Toggle sidebar

More perspective…Todd Golden was…

Vek96

Vek96

All-Conference
Jul 4, 2025
2,378
4,934
113
……57-36 at San Francisco when Florida hired him. Uh, think about this. He didn’t set the world on fire there. The year Florida hired him away from San Francisco, he had gone just 24-10, and 10-6 in their conference. The previous year, they were 11–14. His first year, not so great either, 22-12.

So Florida for whatever reason, takes a chance on him and hires him.

Uh, his first two seasons at Florida, he goes a combined 40-29.

It’s worked out pretty well though since then, don‘t you think?

Pope may or not work out, but, he’s started much better his first two seasons here, than Hurley and Golden did their first two seasons at UConn and Florida, respectively.

Some of our fans keep bringing up that Pope had never won a tournament game when Kentucky hired him. Well, neither had Hurley or Golden.

In fact, Hurley and Golden didn’t win a tournament game their first two seasons after getting hired by UConn and Florida. Pope won two tournament games his first season at Kentucky.

In fact, Hurley and Golden had worse records their first 2 seasons at UConn and Florida, than Pope will in his first 2 seasons at Kentucky.

Most UConn and Florida fans thought Hurley and Golden were bad hires at the time they were hired. And their first two seasons, they were not exactly very good.

Let’s not let facts get in the way of the absurdity of a large portion of our fanbase.

Be patient.

The thing I’m most worried about, is this God awful JMI deal that idiot Barnhart brokered.

From what I’m hearing, this is putting a strangle hold on being able to land top players. This is the biggest problem Pope is dealing with. Apparently, this is handcuffing Pope.

My suspicion is this ridiculous JMI deal is lining the pockets of….well, I think you can guess who.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: AustinTXCat, KyKevin, ruppsrunt1 and 16 others
philstat

philstat

All-American
Jan 3, 2004
10,169
7,456
56
bigblueinsanity (the real) said:
I want to see him without condon and haugh. Those two guys together carried that team last year in so many games. They're doing it again this year and without much to stretch the floor.

Kudos to him for finding those guys, but lets see him without them before we crown him king.
Click to expand...
You can say that about any team, he recruited and built that team, one could say the same about any two key players on a team…bizarre take, at best, grasping for straws.
 
  • Like
Reactions: caliman, cornbreadnmilk, Johnnie Africa and 1 other person
K

KyWideWes

Junior
Dec 11, 2025
109
209
43
It is hard to guess at potential on a 53 year old. TG is young and was following Mike White at a place without a lot of expectations.
 
B

bigblueinsanity (the real)

All-American
Jul 6, 2025
2,141
6,463
113
philstat said:
You can say that about any team, he recruited and built that team, one could say the same about any two key players on a team…bizarre take, at best, grasping for straws.
Click to expand...

Any team? They arent just any team. They have a very legit chance to go back to back. They're tall, long, athletic, skilled, tough, and selfless.

You act like those guys grow on trees. They definitely don't.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GoAndRunIsGoneAndDone
U

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,734
3,030
113
Vek96 said:
……57-36 at San Francisco when Florida hired him. Uh, think about this. He didn’t set the world on fire there. The year Florida hired him away from San Francisco, he had gone just 24-10, and 10-6 in their conference. The previous year, they were 11–14. His first year, not so great either, 22-12.

So Florida for whatever reason, takes a chance on him and hires him.

Uh, his first two seasons at Florida, he goes a combined 40-29.

It’s worked out pretty well though since then, don‘t you think?

Pope may or not work out, but, he’s started much better his first two seasons here, than Hurley and Golden did their first two seasons at UConn and Florida, respectively.
Click to expand...
Since you follow other teams. Did Golden ever have a team just quit there?

Did he have players not improve year to year?

The excuse makers get hung up on win loss but win loss is the least of Pope’s problems.

I’m not even a Golden fan. But he’s leap years better than Pope.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kyhankypanky, JayCom71, Johnnie Africa and 1 other person
UKGrad24

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
2,809
6,782
100
Kev this topic has been beat to death so I won’t go back through it all. It’s all in my post history. These situations are not close to similar. As in, nowhere near the same. If you want I will explain exactly how they aren’t similar and illogical. Just one example is Mark is going to the end of 15 years as a head coach with an abysmal record. Golden didn’t do that, Hurley didn’t do that. And there’s way, way more that show those situations aren’t close to he same.

