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Pope responds - Yaxel Lendeborg

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bleedsblue5

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The response <-- CLICK ME if you dare. ESPN

Sounds like most of it was total CRAP.

Pope heavily suggested that Lendeborg's claim to The Associated Press that Kentucky offered him $7 million to $9 million to transfer from UAB in 2025 was inaccurate. However, Pope did not explicitly deny or confirm Lendeborg's reported offer.
 
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Mossip

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"We will try and embrace the circus nature of this and count on some responsible media member somewhere to actually kind of dig in and find out or just be responsible reporting."

Lendeborg's comments to the AP were published Monday. Pope said that a couple of days ago, outgoing Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart walked into his office and had a conversation about things that were being reported before Pope on Thursday decried the accuracy standards of modern media, calling this "an interesting time in the world."

Just say the kids full of **** and the people that reported are garbage journalists.

Get some balls ffs. Pope is such a wordy little *****
 
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dynastydreamuk

dynastydreamuk

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I liked Popes statement here... he basically said dont believe everything you hear without directly calling the kid a liar.

I like the idea out there that Kentucky does offer that much ridiculous money for the goofs that actually believe it, whoch should be nobody... but if the next Anthony Davis comes along, I hope he thinks we pay that much.
 
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theBlues

theBlues

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OliverSimmonsTwinBrother said:

Kentucky's Pope sounds off on Lendeborg's claim, doesn't rebut it​


Thats the headline. Someone please get Pope some media training lol.
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He needs it big time! You just don't address that unless you're going to at least give a non-denial denial. You could say something to make him sound questionable even if he was telling the truth without lying. For example, "I don't know why he's throwing those numbers out there". That would imply he was exaggerating but would be an appropriate thing for him to say even if Lendeborg was telling the truth(not cool to air private conversations publicly like that without permission from the other party).
 
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UKFootball78

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Sep 1, 2013
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Mossip said:
"We will try and embrace the circus nature of this and count on some responsible media member somewhere to actually kind of dig in and find out or just be responsible reporting."

Lendeborg's comments to the AP were published Monday. Pope said that a couple of days ago, outgoing Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart walked into his office and had a conversation about things that were being reported before Pope on Thursday decried the accuracy standards of modern media, calling this "an interesting time in the world."

Just say the kids full of **** and the people that reported are garbage journalists.

Get some balls ffs. Pope is such a wordy little *****
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He would then be targeted by all the so called media ten times harder. He has to be tactful with his comments. He gets his point across. And to me clearly calls BS on this
 
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MegaBlue05

MegaBlue05

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UKBB4Ever said:
Sounds like the one lying is Pope.
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Legit question: Your beef with Pope seems ultra personal.

You constantly discredit his character. Did he do something to you or is it just you being mad Cal’s not here anymore?

You have had a vendetta against him from day 1. You were crushing him at all times last year too.

I am not flaming you. Genuinely curious.
 
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Trinity45

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bleedsblue5 said:
The response <-- CLICK ME if you dare. ESPN

Sounds like most of it was total CRAP.

Pope heavily suggested that Lendeborg's claim to The Associated Press that Kentucky offered him $7 million to $9 million to transfer from UAB in 2025 was inaccurate. However, Pope did not explicitly deny or confirm Lendeborg's reported offer.
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I figure it was a lie, my guess UK made him a decent offer and Michigan topped it, why he is lying it only known to that kid.
 
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cat tat2

cat tat2

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Anything less than the whole story is a lie. This goes for everyone, Pope and Yaxel.
 
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UKBB4Ever

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MegaBlue05 said:
Legit question: Your beef with Pope seems ultra personal.

You constantly discredit his character. Did he do something to you or is it just you being mad Cal’s not here anymore?

You have had a vendetta against him from day 1. You were crushing him at all times last year too.

I am not flaming you. Genuinely curious.
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It’s not personal at all. He was one of my favorite players on the ‘96 team.

I really don’t know how anyone could dislike Pope on a personal level.

