Dauster: Kentucky has won 11 of their last 14 games. They are a game out of first place in the SEC. Is it time for people to apologize to Mark Pope?
- Thread starter akaukswoosh
- Start date
Regardless of what Pope does, there are some that will never apologize or change their attitudes when it comes to Coach.
Apologize to Mark Pope for freaking what, exactly? FFS!
I'm sorry that I got mad about being blown the F out on a semi-weekly basis for two months, I guess.
Until we win the SEC or the SECT I’ll hold onto my skepticism. Recruiting is a red flag until we get an out of state 5 star.
No, I'm not. Keep this up and actually win at a UK standard, for sure. I'll champion Mark Pope. Have a couple more blowouts, get tossed on Friday in the SECT, get to the S16 and get slapped around again...yeah, nah. I'm good. It's UK, not Creighton.
We're 7-1 since the lineup has been kind of solidified after knowing Lowe and most likely JQ are done for the year. And then in the middle of that stretch we lost Williams. Knowing who is available so the coaches can game plan and so the players know their roles is incredibly important. Yeah, maybe some of those wins weren't against great teams, but you know who else has had a string of not blowing out middling conference opponents? #3 UConn.
With very limited exceptions any conference win is a good win, especially on the road.
The coaching staff has done well lately.
With very limited exceptions any conference win is a good win, especially on the road.
The coaching staff has done well lately.
I'm not sorry for feeling like Pope was in over his head when players who shouldn't have been playing were still getting way too many minutes while we were getting blown out every other game. We also lost to louisville, which is inexcusable. They're trash.
Recent trends notwithstanding, the beginning of the season is inexcusable and I personally wouldn't care if quite a few players from this team left after this year. We need a GM to prevent that from happening. Hope Pope figures that out.
I'm still extremely leery of this team and disappointed in the roster construction.
Recent trends notwithstanding, the beginning of the season is inexcusable and I personally wouldn't care if quite a few players from this team left after this year. We need a GM to prevent that from happening. Hope Pope figures that out.
I'm still extremely leery of this team and disappointed in the roster construction.
Let's wait until the season is over before anybody owes anybody anything.
Thrilled and surprised by the turnaround.
Keep it up. I mean, this is UK, right? Need more than being a "contender" in the league, right? Or are we giving up on blue blood expectations for good? If that's what we're doing, then cash in your ******* man cards.
Keep it up. I mean, this is UK, right? Need more than being a "contender" in the league, right? Or are we giving up on blue blood expectations for good? If that's what we're doing, then cash in your ******* man cards.
Exactly. There seems to be a certain segment of the fanbase that starts this divisive "bad fan" bs when we win a game or two. We just got blown out by Vanderbilt. Arkansas was a good win for sure, but let's not act like Oklahoma was some sign that our team has turned a corner due to Pope's greatness. It was more a product of whom we played. Nobody owes Pope an apology. That's absurd.
He’s doing a good job considering this isn’t close to the team he envisioned.
Improving. Some big wins and a couple unexpected ones on the road.
I see players understanding their roles and the rotations set. All of them contributed last night. Players gaining confidence.
And I’ll say Pope has to be a great coach to play for. So positive and encouraging every day. I think he’s improving as well. Mixing in zones, offense is much better, rotations and roles defined, good scouts plus more effort. Never gave up and in to the criticism. Listened and learned.
Improving. Some big wins and a couple unexpected ones on the road.
I see players understanding their roles and the rotations set. All of them contributed last night. Players gaining confidence.
And I’ll say Pope has to be a great coach to play for. So positive and encouraging every day. I think he’s improving as well. Mixing in zones, offense is much better, rotations and roles defined, good scouts plus more effort. Never gave up and in to the criticism. Listened and learned.
Sorry if it upsets me when uk gets blown out and never in games like vandy and Gonzaga, and forgive me for thinking a blue blood should never get railed in any game. Losses happen but complete domination should not unless we are the one dominating.