Look at it this way, go find me a coach who’s been coaching for 13-15 years that had no tournament success and was a 63% winning percentage guy who in one instant turned it around and became an elite coach. Just go see if there is one. 13-15 years no success at all then bam final fours and championships for the next 5-10 year period. If there are some, I can tell you it’s not gonna be many. And I doubt they sustained a good season over a career at the place.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Anon1739778738, JHR1932, Anon1773430700 and 1 other person
UKGrad24

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
2,809
6,782
100
Cats4321 said:
Apparently that's not enough to draw conclusions. Needs 5 more years
Click to expand...
I learned in high school that 15 years of doing anything at numerous places in numerous roles was a large enough sample size to make judgements. Apparently not. Some of these dudes legit need 20 years.

What this really amounts to is the player coach, ole 96’r, front of the jersey stuff has gaslit some guys so bad man. And I get it, I wanted it to, but I’ve just never been someone you can gaslight. But my area of subject matter is around those topics so it’s not really possible to do it.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Cats4321, Anon1773430700 and RunninRichie
T

theGspot_rivals175609

Junior
Feb 23, 2017
167
323
63
Vek96 said:
……57-36 at San Francisco when Florida hired him. Uh, think about this. He didn’t set the world on fire there. The year Florida hired him away from San Francisco, he had gone just 24-10, and 10-6 in their conference. The previous year, they were 11–14. His first year, not so great either, 22-12.

So Florida for whatever reason, takes a chance on him and hires him.

Uh, his first two seasons at Florida, he goes a combined 40-29.

It’s worked out pretty well though since then, don‘t you think?

Pope may or not work out, but, he’s started much better his first two seasons here, than Hurley and Golden did their first two seasons at UConn and Florida, respectively.

Some of our fans keep bringing up that Pope had never won a tournament game when Kentucky hired him. Well, neither had Hurley or Golden.

In fact, Hurley and Golden didn’t win a tournament game their first two seasons after getting hired by UConn and Florida. Pope won two tournament games his first season at Kentucky.

In fact, Hurley and Golden had worse records their first 2 seasons at UConn and Florida, than Pope will in his first 2 seasons at Kentucky.

Most UConn and Florida fans thought Hurley and Golden were bad hires at the time they were hired. And their first two seasons, they were not exactly very good.

Let’s not let facts get in the way of the absurdity of a large portion of our fanbase.

Be patient.

The thing I’m most worried about, is this God awful JMI deal that idiot Barnhart brokered.

From what I’m hearing, this is putting a strangle hold on being able to land top players. This is the biggest problem Pope is dealing with. Apparently, this is handcuffing Pope.

My suspicion is this ridiculous JMI deal is lining the pockets of….well, I think you can guess who.
Click to expand...
Lol, again, like your Hurley thread, you're leaving out a lot of context.

Golden took SF to the tournament for the first time in 24 years by his 3rd season.

Florida has improved it's overall record and conference record each season he has been there.

You really expect us to win a NC next year?
 
  • Like
Reactions: kyhankypanky, Anon1739778738, FatCatMan and 1 other person
B

bleedsblue5

Senior
Jul 1, 2025
407
870
93
I know we keep looking at Golden and Hurley. But how about looking at Doherty and Mike Davis.
There are reasons to not panic sure, but there are plenty of reasons out there saying we should move on.

Pros - 20 plus wins both years with pretty signifcant injuries with some quality wins, and heck we all like Pope as a person.
Cons - 10 plus losses both years with a big budget, and players looking uninterested and several bad losses at home to teams we have better talent. Don't get me started on the defensive issues along with bad rebounding/blockouts etc. Plus - recruiting - head scratching stuff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FatCatMan
MonsterMash79

MonsterMash79

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2024
1,118
1,702
113
bigblueinsanity (the real) said:
I want to see him without condon and haugh. Those two guys together carried that team last year in so many games. They're doing it again this year and without much to stretch the floor.

Kudos to him for finding those guys, but lets see him without them before we crown him king.
Click to expand...
I’m definitely not crowning dude.. He brought back elite players from a championship team, just like Billy when they went back2back.. After that, what happened? It’s all about getting the right players and getting them to buy in to the system Period…
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigblueinsanity (the real)
B

Buggeyes

Redshirt
Dec 28, 2014
53
3
7
philstat said:
Man, appreciate the perspective though MP will never become a TG, it’s not his personality or approach, he’s in way over his head, his heart is in the right place though he’s truly incapable of becoming elite tier.
Click to expand...
You’re the expert…
 
Crazy4Blue

Crazy4Blue

Senior
Aug 5, 2021
192
528
93
This is KENTUCKY. We should hire the best, proven coaches out there. We should never hire anyone that we hope will become a good coach. We should hire a good coach to begin with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anon1739778738
S

Snarks

All-American
Jan 31, 2005
8,427
6,685
93
Okay fine, Pope is getting another year and needs to win it all next year. 3 years is more than enough time in the NIL era.
 
