Question for those who are against Pope

Mar 13, 2026
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Had nothing to do with Pope. You’re the one that made the statement. Any grown man pining for Cal after what he turned into is pathetic.
Coach cal finished 1st 6 times and 2nd 6 times! He only finished outside the top 4 once! Didn’t cal win a ship in year 3? What’s mark pope’s problem? Cal fixed Billy Clyde
 

SenseMaker_Cats

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
2,335
6,767
113
One day you’ll realize mark pope is a complete fraud! Go compare Coach Cal and Mark Pope’s résumé! You’ll see the difference!
One day you’ll realize I’m one that thinks Pope isn’t the man for the job. You may have have noticed that if you’re first desire wasn’t to act like a D head and a hole and try and ruin every thread.
 
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Mar 13, 2026
637
534
93
Had nothing to do with Pope. You’re the one that made the statement. Any grown man pining for Cal after what he turned into is pathetic.
Coach cal finished 1st 6 times and 2nd 6 times! He only finished outside the top 4 once
Had nothing to do with Pope. You’re the one that made the statement. Any grown man pining for Cal after what he turned into is pathetic. Pope is a fraud!
 

MY_POPE

Sophomore
Jun 7, 2026
45
103
18
"ask what the plan is" - I don't get paid enough to figure that out. That's J Batt's job and why Barney eventually was forced out. It's not an easy job. And your demand of a response has bad faith written all over it. I've seen this argument literally dozens of times. No matter what answer I give you, you'll fixate on it and try to pick it apart so you can try to score ad nauseam points. Not worth it, Jack.
You don't get paid to figure out how it's not working and you're telling us. So tell us how it will work even though you're not paid. Volunteer your time equally. If you've got the problem all figured out get the future all figured out.
 

MY_POPE

Sophomore
Jun 7, 2026
45
103
18
I don't drink, skippy. Proves yet again that you don't know me. You must enjoy taking shots in the dark. Explains why you're divorced.

Cal finished 2nd in the SEC last year btw! Never compare coach cal to that loser mark pope! Honestly cal should’ve retired here! It would’ve been better for the program! You got Louisville fans loving mark pope! Louisville fans hated coach cal!
Lol Cal should have retired here. That's a whole different convo. But it just goes to show you have no concept of the past or future just the present... why did Cal leave buddy?
 
Aug 23, 2024
3,316
7,042
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What are we supposes to do if Pope comes in 2nd in the SEC, makes it to the finals of the SECT and loses a close game in the sweet 16?

Are you guys going to continue with this crap about how he's so awful? "Worst coach ever".

Coaches that do those things don't get fired and they shouldn't.

But if he loses 10-12 games, comes in 4th or worse and is out the first weekend, nobody here is going to want him back. We've been trying to tell you this, you're too drunk to listen.
I'll not make that guarantee. Given our schedule 10 loses (that would mean 24-8 regular season unless we win a tournament championship) and fourth in a 16 team conference that has four preseason top ten teams sounds like a pretty solid season to me and probably gets a 3 seed. Throwing a first weekend exit on top of it definitely would not help his case though.
 
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NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
13,220
20,618
113
Lol Cal should have retired here. That's a whole different convo. But it just goes to show you have no concept of the past or future just the present... why did Cal leave buddy?
Cal should have retired here? Yeah, if you're talking about 5 years before he left. Otherwise, he should have been fired here.
 
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RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,759
71,679
113
We are all aware that is your dream. The Nostradamus wannabe's around here sure get old.
My dream is UK winning national titles, winning big games, winning the SEC regularly, and going to final fours. Your dream is propping up a mediocre coach because he played here 30 years ago. Let's not forget, you were Stoops #1 defender, banging the "who else can we get" drum.
 
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Aug 23, 2024
3,316
7,042
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My dream is UK winning national titles, winning big games, winning the SEC regularly, and going to final fours. Your dream is propping up a mediocre coach because he played here 30 years ago. Let's not forget, you were Stoops #1 defender, banging the "who else can we get" drum.
False. I have addressed this way too many times already. You have made it clear many times you think there is zero chance Pope could ever win big here so necessarily step one of your dream is firing Pope. Pointing out actual facts of the circumstances he has dealt with since coming here is not propping him up. If our current coach had zero previous connection to UK I would still think it asinine to fire a coach after only two seasons short of catastrophe or off court issues as I have said many times.

I rightly recognized and appreciated Stoops accomplishments here. I advocated for at least letting the season play out before making a move. After the way the Vandy and U6 games played out I had no issue with making a move. I never said we couldn't get a good coach I only said we were not likely to bring in someone who was proven as a head coach at this level.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,759
71,679
113
False. I have addressed this way too many times already. You have made it clear many times you think there is zero chance Pope could ever win big here so necessarily step one of your dream is firing Pope. Pointing out actual facts of the circumstances he has dealt with since coming here is not propping him up. If our current coach had zero previous connection to UK I would still think it asinine to fire a coach after only two seasons short of catastrophe or off court issues as I have said many times.

I rightly recognized and appreciated Stoops accomplishments here. I advocated for at least letting the season play out before making a move. After the way the Vandy and U6 games played out I had no issue with making a move.
"Facts" or excuses, to prop up a mediocre coach, because he makes you feel fuzzy?
 
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Aug 23, 2024
3,316
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"Facts" or excuses, to prop up a mediocre coach, because he makes you feel fuzzy?
Your crowd insists that any facts that don't fit your agenda are just excuses and that is false. I've posted numerous times what UK's true standard has been when facing schedules near the level of difficulty Pope (there is no direct match as Pope has faced our two most difficult ever) has gone up against. Those are indisputable facts much to your chagrin.
 
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RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,759
71,679
113
Your crowd insists that any facts that don't fit your agenda are just excuses and that is false. I've posted numerous times what UK's true standard has been when facing schedules near the level of difficulty Pope has gone up against. Those are indisputable facts much to your chagrin.
There's no getting through to you. When Pope blows a tire again this year and is canned, you'll pretend this never happened and you were just "being fair".
 
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Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
8,629
27,161
113
No, Calipari and Barnhart did the damage, Pope had 1 bad year and his bad year isn't even close to the 2 bad years Cal had, or all the losses to mid majors Cal had.

Pope hasn’t done any damage at all. Again, you act like he went to the NIT.

Name a coach that didn't have a single bad year. There isn't one.
Explain his nearly utter failure in recruiting top freshmen or transfers.
 
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Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
8,629
27,161
113
What are we supposes to do if Pope comes in 2nd in the SEC, makes it to the finals of the SECT and loses a close game in the sweet 16?

Are you guys going to continue with this crap about how he's so awful? "Worst coach ever".

Coaches that do those things don't get fired and they shouldn't.

But if he loses 10-12 games, comes in 4th or worse and is out the first weekend, nobody here is going to want him back. We've been trying to tell you this, you're too drunk to listen.
Your personal attack schtick is lame and hackneyed. I've never said he's the "worst coach ever." So there's yet another logical fallacy - straw man. And ad hominem as well. You're really bad at this. If I'm drunk as you say, then you're pathetic to continue to open the door into your face. You're getting owned every time and you don't even see it.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,840
73,137
113
We went 10-8 his first year in the SEC. Kentucky should never be lower than the 4th seed.
Don't care who you bring in here to coach, this is an impossible standard to live up to, especially with the injuries we had. You’re not being realistic.
The idea that his first season was anywhere close to the standard is absurd.
Nobody said it was our standard, but given the SOS and all the other circumstances, it was acceptable. We were a 3 seed for a reason, we made it to the sweet 16. But I have news for you, 1996 and 2012 is not our standard. If you l0ok at our history, a sweet 16 is an axceptable finish. No otjer ciach in our history played the strength of schedule Mark had to deal with.
If he built off it, people were fine with it considering the circumstances of being his first year.
Oh, so you do admit there were circumstances Pope dealt with in year 1. Interesting.
We expected growing pains. But in hindsight the first season wasn’t that good either.
I disagree, his first sesson was very exciting, if Butler, Robinson, Carr and KK didn’t suffer injuries, we had a legit shot at a FF.
And now Stein is proving that the NIL and transfer portal era makes the whole idea of a struggling first season total BS.
You do realize Stein coaches a different sport right?
How many games would Stein win if Darby was out, Minchey's right shoulder was torn and Rodriquez was dealing with back spasms?
And strength of our opponents is not an excuse when Stein is playing one of the hardest schedules in the country. Ultimately the success of the football team makes it harder to excuse Pope’s mediocrity.
See bolded question above.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,840
73,137
113
Pope is a solid mid-major coach. Would do very well at Utah, Dayton, or Rhode Island. He can't recruit at the level needed to win at UK. That's the story for me, if he could recruit even at just an average level, I think he could last here (defensive coaching not withstanding).
You'll get no argument from me on these points. I'm frustrated too, but I'm still hoping for the best. That's all.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,840
73,137
113
Listen here! Mitch gave you Saint Matthews Sabin! Best hire in football! Btw Look up Mark Pope’s résumé again! I don’t think Indiana would hire him
Here's something that has been repeated to you ad nauseum, I agree, IU wouldn’t hire Pope and Barnhart shouldn’t have hired him either. Nobody is arguing that, why do you keep acting like anyone here wanted Pope to get the job?
 
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RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,759
71,679
113
You'll get no argument from me on these points. I'm frustrated too, but I'm still hoping for the best. That's all.
I just think we're up ***** creek with Pope, I want Jai Lucas because he's young and a great recruiter. The program needs youth and swagger. It's stale and boring, just like Stoops and UK football post 2021 (ironically, because our young OC left). Stein has UK football rolling, he's 37. The excitement around the program is at a fever pitch. I forgot UK basketball even played last Friday until I checked this board.


Nate Oats would also fit this program to a T. Calipari recruited Tyreke Evans, after he drove his cousin to kill somebody. And when he came to UK we all loved him. So spare me the Brandon Miller stuff.
Honest to god, give that guy 25 million in NIL, a solid staff budget, upgrade the Craft center and get the hell out of the way. I think he'd get to a final four within 3 years here.
 

