Question for those who are against Pope

[MY_POPE]

Do you want to see him succeed elsewhere if not here? It seems like some of the hate as a coach has transitioned to a personal hate for a dude that loves BBN, is a member of BBN. Can the haters at least say hey he ain't it but he was in 96? Hate him as a coach. Hate mitch for hiring him.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Everyone wants him to succeed here because we all care about UK winning big.

If he fails here I doubt he has much success elsewhere of any significance but wish him well. Honestly once hes gone here ill probably never think about where's he coaching unless we play his team.

 

[Johnnie Africa]

Sure

 

[MY_POPE]

Everyone wants him to succeed here because we all care about UK winning big.

If he fails here I doubt he has much success elsewhere of any significance but wish him well. Honestly once hes gone here ill probably never think about where's he coaching unless we play his team.

but unlike Billy G if this season doesn't work out maybe we shouldn't have Alan Cutler chase him out

 

[UkBluePrint]

Do you want to see him succeed elsewhere if not here? It seems like some of the hate as a coach has transitioned to a personal hate for a dude that loves BBN, is a member of BBN. Can the haters at least say hey he ain't it but he was in 96? Hate him as a coach. Hate mitch for hiring him.

I remember watching Pope back then and thinking he was a really nice kid....I thought he was one of the worst players I had ever seen at Kentucky to be quite honest.

 

[BarefootBeach]

I remember watching Pope back then and thinking he was a really nice kid....I thought he was one of the worst players I had ever seen at Kentucky to be quite honest.

You are kidding right?

 

[UKWildcats1987]

but unlike Billy G if this season doesn't work out maybe we shouldn't have Alan Cutler chase him out

Yeah, not G level bad. And Pope is a legend as a player for being on 96 champs.

 

[MY_POPE]

Alls i'm saying is maybe the haters redirect a little bit of the bitterness towards mitch

 

[ScWildcat3]

Everyone wants him to succeed here because we all care about UK winning big.

If he fails here I doubt he has much success elsewhere of any significance but wish him well. Honestly once hes gone here ill probably never think about where's he coaching unless we play his team.

Unfortunately at this point a lot of people on here at least want him to fail. Even if that means Kentucky having horrible seasons until he’s fired. Makes zero sense to me.

 

[UkBluePrint]

You are kidding right?

I'm absolutely not kidding at all. Not in any way. I remember thinking he was one of the slowest players I had ever seen

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Unfortunately at this point a lot of people on here at least want him to fail. Even if that means Kentucky having horrible seasons until he’s fired. Makes zero sense to me.

Fans have nothing to do with each seasons success or failure. That's on Pope.

 

[UkBluePrint]

Melvin Turpin could run circles around Pope

 

[ScWildcat3]

Fans have nothing to do with each seasons success or failure. That's on Pope.

I didn’t say they did. I said most nuts on here hate him and want him to fail and this team to fail to see him fired. They think big name coaches will just flock to Kentucky and it’s guaranteed to be turned around.

 

[Get_over_it]

I remember watching Pope back then and thinking he was a really nice kid....I thought he was one of the worst players I had ever seen at Kentucky to be quite honest.

You are either a troll or a retard. You pick.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

it has nothing to do with pope. it has to do with losing.

 

[Cats4321]

It would be awesome if Pope won big here. There's just no reason at this point to think he can do it. I would be as happy as anyone if he proves me wrong. I also don't like Pope so much that I'm willing to suffer through seasons like he's had. Nothing personal, but win or get out. That's the expectation for any coach at UK. Pope shouldn't get special treatment just because he is a former player.

To answer your question, I hope he continues to coach and does well if he gets fired at UK. No reason to hate the guy.

 

[Get_over_it]

I'm absolutely not kidding at all. Not in any way. I remember thinking he was one of the slowest players I had ever seen

Would you rather he was a faster player and put up stats like say Kahlil Whitney, or Devon Askew, or Skal Labissière.

 

[MY_POPE]

I'm absolutely not kidding at all. Not in any way. I remember thinking he was one of the slowest players I had ever seen

Somehow NBA execs saw it different... even if it wasn't a long career

 

[MY_POPE]

I didn’t say they did. I said most nuts on here hate him and want him to fail and this team to fail to see him fired. They think big name coaches will just flock to Kentucky and it’s guaranteed to be turned around.

Right. So we don't get Oats we don't get Donovan then what? What if we whiff on Jai Lucas too?

 

[ScWildcat3]

Right. So we don't get Oats we don't get Donovan then what? What if we whiff on Jai Lucas too?

Exactly. You can’t fire pope unless you have a yes from a big name already. And have to do it early enough to build a roster.

 

[PooPooPeePeePoo]

Of course I want him to succeed. But Pope’s success isn’t ever going to be based on national championships. He’s a perfect coach to take a lower level program and get a couple upsets in the tournament. That’s who he is and that’s his ceiling. He just doesn’t have the personality for the big time.

