Understand. There isn't a ton of evidence, obviously.
I think the below tweet sums up my feeling without typing a ton.
I do think it matters that we are bringing in a guy who BELIEVES in himself and UNDERSTANDS the history and importance of UK basketball. Pope is highly intelligent and learned under Pitino. He runs a 5 out offense and will get everything out of his teams.
He does have experience and has won some big games, albeit not in NCAAT yet.
Last thing I would say is that Hurley won games at a lesser percentage than Pope prior to getting to UConn. Sometimes you have to take a shot. If you weren't going to get one of your top choices, go get someone who has a high ceiling and low floor, to me that is Pope.
Sadly, Cal's final years weren't good, And a lot of it because of him. But it got me thinking. Those final years can be summed up with 3 very unfortunate/odd/unlucky events.
1. Shaedon Sharpe doen't play/Ty and Grady are injured - Very odd, Cal probably should have handled Sharpe better. Result if this doesn't happen? Kentucky is likely a 1-seed and a strong favorite for another Final 4. We're not relying on a single undersized PG and 8 other forwards/centers.
2. COVID year shuts down a team that was a 2-seed and 1st in the SEC - Yes, everyone's year got shut down, but some teams lost more than others. Result if it doesn't happen? Odds on favorite to get an Elite 8 appearance.
3. Cal chooses DJ/Edwards over Reed/Dilly - This one is the most egregious, seemingly part out of spite as he grew frsutrated and part because he made promises to Dajuan and Edwards family. Result if he plays them? Kentucky goes into the tournament with the better players, on a team that at the time was one of the hottest in the nation. Odds on favorite for an Elite 8.
Ultimately, much of this are his problems, like playing the right guys, were his undoing. But 3 simple changes (or if the COVID year cancelled the BJ Boston travesty year), and his final 5 years could have look drastically different.
I'm sure that will get flamed. Not excusing the results, more so just find it fascinating. Three sort of anomalies that you didn't see happen in the previous 30 years of his career.If you can correct those three things, and not change a THING about his offense/coaching/lack of defense .. you're looking at potentially another 20 wins, no early flameouts and at least a few elite8s, with strong chance once of those years is a Final4.