And it has nothing to do with Cal. I said from the time I started posting here that it was time for Cal to go.

Nor did I crush him last year. Until the forfeit against Alabama in the SEC.

It’s purely UK basketball. Pope is not the guy. I guess it does become personal at some point when UK basketball has been such a huge part of my life since I was old enough to know what it was.

And I was glad we hired Pope. I’m not one of those against him from day 1.

I actually thought he would kill it here. The reason I thought Cal should go was because of the players first. I wanted a guy that was program first.

Pope is that in spades. But he’s the wrong one.

I can’t understand how anyone watching doesn’t see that.

As far as who to believe in this case I do know that Pope had a blank checkbook. I know he was not handcuffed by JMI.

And Pope did not say it wasn’t true.

I base my opinion on what I know. And it’s just that. An opinion.
 
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preacherfan

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AMTGSLB said:
What motive does Lendeborg have to lie about this? Does it benefit him?
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My best guess is that he can say, "I am not greedy and living my basketball life for money. I am building a solid future...yada, yada, yada." That is a nicer theory than the idea that he is a braggart.

Nobody really knows why he said it but people do this stuff ALL the time!
 
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JSquad0070

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Pope’s coach speak is worse than Cal’s. Spewing garbage from the mouth not saying anything. When’s did men become such pussies they can’t say what they actually feel?
 
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Goingfor9

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ThroughBlue said:
Pope can sure use a lot of words without saying much. get that man to congress asap
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And that’s the problem with his coaching you’ve got to boil everything down till like three things, and this guy talks and talks and talks about things that are difficult to understand on the surface so you’re like thinking about what he just said, and he’s already moved onto the next thing and that’s why they don’t understand what they’re doing. That’s why we lose a ton of games this guy lose a ton of games man I mean pope already has lost a lot of freaking games. He’s put zero distance between Kansas and a time where we should be. I mean we’re just getting mowed over irrelevant
 
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UKFootball78

All-Conference
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UKBB4Ever said:
Ok great, personal attacks when one has a different opinion.

I mean I get it. When you have nothing else go personal.

Bless your heart.
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Lol...how many people have personally attacked on here. I didn't even do anything but call to attention your ability to comprehend what you read, which again was showcased with your response. You do way worse....way worse.
 
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Anon1751335390

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Pope’s answer was fine.

There’s some mystery about the inner workings of the NIL. The innuendo and gossip that results from that is obnoxious. The media asks their cloying questions as if they already know the answer. They then huff and puff when they don’t get the answer they want.

Do they want Pope to say Yaxel was lying and provide an image of our accounting to prove it? No. They want to generate gossip that can fuel narratives.
 
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MegaBlue05

MegaBlue05

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I don’t have issue with this deflection.

Confirming it would be a bad look for him and the school.

Calling the kid a liar would be worse. A middle aged man who works exclusively with college age kids can’t outright call a college kid a liar and attack the kid’s character and expect to build future good relationships with other college age players.
 
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AMTGSLB

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Mar 17, 2026
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preacherfan said:
My best guess is that he can say, "I am not greedy and living my basketball life for money. I am building a solid future...yada, yada, yada." That is a nicer theory than the idea that he is a braggart.

Nobody really knows why he did it but people do this stuff ALL the time!
Click to expand...
He did it? Based on?
 
*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

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dynastydreamuk said:
I liked Popes statement here... he basically said dont believe everything you hear without directly calling the kid a liar.

I like the idea out there that Kentucky does offer that much ridiculous money for the goofs that actually believe it, whoch should be nobody... but if the next Anthony Davis comes along, I hope he thinks we pay that much.
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Then when we don’t? He’s gonna get upset and not come anyway lol.
 
A

AMTGSLB

Sophomore
Mar 17, 2026
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preacherfan said:
For the record, you didn't ask that question and I didn't answer it. I simply answered the question you asked about why would he lie?
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Um, your last sentence said, " nobody knows why he did it but people do this stuff All the time."

Sounds like an answer about, no?
 
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