 

[Catastic5]

Right. So we don't get Oats we don't get Donovan then what? What if we whiff on Jai Lucas too?

Then Shertz it is!

 

[MY_POPE]

Fans have nothing to do with each seasons success or failure. That's on Pope.

True but I guess my thing is--if this season is a failure--can we remember hes still BBN regardless on the (possible) way out. Theres no reason to put signs in this mans yard like tubby or chase him out like billy g and cutler. BBNs desire to win could make very bitter feelings towards pope and just want those feelings to stop at coach

 

[SECualHealing]

My heart wants him to be a hall of fame coach at UK. But my eyes tell me the end is near.

 

[JimboBBN]

I want him to succeed HERE but he’s not capable of doing that. I’d be happy if he found success at another school on the level of BYU.

 

[UkBluePrint]

True but I guess my thing is--if this season is a failure--can we remember hes still BBN regardless on the (possible) way out. Theres no reason to put signs in this mans yard like tubby or chase him out like billy g and cutler. BBNs desire to win could make very bitter feelings towards pope and just want those feelings to stop at coach

Imagine taking up for the alcoholic abuser named Billy Gillispie who i think was arrested being drunk not late after being fired.

 

[MY_POPE]

Imagine taking up for the alcoholic abuser named Billy Gillispie who i think was arrested being drunk not late after being fired

I'm not, my bad if it came off that way. Billy G deserved what he got, saying don't treat pope like that

 

[BigBluefoot]

I wanted a coach to succeed BEFORE they come here.
Kentucky Basketball isn't a beta test.

 

[DelkBowl]

Never heard anyone against Pope. Just hear people against his lack of successes. UK first and doesn’t matter much who the coach is. They will come and go.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Alls i'm saying is maybe the haters redirect a little bit of the bitterness towards mitch

No doubt this falls on the AD. I cant blame Pope for taking the job here. That coaching search wasn't a real search in my opinion.

Drew said no because his family didn't want the pressure here. Hurley was never seriously approached and that was just a token effort to appease the fanbase. Then we go to Pope? Makes zero sense and was a panic hire imo.

Anyone who has hired high level personnel knows this is not how a top executive job search is conducted.

 

[RedwoodHigh]

Pope will win 100 games over his first 4 years at Ky. - meaning he will be the coach for at least 3 more years after that - giving him 5 more years from now. Time to support him and wish him success because it is what it is.
The new coaches on staff will have a lot more influence on the future recruiting process which will help him be successful.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

I don’t care who the coach is. It could be Phil Jackson. If you don’t get the top talent and know how to evaluate talent. You’re not gonna win and you shouldn’t be coach at UK. Nothing against Pope, it would be the same with anyone.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Unfortunately at this point a lot of people on here at least want him to fail. Even if that means Kentucky having horrible seasons until he’s fired. Makes zero sense to me.

I don’t want us to fail or have a miserable season but his ceiling is like a S16. That won’t cut it here long term. If he had a terrible year it could be a blessing rather than dragging it out years down the road like Hubert Davis. Even he made the championship game though. It’s a tough thing, nobody wants the Cats to fail but sometimes you can see that you don’t have the right coach.

 

[ScWildcat3]

I don’t want us to fail or have a miserable season but his ceiling is like a S16. That won’t cut it here long term. If he had a terrible year it could be a blessing rather than dragging it out years down the road like Hubert Davis. Even he made the championship game though. It’s a tough thing, nobody wants the Cats to fail but sometimes you can see that you don’t have the right coach.

So if he goes farther than the sweet 16 this year is he the right coach all of a sudden?

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

So if he goes farther than the sweet 16 this year is he the right coach all of a sudden?

Not really, but nothing about this team screams Elite 8. I don’t think he can beat enough quality teams to get there anyway. He has already had two tourney runs end in blow outs.

 

[ComebackCats98]

People want the basketball team to win at a high level. Nobody is upset because they don’t like him as a person. Nobody cares how the coach is as a person as long as they win games. Fans didn’t chase Billy G either. That was one reporter for a news station.

You will get anonymous people who act ridiculous on message boards sure. Nobody is chasing him. Nobody is placing for sale signs. The worst would be boos and an empty arena

 

[ScWildcat3]

Not really, but nothing about this team screams Elite 8. I don’t think he can beat enough quality teams to get there anyway. He has already had two tourney runs end in blow outs.

So you just don’t want pope no matter what. Got it.

 

[HoneyMoon155]

So you just don’t want pope no matter what. Got it.

If he doesn’t make it past the sweet 16 can you stop advocating for him being the coach? What exactly will it take for you to see he’s not the guy?

 

[Bluetick2100]

I'm absolutely not kidding at all. Not in any way. I remember thinking he was one of the slowest players I had ever seen

I thought the same thing about Larry Bird

 

[KYFOSSIL]

I remember watching Pope back then and thinking he was a really nice kid....I thought he was one of the worst players I had ever seen at Kentucky to be quite honest.