D

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,171
1,505
72
bigblueinsanity (the real) said:
I want to see him without condon and haugh. Those two guys together carried that team last year in so many games. They're doing it again this year and without much to stretch the floor.

Kudos to him for finding those guys, but lets see him without them before we crown him king.
Click to expand...

It was their guard play last year. Martin, Richard and Clayton combined to put up 45, 13, 9 and 4 and a half steals a game. Throw in Aberdeen who was their 6th man and it was 53, 15 11 5. They all shot 35% or better from 3 and 77% or better from the ft line.

We had our best offensive game of the season against them in Rupp, Koby Brea had HIS best game and we BARELY won because their guards kept up.

They had far and away the best back court in the country last year.

A lot of us including myself thought they were overrated start the season because they had to replace all 4 of those guys. But now their front court steps up.

Again, Popes talent evaluation, player development and recruting are bad. And bring good at recruiting is not just about landing guys that everyone wants. It’s about landing the guys that YOU prioritized. Pope did that in year one. He has not been able to do it since.
 
  • Like
Reactions: deputy assistant and RunninRichie
Dr.LutherSan

Dr.LutherSan

All-American
Sep 6, 2019
3,978
7,641
113
Vek96 said:
……57-36 at San Francisco when Florida hired him. Uh, think about this. He didn’t set the world on fire there. The year Florida hired him away from San Francisco, he had gone just 24-10, and 10-6 in their conference. The previous year, they were 11–14. His first year, not so great either, 22-12.

So Florida for whatever reason, takes a chance on him and hires him.

Uh, his first two seasons at Florida, he goes a combined 40-29.

It’s worked out pretty well though since then, don‘t you think?

Pope may or not work out, but, he’s started much better his first two seasons here, than Hurley and Golden did their first two seasons at UConn and Florida, respectively.

Some of our fans keep bringing up that Pope had never won a tournament game when Kentucky hired him. Well, neither had Hurley or Golden.

In fact, Hurley and Golden didn’t win a tournament game their first two seasons after getting hired by UConn and Florida. Pope won two tournament games his first season at Kentucky.

In fact, Hurley and Golden had worse records their first 2 seasons at UConn and Florida, than Pope will in his first 2 seasons at Kentucky.

Most UConn and Florida fans thought Hurley and Golden were bad hires at the time they were hired. And their first two seasons, they were not exactly very good.

Let’s not let facts get in the way of the absurdity of a large portion of our fanbase.

Be patient.

The thing I’m most worried about, is this God awful JMI deal that idiot Barnhart brokered.

From what I’m hearing, this is putting a strangle hold on being able to land top players. This is the biggest problem Pope is dealing with. Apparently, this is handcuffing Pope.

My suspicion is this ridiculous JMI deal is lining the pockets of….well, I think you can guess who.
Click to expand...
Golden was an assistant under Bruce Pearl. Pope was an assistant under Mark Fox, Jeff Bzdelik, and Dave Rose. That makes a difference.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: JHR1932, FLBBNFAN, CUJO_1970 and 2 others
TFCat11

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
5,747
10,082
108
philstat said:
Man, appreciate the perspective though MP will never become a TG, it’s not his personality or approach, he’s in way over his head, his heart is in the right place though he’s truly incapable of becoming elite tier.
Click to expand...
It’s utterly amazing that the posters who bring up comparisons with Hurley, Oats, and Golden, always want to talk about their previous records compared to Pope, but what they are smoke screening from, is those 3 had the intestinal fortitude and killer instinct personalities to be successful, when the time arose, and they were given the perfect opportunity…

Pope was put in that PERFECT opportunity, but he doesn’t have their intestinal fortitude, and he sure as heck doesn’t have their killer instinct personality to be as successful as they are!

Folks, Apples are Apples, and Oranges are Oranges for a reason… Those 3 examples are Apples, and Pope is the Orange.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anon1739778738, JHR1932, cornbreadnmilk and 1 other person
D

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,171
1,505
72
Dr.LutherSan said:
Golden was an assistant under Bruce Pearl. Pope was an assistant under Mark Fox, Jeff Bzdelik, and Dave Rose. That makes a difference.
Click to expand...

