof? Travis has won a conference regular season and conference tournament. Has pope? He’s won the a10 in both, and ovc tournament. Mark Pope’s résumé is blank.
LMAO
They play in a little different league fella. And fraud is overboard. He may not be a great coach, but he isn't a fraud
Says the person doing the exact same thing. I guess some of us are born with silver spoons. Listen, Mark pope is closer to Travis Ford than he is to Coach Cal as a coach. Let that burn
I couldn't care less. The least amount of enthusiasm to watch uk ball kick off the season in all my decades of being a cat fan.
I like the “built in silence” approach of this team and the talk of connectedness. Not expecting much in the exhibitions other than seeing the staff toy with concepts and pairings. Kam Williams’ dad acted like he was not sure whether Kam would play or not. I doubt he plays, but I hope that means Kam is practicing without restrictions.
Goose said on the radio that "the previously injured players were back to practicing", I assume he meant Kam and Noah. I also assume he did not mean Morton. I'm not a better on games, but I honestly don't know if they have to put out an "official" injury report for exhibitions. I'm guessing probably not, but then again, people bet on anything these days, so who knows.
It’s not that far off like you think. Mark did coach in them conferences too and couldn’t win championships. He’s definitely a complete fraud. You would think a person coaching over a decade would at least have a conference championship or a conference tournament championship in one of those little old conferences that he used to coach in right? Especially a Kentucky coach. Like I said before, Louisville fans love them some Mark Pope! They are his biggest fans……think about that.
Kam and Noah are western Kentucky players not Kentucky players. Kentucky needs to get back into being in Kentucky all this talk, reminds me of Indiana.
Excellent take. I concur!
I want to beleive and support Pope thru everything. I don't bail on the Big Blue, never. I hope the defense and rebounding can be a strength and not a weakness, hope the players all overacheive and execute at thier positions. Truly want to see several of them show how good they really can be, which I think can be eye opening. The opportunity is there.
I want Pope to bring a Final Four home to the rafters and shut people up, including even a little bit myself. I've been critical. But hey, we have to be. We have a standard to uphold, dammit.
I think the most important factor this year is the schedule. Strong enough to get us soilidly at the top and stay there if we win everything at home, inside Rupp Arena. No home losses this year = a top 1,2 or at worst 3 seed. Solid record against solid opponents. It's doable.
Scrape out the tough away win or two in the SEC and hold serve at home, we can win this conference. I know that sounds unlikely to many. It can't for Coach Pope and the team. They have to beleive, especially if there are those of us out there supporting them and seeing that it can be done.
You don't need a blue tinted pair of glasses to see the opportunity is there for the basketball team. Just gotta' stay true and hang tough with faith. Now that Coach pope truly has been cornered, he and his team should come out and play like true wildcats and show them we are better than everyone thinks we are. Outhustle, more effort, play smarter, out-execute and stay in every moment of the game mentally and positive to win no matter what happens .... That's what we do and how we have won more basketball games than anyone else.
Let's keep it that way. Cheathawks are breathing down our proverbial neck to strut. Let's continue to frustrate them.
I'm cool with it. We can do this. We are Big Blue nation !
Go Big Blue !
There might be 2 or 3 teams out there that MIGHT turn their noses up at the thought of getting Moreno and Ousmane N'Diaye.
We have 4 dudes on this squad that can dominate their position against most teams out there, they are definitely not 2nd, 3rd, or 4th choices for most.
Why do you guys have to hyberbole this? We get it, this isn’t the 95/96 roster, but let's not act like it's freaking Cleveland State quality.
Such a loser it’s sad, not even effective ragebait I just feel bad for the woman that birthed such a failure
Who cares about your ancient desperate for attention *** watching games or not. If you hadn’t made this stupid comment I would’ve never known you existed and be better off for it
That doesn’t make any sense.
“Pope is a lesser coach than cal” but the lesser coach Pope also beat Cal
your trolling lacks knowledge, comprehension and any bite, overall failure
Yeah, well you also said BCG was better, what you say these days, is pretty f-ing hollow if I'm being honest.
I bet Mom gets double teamed every game, which will force others to be the best player. It'll probably be someone different each game.
God help anyone that doesn't double Momcilivic.
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