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So many people tunnel vision and see "what has he done for me lately" instead of gazing at the entire scope of the season.
There are still two apparent concerning things to look at.
1. Can't Recruit
2. We lose the same way and got blown out way too much (lost the same way from last season to this).
I look at consistency as a season. Even if Pope pulls out a bunny from Utah to make a run in the SECT / NCAAT I still have doubts until he can show an improvement on his consistency.
There are still two apparent concerning things to look at.
1. Can't Recruit
2. We lose the same way and got blown out way too much (lost the same way from last season to this).
I look at consistency as a season. Even if Pope pulls out a bunny from Utah to make a run in the SECT / NCAAT I still have doubts until he can show an improvement on his consistency.
I agree with this take. I don’t mind losing games. I enjoy challenging schedules, which typically includes some losses. What I don’t handle well is getting man-handled. I do applaud Pope on solidifying the lineup and righting the ship for now. I still think the blowouts and the recruiting issues are still viable arguments for now.
This mindset cuts both ways. If people are waiting until the end of the season to apologize to Pope, they should have been waiting until the end of the season to call for his firing as well.
What team in Kentucky history would have done better without their starting PG, C, and what turned out to be another starter or at least a major contributor?
Even arguably our deepest team. 2015 Take away Harrison, Willie, and take a pick of whoever else you want to subtract.
Even arguably our deepest team. 2015 Take away Harrison, Willie, and take a pick of whoever else you want to subtract.
Apologize for what? Still awaiting on that final four between now and end of next season.. That happens,, I'll be 100% happy and eat crow..
We are down 3 of our top 6 players and have won 7 out of our last 8. Pretty damn impressive if you ask me. Oh AND are the ONLY team to beat Arkansas in Fayetteville this year. There’s that too. Oh AND the ONLY team to beat Tennessee in Knoxville.
Yep, and some people will never be satisfied with whomever is at the helm unless they produce championships every couple years.
That without a doubt is a solid accomplishment for Pope and UK that you have to credit Pope for that if being fair. I sure didn’t see that coming.
I have rewatched that game from the technicals on 3 times. In “The Journey” video you can see Pope calmly dismissing the players complaints about the refs and getting them focused on controlling what they can control. Outstanding job by Pope.
The frustrating thing is for every one of those Arkansas games there is a Vanderbilt. Pope eliminating those bipolar type performances would go a long way. Dont have to win them all but man getting waxed like that kills seeding. Oh and land an out of state high level recruit.
I so hope he does it and wins it all soon because beyond the obvious of winning the story would be so special.
Looking at it all objectively, yes the blowouts are bad. In those, the effort was lacking and that is hard to explain. However, if you look at both seasons so far, Pope has taken two different teams, that due to injuries, are not the teams he had expected to contend with, and still has 1) gotten them further in the NCAA tournament than our previous five years (with tons more talent.) 2) And this season has us a 1/2 game out of first, albeit several tough games left.
Fair or not, some have made up their mind on him and will not change. He is also saddled with Cal's poor record the last several years by those who want to judge with the "where the program is now compared to historically (10 years without a FF. However many years without SEC championship. etc.)
The only thing that will convince some is a championship or at least a FF. I believe he can accomplish this, but it may take a little longer that this or next season. Alas, he may not have time.
Fair or not, some have made up their mind on him and will not change. He is also saddled with Cal's poor record the last several years by those who want to judge with the "where the program is now compared to historically (10 years without a FF. However many years without SEC championship. etc.)
The only thing that will convince some is a championship or at least a FF. I believe he can accomplish this, but it may take a little longer that this or next season. Alas, he may not have time.
