Tommy Lloyd isn't leaving Arizona. That's his dream job. Not even worth a call.
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I wanted pearl soon as cow left and nothing since has changed my mind, I know I’d love to have Hurley or the Iowa st guy but they’re in better jobs right now. Give me Bruce and I know some don’t like him but until we prove this program is “back” then the options are limited I’m afraid.
Let’s review:
Going against Pope:
0 recruits for next year
No GM
He spent $22 million on this team
Hasn’t sniffed winning the SEC
Losing at home many times to subpar teams
Going for Pope:
He’s a nice guy
Mutch Is the AD.
I’ll take any elementary coach or high school coach in the state of Kentucky. Hell let the women’s coach slide over and coach both teams the rest of the season.
Going for Pope: Associate AD is Mormon, Mitch doesn’t care as long as revenue and attendance is solid,
So with all that being said, you’re gonna enjoy watching him coach next year huh?
AGREED, but I don't know right now if that is still the strength it once was. We saw the shift in football IMMEDIATELY AWAY from the SEC and TOWARDS money. How do we know it hasn't already done that in basketball and we're just in denial about it?
A realistic name would be Jai Lucas. Big swing but he’s young, an incredible recruiter and has been a part of two of the best coaching trees in college basketball.
If Florida wins another back to back title, IT TOO WILL BE A MODERN DAY BLUE-BLOOD
I just don’t think we could do that in the position we’re in now. We’ve dug a hole, we’re in serious droughts. We need a coach that’s going to win here at least to some kind of blue blood standard. We hire Lucas and it backfires? We’re talking looking at decades since any real success. Thats steering toward Indiana.
I think it wise for UK to look to an immediate proven coach or a bridge like Pearl. And it should be done ASAP. Oats has turned Alabama into a national threat and he’s a great recruiter and evaluator. He might have some consistency lows, but probably not that bad and when he wins, especially here, it would be decisive. If he does that at Alabama he’d probably kill it here. Their NIK isn’t even that great at Bama.
Guys like that need to be brought in. We need a Pitino, a calipari, a fixer. The boosters knew that last time. I’d be afraid Lucas would be another Pope type hire, a guess. Don’t think we can afford it right now. Maybe later. Obviously if it was tricky to get usual suspects right now, start looking down that road.
Anyone who has won a NCAA tournament game is a better choice than Pope.
Will Wade is my dark horse. But he’d never get an opportunity to coach here. Can’t imagine he’s going to settle with just NC State.
I think his personality would fit at Kentucky very well.
Still learning on the job not enough experience left us for puke screw him
Dusty May would be my top choice, but Michigan is one of the richest athletic programs out there. I'd say Oats, Otzelberger, Lloyd, and if they all say no, get Pearl for 3-5 and re-evaluate.
If Pope is run off before his contract, we will get absolutely nobody.
Let’s not forget that a 13-12 B12 coach couldn’t get out of Lexington fast enough.
The only reason we got an unproven relatively new HC from BYU is because he played here.
Forget who might replace Pope. Who the heck would be coaching right now had he not been an alum with a special affinity for this place?!
I keep saying over and over again in all these next guy type threads that the days of top tier programs attracting the best coaches is over. Football and basketball.
Also, the landscape has changed so much and continues to change that it really isn’t a guarantee that a top tier coach at a top tier program is going to play out the way most think it would. At least not in the short time frame fans are expecting.
Let’s not forget that a 13-12 B12 coach couldn’t get out of Lexington fast enough.
The only reason we got an unproven relatively new HC from BYU is because he played here.
Forget who might replace Pope. Who the heck would be coaching right now had he not been an alum with a special affinity for this place?!
I keep saying over and over again in all these next guy type threads that the days of top tier programs attracting the best coaches is over. Football and basketball.
Also, the landscape has changed so much and continues to change that it really isn’t a guarantee that a top tier coach at a top tier program is going to play out the way most think it would. At least not in the short time frame fans are expecting.