UKCowboys

Heisman
Oct 14, 2019
5,377
10,254
113
The issue I think is funny is the fact that us "pumpers" consistently state that we very much believe Pope isn’t the right guy for the job, we just hope he proves us wrong".

So we are agreeing with them, but we get attacked, simply because we're being positive. It’s very odd.
Its always been comical to me that so many adults on the board can't see that this is the case. I chalk it up to a lot of fans from other teams with multiple handles, mentally unstable folks deranged at Pope, and some pre teens with screen names
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,840
73,137
113
Explain his nearly utter failure in recruiting top freshmen or transfers.
I really don't know and neither do you.
Again, I didn't want Pope to get the job, all I'm doing is giving him an honest shot.
I was very impressed with what he did in year 1 given the circumstances, he screwed up in year 2, bad team fit and lockeroom issues derailed the season, but he still kept it from being a total disaster, so he has year 3 to show us who he is, that's it. He has to wear the pressure, not me and not you.
 
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UKCowboys

Heisman
Oct 14, 2019
5,377
10,254
113
Against the 2 toughest SOS' in school history with 2 starting PG's that were either out for the season, or playing on a busted shoulder. Also with a hobbled pf (Carr), no backup pg (both seasons), without our starting sf (Robinson) and without your lottery pick center (JQ).

Fans like you are the worst. You obviously never played a single sport at any level. You’re not winning crap if your starting 5 is depleted, or playing hurt against the schedules those 2 teams played.

This isn’t a video game.
Preach
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,840
73,137
113
Your personal attack schtick is lame and hackneyed. I've never said he's the "worst coach ever." So there's yet another logical fallacy - straw man. And ad hominem as well. You're really bad at this. If I'm drunk as you say, then you're pathetic to continue to open the door into your face. You're getting owned every time and you don't even see it.
Owned? LOL, you couldn't own a ham sandwich. All I'm doing is being logical, you're flailing away like an angry woman.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,840
73,137
113
I just think we're up ***** creek with Pope, I want Jai Lucas because he's young and a great recruiter. The program needs youth and swagger. It's stale and boring, just like Stoops and UK football post 2021 (ironically, because our young OC left). Stein has UK football rolling, he's 37. The excitement around the program is at a fever pitch. I forgot UK basketball even played last Friday until I checked this board.


Nate Oats would also fit this program to a T. Calipari recruited Tyreke Evans, after he drove his cousin to kill somebody. And when he came to UK we all loved him. So spare me the Brandon Miller stuff.
Honest to god, give that guy 25 million in NIL, a solid staff budget, upgrade the Craft center and get the hell out of the way. I think he'd get to a final four within 3 years here.
After this venture, I never want to see another unaccomplished person get this job. You should have a FF on the resume, or at least show that you can get to the doorstep before you get this job.
 

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
1,321
2,256
113
I just think we're up ***** creek with Pope, I want Jai Lucas because he's young and a great recruiter. The program needs youth and swagger. It's stale and boring, just like Stoops and UK football post 2021 (ironically, because our young OC left). Stein has UK football rolling, he's 37. The excitement around the program is at a fever pitch. I forgot UK basketball even played last Friday until I checked this board.


Nate Oats would also fit this program to a T. Calipari recruited Tyreke Evans, after he drove his cousin to kill somebody. And when he came to UK we all loved him. So spare me the Brandon Miller stuff.
Honest to god, give that guy 25 million in NIL, a solid staff budget, upgrade the Craft center and get the hell out of the way. I think he'd get to a final four within 3 years here.
going to need a high level coach to navigate the juggernaut that is the SEC. and to do that....you are going to need high level talent. or live with 7, 8, 9 conference losses every year.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,840
73,137
113
Its always been comical to me that so many adults on the board can't see that this is the case. I chalk it up to a lot of fans from other teams with multiple handles, mentally unstable folks deranged at Pope, and some pre teens with screen names
Village said it best, if you don't agree that Pope is the worst coach to walk the face of this earth, you're a pumper.
 
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RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,759
71,679
113
After this venture, I never want to see another unaccomplished person get this job. You should have a FF on the resume, or at least show that you can get to the doorstep before you get this job.
Need a conference title of some sort. And at least a few deep NCAAT runs, relative to the school they're at. And a history of being a solid recruiter. Pope had none of that, I remember when he was hired, people said his offensive system would recruit itself plus the NIL money. Not the case and didn't happen that way.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,840
73,137
113
Need a conference title of some sort. And at least a few deep NCAAT runs, relative to the school they're at. And a history of being a solid recruiter. Pope had none of that, I remember when he was hired, people said his offensive system would recruit itself plus the NIL money. Not the case and didn't happen that way.
If I remember correctly, the day Pope was hired, we all had very much the same reaction "Mark Pope??? WTF??? No way".

He never should have been hired. F*ck Barnhart. He screwed the basketball hire up twice.

Pope said the right things and did some very impressive things his first year. He had something going and it got derailed and last year was a failure from the beginning. He recruited to a style that didn't come close to fitting his style.

Let's see what he does this year. Ball is firmly in his court, all the pressure is on him.
 
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