We just played the easy half of our sec schedule. Like someone else said everything hinges on now to the end of the season. We beat the worst team in the conference last night. A week ago we were getting blown out. And the damage is done. My son isn’t watching. I didn’t watch. I had the game on while I did other things. I talk to a lot of fans who pope has already turned off and I know a lot of people started pulling for our season to go sideways so pope gets fired. IMO the only way pope gets this big group of generally young people is by winning a title. I don’t even know if a ff is enough for a lot of fans. We still have lost a lot under pope and his mini run is what a lot of people have been worried about because at the end of the day pope may be a decent coach but he isn’t UK elite. Anyone spiking balls or calling out fans doesn’t understand Uk tradition. UK tradition is lots of regulars season wins, minimal losses. And a high seed in the ncaa tournament. Something that hasn’t happened since 2015. Those guys on field of 68 they don’t want UK to be elite successful. They love pope at UK because we are no threat to anything. Beating Ark isn’t enough for me. I want us to make a run. UK fans are sick of going home early from Nashville. Sick of being an annual early ncaa out. Sweet sixteen?? The standard isn’t tubby. Tubby was run out for better seasons than what pope has done until this point. And we still don’t have guys wanting to play for pope. Looking at our schedule the first half of sec play we are where I figured we would be because the conference is weak. The rest of the way we play 3 legit games. UF twice and vandy at home. Those are the only two teams that I see in the sec that can compete with the top tier this season.
he should apologize to us for having to watch the games vs Gonzaga, Michigan State, Alabama, and Vanderbilt.
LMAO that’s a valid point, except Tubby was NEVER ran out of town. Tubby left in the dark of night, on his OWN accord.
Did you watch yourself in the mirror while posting that?
The issue is outside of Tennessee and Arkansas, all of the victories have been against the lower half of the conference. Haven't played Florida or A&M yet.
Need to be able to consistently beat the top as well as the bottom.
But yes, some owe an apology for what the team has accomplished.
Need to be able to consistently beat the top as well as the bottom.
But yes, some owe an apology for what the team has accomplished.
He basically quit.If you remember, he sent Reggie Hansen to Texas to recruit Durant.
He didn’t even go.
He hasn’t apologized for the quitting, has he?
Maybe he could reimburse me the $1,000’s I spent to watch a walk thru in MSG or for the forfeit against Alabama I’m the SEC.
Then we could talk.
But it won’t make a difference. This is just like the Tubby years.
Win just enough games to not get fired while everyone knows we won’t win anything of substance.
Except this is worse because Tubby teams did at least play hard.
I just hope the Pope era is not 10 years.
I’ll watch, hope and wait. That’s the only things I can control.
Yeah, and from what I remember he has come off looking like a jerk after most losses. That's ok but its ok for UK fans to get tired of being down double digits most games n first half to power 4 teams.
Last 2 games have been super improved there and should be applauded. Winning 7 of 8 should be applauded but we are still gonna lose 12 plus games again so I don't think apologies are warranted.
One thing that's in his corner.. Kentucky is the most injured team in the nation right now, and likely on the list for most injured teams in the last decade. 3 of your top7 being out really throws everything out the window. Pretty impressive we are hanging tough. But on the other end, we still just have such head-scratching losses, performances, etc.
If I had to give Pope a grade right now? I don't know, maybe a C+? B-?
If I had to give Pope a grade right now? I don't know, maybe a C+? B-?
Yep! IIRC, it was said years later that we could have had Durant if Tubby would’ve actually recruited the guy!
That's a great point, and it's a worry for sure. The first half of SEC play wasn't exactly murderers row. Also, the SEC as expected, took major steps back after being one of the best conferences of all time last year. It was to be expected. But lets be real.. if this Kentucky team played in LAST years SEC? Do they even have a win yet? maybe 1, 2 if we're lucky?
Right now, the SEC has the 7th, 13th, 17th, 21st and 25th teams in the top25 of Kenpom. At the end of last year, it had EIGHT teams in the top22, FOUR of which were in the top6. and I have a feeling that the tournament knocked some of our rankings down, as almost half the SEC lost their opening game. I'd love to see what our ranks where at the end of regular season.