Yep. Pedigree tends to matter.

Donovan learned under Pitino. Coach K under Bob Knight. Pitino under Boeheim and PJ Carlesimo i believe. Dan Hurley under Bob Hurley senior, who is arguably the greatest high school basketball coach in history. (though the coaching genes seemed to skip Bobby) Roy Williams under Dean Smith. Self spent time as an assistant under Larry Brown and Eddie Sutton i think.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Anon1739778738, Dr.LutherSan and RunninRichie
Johnnie Africa

Johnnie Africa

All-Conference
Feb 27, 2003
798
2,544
93
Some points:

1) He will be here next year. It seems the coaches you reference made huge leaps their 3rd year, so it appears next year is make or break


2) I e been watching UK play for 27 years now (yikes) and I’ve never seen a team give up, not play hard, and not be held accountable like this years team since maybe the 9-16 team. And for it being only his 2nd year that to me is what’s troubling. Injuries I get, but they don’t even play hard half the time. That to me is a fundamental flaw.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anon1739778738, 20MRoster, FLBBNFAN and 2 others
T

theKybluedude

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
628
1,451
93
UKBB4Ever said:
Since you follow other teams. Did Golden ever have a team just quit there?

Did he have players not improve year to year?

The excuse makers get hung up on win loss but win loss is the least of Pope’s problems.

I’m not even a Golden fan. But he’s leap years better than Pope.
Click to expand...
Looks like his first Fla team lost in the first round of the NIT and his 2nd team got bounced in the first round of the NCAA. Assume they quit.
Florida fans were better to him and gave him a chance. Give him credit for assembling a dominant team without recruited 5stars.

I say let him have another year to see if he improves. Has done better than Golden in both their first 2 years.
I’m sure he knows it has to improve. Has to have a great portal season. Nobody cares more. That matters to me. Much better person than a guy like Golden and I’m pulling for him.
We will know next year if it’s trending upward. Needs a chance to coach without crippling injuries.

This year's not over yet. Make some noise.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sportspm
T

theKybluedude

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
628
1,451
93
UKGrad24 said:
I learned in high school that 15 years of doing anything at numerous places in numerous roles was a large enough sample size to make judgements. Apparently not. Some of these dudes legit need 20 years.

What this really amounts to is the player coach, ole 96’r, front of the jersey stuff has gaslit some guys so bad man. And I get it, I wanted it to, but I’ve just never been someone you can gaslight. But my area of subject matter is around those topics so it’s not really possible to do it.
Click to expand...
Took John Wooden about 16 years at UCLA to get his first title.

Yeah I know that was before nil right. Or Sam Gilbert.

Not saying that is what is warranted but 2 years isn’t enough time.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: philstat and RunninRichie
RunninRichie

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,521
68,015
113
theKybluedude said:
Took John Wooden about 16 years at UCLA to get his first title.

Yeah I know that was before nil right. Or Sam Gilbert.

Not saying that is what is warranted but 2 years isn’t enough time.
Click to expand...
Pope is the next John Wooden. He just needs a booster to pay recruits for him, well damn it, that's legal now.
 
Dr.LutherSan

Dr.LutherSan

All-American
Sep 6, 2019
3,978
7,641
113
Dward13 said:
Yep. Pedigree tends to matter.

Donovan learned under Pitino. Coach K under Bob Knight. Pitino under Boeheim and PJ Carlesimo i believe. Dan Hurley under Bob Hurley senior, who is arguably the greatest high school basketball coach in history. (though the coaching genes seemed to skip Bobby) Roy Williams under Dean Smith. Self spent time as an assistant under Larry Brown and Eddie Sutton i think.
Click to expand...
-Calipari under Larry Brown
-Chris Beard and Dusty May under Bob Knight
-Tommy Lloyd under Mark Few
-Otzelberger under Hoiberg
-McCasland under Scott Drew
 
V

VC99

Sophomore
Sep 16, 2025
62
139
33
Vek96 said:
……57-36 at San Francisco when Florida hired him. Uh, think about this. He didn’t set the world on fire there. The year Florida hired him away from San Francisco, he had gone just 24-10, and 10-6 in their conference. The previous year, they were 11–14. His first year, not so great either, 22-12.

So Florida for whatever reason, takes a chance on him and hires him.

