This. We either have a really good year and we're happy. Or Pope moves on and we can look towards the future. It's win-win.Pope is likely gone after this year. Things will get better
This. We either have a really good year and we're happy. Or Pope moves on and we can look towards the future. It's win-win.Pope is likely gone after this year. Things will get better
He loaded with Portal players because he couldn’t retain any recruits due to shipping them off to the NBA every year. His style of recruiting had its consequences. BTW 2017 number 1 recruiting class was a true flame out and they played a weak *** schedule. If it hadn’t been for the NBA lockout Jones and Lamb wouldn’t have been around to win it in 2012. The man had a system that wasn’t sustainable to win NCAA titles. Look at UConn, how many 5 stars have they had in the last 20 years and how many titlesI do not call an Elite eight as a flame out in 2019. From 2010 to 2019, Cal was fairly successful with 5 stars. After 2019, he started to so call "flame out", but that is when he started loading teams up with the portal. Wheeler, Mintz, Reeves, Toppin, etc...
Now that we are past the covid days, the 5 stars will start playing a huge roll in college basketball again.
Dusty May just won a title at Michigan with portal transfers.I do not call an Elite eight as a flame out in 2019. From 2010 to 2019, Cal was fairly successful with 5 stars. After 2019, he started to so call "flame out", but that is when he started loading teams up with the portal. Wheeler, Mintz, Reeves, Toppin, etc...
Now that we are past the covid days, the 5 stars will start playing a huge roll in college basketball again.
That sounds smart to me. 30 days of school. Graduate debt free, with a job making six figures a year."Lack of knowledge" says the guy who drives a semi for a living LOL
That’s another problem for Pope. His talent evaluation has been pretty mediocre.Isn‘t Hampton a top 25 recruit? Wasn’t Moreno? And Jasper (how did that one work out, wasn’t he highly rated.) wait a second wasn’t Garrison a McDonald’s all American (high school rankings aren’t always right). You do know that your hero Richie farmer had a career average of 7pt/g and was 34% on 3pt. You might want to change that name.
I was right there with you before you belittled a man for working hard to provide for his family. I agree with the rest though."Lack of knowledge" says the guy who drives a semi for a living LOL
lose” a recruit! It’s not about losing A recruit! It’s about losing all the players who even look like potential good players. I really don’t care how he gets players as long as we win, but every single person here who has eyes can see he not even close to average at recruiting. Love Mark and I’m behind him all the way, but Kentucky fans shouldn’t be divided so bad. Also A few of those kids ‘40 or so’ are going to be superstars and win no matter what, I’m sure we could’ve used a couple. Everyone here wants the same thing, Win games.Funny how everyone has said Alston was down to UL and LSU, with the majority saying saying UL in the final day but he stole him from Pope. Weird.
I’m not saying Pope shouldn’t be criticized but geez, the people that get on here and cry when we “lose” a recruit no one thought we would get is ridiculous.
2020-21 9-16Now we don’t even get the option of flaming out. We’re out before January.
I was ready for cal to get out of Dodge, but that Oakland game sealed it. What a clown.2020-21 9-16
2021-22 1st round NCAAT loss to St Peter's
2022-23 1st round SECT loss to Vandy & 2nd round NCAAT loss to Kansas St.
2023-24 1st round SECT loss to TA&M & 1st round NCAAT loss to Oakland
I’m still trying to figure out what Pope has done to make some of these guys so defensive of him. Are they Mormon groupies or something?Is Pope paying some of you?
Oh no, we gave up by March instead of before the SEC. The horror! I guess Pope makes it easier to plan for non-basketball related Spring activities.2020-21 9-16
2021-22 1st round NCAAT loss to St Peter's
2022-23 1st round SECT loss to Vandy & 2nd round NCAAT loss to Kansas St.
2023-24 1st round SECT loss to TA&M & 1st round NCAAT loss to Oakland
You can’t win with talent!So, your takeaway wasn't that Calipari was a average bench coach, it was the talent was the problem?
What is it Calipari said? You can't make them all, but you also can't miss them all? Pope can't recruit elite high school talent at all, and the portal is even worse. He has to overpay for 3rd options. The only recruiting win you could really point to was Milan.
This guy takes those type of shots all the time.Man, I normally side with you and like the tenacity but that's a crappy shot. We'd be in a world of freaking hurt without people willing to drive goods all over this country. I've also met knowledgeable drivers who were very well read .
Now you’ve got a team and coach you can fully support. Bet you can’t wait to get behind that guy and join their board. See ya.The SEC is about to get way harder.
Just got Reese Alston from Pope as well. What's the excuse from Mark Pope and staff? Why can't we recruit?
“If you don’t accept mediocrity, go root for another team!”Now you’ve got a team and coach you can fully support. Bet you can’t wait to get behind that guy and join their board. See ya.
Yep this is why we wanted Cal gone. Now let’s compare both coaches first 2 years2020-21 9-16
2021-22 1st round NCAAT loss to St Peter's
2022-23 1st round SECT loss to Vandy & 2nd round NCAAT loss to Kansas St.
2023-24 1st round SECT loss to TA&M & 1st round NCAAT loss to Oakland
Great argumentNow you’ve got a team and coach you can fully support. Bet you can’t wait to get behind that guy and join their board. See ya.
Your kind of coach? You want this stuff here?Great argument
He won the sec tournament last year!Cal flame out, but he wasn't flaming out with rosters of 5 stars. He flamed out with rosters of portal transfers. 5 stars took us to Final Fours and elite eights
Your guy is 20-16 in SEC play. We hired John Calipari, save the preaching.Your kind of coach? You want this stuff here?
Alston is the son of former NBA standout Rafer “Skip to My Lou” Alston, who, ironically, made headlines earlier in the week for critical comments directed toward Will Wade—now his son’s college head coach at LSU.
“I’m disgusted by how this whole process has played out,” Alston told Z Smart Hoops. “Will Wade has operated in a disgusting manner. He is a sleazeball of an individual. I know there was a back alley deal involving PUMA, in which money was accepted without my authorization.”
Skip added that he would take legal action against Wade and the Tigers, while also accusing Reese’s mother, Ashley, of negotiating behind his back. Now it all adds up: the five-star guard is officially on his way to LSU.
Then he won the sec tournament at Arkansas in year 2. That could’ve been Kentucky.Oh no, we gave up by March instead of before the SEC. The horror! I guess Pope makes it easier to plan for non-basketball related Spring activities.
That Dusty May team may go down as an all timer. I heard Kevin Willard say that when he played them in November, he knew no one was beating them because of their positional size. We'll see how good they are based on where that frontcourt is in the NBA. Yaxel has been lights. out so far, Mara may be getting rushed PT with Chet out. Dallas is playing well.Dusty May just won a title at Michigan with portal transfers.
They’re not rational peopleYep this is why we wanted Cal gone. Now let’s compare both coaches first 2 years
So, your takeaway wasn't that Calipari was a average bench coach, it was the talent was the problem?
What is it Calipari said? You can't make them all, but you also can't miss them all? Pope can't recruit elite high school talent at all, and the portal is even worse. He has to overpay for 3rd options. The only recruiting win you could really point to was Milan.
Why would you want top prospects? Oh you want slimy Will Wade? Why? This is Kentucky in between hires, we root for the clean bottom feeder and reject winners in this space. You’re so negative, why are you so concerned with winning here? Pope is young, he’s just getting started, coach K and Nick Saban started JUST LIKE THIS.The SEC is about to get way harder.
Just got Reese Alston from Pope as well. What's the excuse from Mark Pope and staff? Why can't we recruit?
He’s done. It’s been done. I’m sorry but if someone doesn’t understand that you’re just a moron at this point. Not a tremendous coach, can’t recruit, pitiful career record. Suddenly some think that’s going to change.Pope is likely gone after this year. Things will get better
Don’t even respond to these morons. Nobody said anything about not wanting any freshman at all. It’s a mix, you recruit the best where they are. If they don’t get it don’t waste your time. They’re Idiots.I always said you needed a mix of elite top 10 to top 5 freshmen and veterans.
Wasn't propping Pope, just pointing out Cals late tenure failures. Got it?Oh no, we gave up by March instead of before the SEC. The horror! I guess Pope makes it easier to plan for non-basketball related Spring activities.
So basically you‘re admitting you thought wrong quite often.All the people talking about “flaming out” in the tournament with high school studs. At least we had a chance. Did Cal’s coaching ability hinder us? Absolutely. But he also had multiple teams where I thought “man we can win this whole thing.” Never have I thought that with Pope.
Two coaches can both suck in different ways.Calapari's last years here, RR... "Sick of HS kids!!!"
Two years later, RR..."LSU got two 5 stars...waive the white flag, we surrender. Viva la France"
You're lying if you didn't think Knights team, Towns team, Randle’s team, Wall’s team couldn't win it all.So basically you‘re admitting you thought wrong quite often.
And coaching. Right now, I'm not seeing much of either.I always said you needed a mix of elite top 10 to top 5 freshmen and veterans.
Calipari is gone and Pope not being able to recruit or relating to high school kids has nothing to do Calipari. It’s a Pope thing unfortunately.Why is it that many on this board didn’t learn anything from all the years of Calipari getting the top high school players and flaming out in the tournaments. At the same time the SEC was a shell of what it is now. I get that getting good recruits is necessary but this obsession of every 5 star recruit is not healthy.
I think that every year, even when we suck, and I haven’t thrown in the towel on this year yet. I just want a year without injuries and it seems like the last 8 or 9 years it’s been way too many. Always someone hurt and taking way too long to get back. I was so tired of Cal and his playing favorites, the ******** press conferences, his yelling on the sidelines, his ridiculous assistant coaches. I just want a year where Pope has a healthy team , if this year sucks then let the AD make the decision, but good lord the people on this board are ridiculous. It’s not about defending Pope, it’s about pushing back on all the negativity.You're lying if you didn't think Knights team, Towns team, Randle’s team, Wall’s team couldn't win it all. Clown![]()
KSR Cats in the NFL
BBNFL Week 8: Wan'Dale Robinson and Chris Rodriguez are touchdown twins
KSR Football
CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek explains why Alabama was ranked so high
KSR Football
Bio Blast: Tennessee Volunteers
KSR
KSR Show, 11/4: Recapping UK's first win plus a morning commitment
KSR Basketball Recruiting
RAPID REACTION: Cherif Millogo commits to Kentucky!