Because he is never going to win the big trophy at Gonzaga. Now, if he doesn't care about that, then I would just wish that he stayed there instead of at UK.
There's several coaches that could kill it here at Kentucky.
Dusty May, Oates, TJ OItzelberger might be one of the surprise choices if you ask me. The more I think about it though, ( and I guess Pitino is too old now to seriously bring him in ) ....
For me, bring in Bruce Pearl out of retirement and make a splash. Give him 3 - 5 years for coming back and get a damn GM, get rid of the JMI deal and for god's sake, get rid of Barney.
More than anything, we need Barney gone.
It's going to take a home run sure fire hire to get things back on track. Give Pope another year, but if he fails the "assignment", then we have to move on.
Dusty May, Oates, TJ OItzelberger might be one of the surprise choices if you ask me. The more I think about it though, ( and I guess Pitino is too old now to seriously bring him in ) ....
For me, bring in Bruce Pearl out of retirement and make a splash. Give him 3 - 5 years for coming back and get a damn GM, get rid of the JMI deal and for god's sake, get rid of Barney.
More than anything, we need Barney gone.
It's going to take a home run sure fire hire to get things back on track. Give Pope another year, but if he fails the "assignment", then we have to move on.
We have no chance of getting Lloyd, May or Golden so not gonna list them. Here’s my list.
Nate Oats
TJ Otzelberger
Brad Underwood
Fred Hoiberg
Billy Donovan - how much longer could he possibly stay with the bulls?
Ben McCollum
Will Wade
Grant Mccasland - tech has major money and he’s a Texas guy. May not be gettable.
Bucky McMillan
Kevin Young
Josh Schertz
Ryan Odom
Jai Lucas - sleeper pick. Young and connected.
Bruce Pearl - wish he was 10 years younger and not a right wing nutjob.
Nate Oats
TJ Otzelberger
Brad Underwood
Fred Hoiberg
Billy Donovan - how much longer could he possibly stay with the bulls?
Ben McCollum
Will Wade
Grant Mccasland - tech has major money and he’s a Texas guy. May not be gettable.
Bucky McMillan
Kevin Young
Josh Schertz
Ryan Odom
Jai Lucas - sleeper pick. Young and connected.
Bruce Pearl - wish he was 10 years younger and not a right wing nutjob.
As a fellow “right wing nutjob” I can’t imagine caring if my coach was a member of Antifa if he could win titles and get to final fours. Perfect example of how people’s political opinions lead them to dehumanizing everyone they disagree with. Pearl’s entire description is “old” and “right wing nut job.” For the record, I’m with you on Jai Lucas — even though most of those names you listed were because you thought they were reasonable, I’d argue aren’t. We nearly hired Shaka Smart during the last hire. Fans always like to believe we know we will get this or that coach but things are much more difficult now than 16+ years ago. At least Lucas will get top recruits and he’s young. I’ve come to believe half the fanbase care more about where we finish in Rivals anyway.
Not that I want this guy but he proves why you hire someone with a little success and pedigree. Ryan Odom has UVA 24-3 in his first year as coach in the ACC. His previous accomplishments include:
Now let’s take a look at Popes. Oh wait, he had none.
| Awards |
|---|
| Championships |
| America East tournament (2018) America East regular season (2021) Atlantic 10 regular season (2025) Atlantic 10 tournament (2025) |
| Joe B. Hall Award (2017)[1] Hugh Durham Award (2018) America East Coach of the Year (2021) |
Now let’s take a look at Popes. Oh wait, he had none.
He could at least sell the fact he has won championships before, New York guy with moxy. I think he is exactly what we wanted Pope to be.
I know is going to shock a lot of people on here, but there is more to life than winning that trophy. He has built an elite program there, spent many years there so his life is there, they compete every year, the NBA loves his players. he is a legend there, he has USA and foreign pipelines, his life is far less stressful and irrational than it would be if he came here and he is 63 years old which is late for a 180 in life- just a few reason why he would not- oh and he is well paid and has excellent support from the area, fans and school, which varies from game to game at UK lol