Uh, his first two seasons at Florida, he goes a combined 40-29.

It’s worked out pretty well though since then, don‘t you think?

Pope may or not work out, but, he’s started much better his first two seasons here, than Hurley and Golden did their first two seasons at UConn and Florida, respectively.

Some of our fans keep bringing up that Pope had never won a tournament game when Kentucky hired him. Well, neither had Hurley or Golden.

In fact, Hurley and Golden didn’t win a tournament game their first two seasons after getting hired by UConn and Florida. Pope won two tournament games his first season at Kentucky.

In fact, Hurley and Golden had worse records their first 2 seasons at UConn and Florida, than Pope will in his first 2 seasons at Kentucky.

Most UConn and Florida fans thought Hurley and Golden were bad hires at the time they were hired. And their first two seasons, they were not exactly very good.

Let’s not let facts get in the way of the absurdity of a large portion of our fanbase.

Be patient.

The thing I’m most worried about, is this God awful JMI deal that idiot Barnhart brokered.

From what I’m hearing, this is putting a strangle hold on being able to land top players. This is the biggest problem Pope is dealing with. Apparently, this is handcuffing Pope.

My suspicion is this ridiculous JMI deal is lining the pockets of….well, I think you can guess who.
Click to expand...
By your logic Mark Pope should have won a title and the Big12 when he left Utah Valley for BYU.
 
S

Sportspm

All-Conference
Jul 26, 2009
873
1,713
57
I have optimism for next season “if” we can get some of the top portal transfers. We know the offense can work with the right kind of players(last year). The defense has improved, especially late this season. Played good enough defense to beat Florida, if could have rebounded and made some of the wide open shots.
so year 1, good enough offense to win any game, poor defense.
year 2 , good enough defense to win almost any game, not enough offense.
Year 3? Maybe he will get the right combination. I haven’t given up hope.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KyKevin, Crestcat, theKybluedude and 1 other person
philstat

philstat

All-American
Jan 3, 2004
10,169
7,456
56
Buggeyes said:
You’re the expert…
Click to expand...
Lay them out right now, after 15 years, barely winning over 60% of his games in tremendously weaker conferences, first ever NCAAT wins were last season, go name them, the changes he’s going to put forth, lay them out for all of us to see.
 
G

GainesvilleGreen

Heisman
Jan 25, 2011
127,841
15,964
86
bigblueinsanity (the real) said:
I want to see him without condon and haugh. Those two guys together carried that team last year in so many games. They're doing it again this year and without much to stretch the floor.

Kudos to him for finding those guys, but let’s see him without them before we crown him king.
Click to expand...

people said the same after Clayton, Martin, and Richard left last season..
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigblueinsanity (the real)
U

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
3,327
5,625
113
Vek96 said:
……57-36 at San Francisco when Florida hired him. Uh, think about this. He didn’t set the world on fire there. The year Florida hired him away from San Francisco, he had gone just 24-10, and 10-6 in their conference. The previous year, they were 11–14. His first year, not so great either, 22-12.

So Florida for whatever reason, takes a chance on him and hires him.

Uh, his first two seasons at Florida, he goes a combined 40-29.

It’s worked out pretty well though since then, don‘t you think?

Pope may or not work out, but, he’s started much better his first two seasons here, than Hurley and Golden did their first two seasons at UConn and Florida, respectively.

Some of our fans keep bringing up that Pope had never won a tournament game when Kentucky hired him. Well, neither had Hurley or Golden.

In fact, Hurley and Golden didn’t win a tournament game their first two seasons after getting hired by UConn and Florida. Pope won two tournament games his first season at Kentucky.

In fact, Hurley and Golden had worse records their first 2 seasons at UConn and Florida, than Pope will in his first 2 seasons at Kentucky.

Most UConn and Florida fans thought Hurley and Golden were bad hires at the time they were hired. And their first two seasons, they were not exactly very good.

Let’s not let facts get in the way of the absurdity of a large portion of our fanbase.

Be patient.

The thing I’m most worried about, is this God awful JMI deal that idiot Barnhart brokered.

From what I’m hearing, this is putting a strangle hold on being able to land top players. This is the biggest problem Pope is dealing with. Apparently, this is handcuffing Pope.

My suspicion is this ridiculous JMI deal is lining the pockets of….well, I think you can guess who.
Click to expand...
Don't bother using actual numbers and logic, unless you are posting that Pope should be fired the arrows are coming out...
 
  • Like
Reactions: KyKevin and Vek96
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom