Sleepers Media response video to Pope criticizing Cal's last four years, "Watch your mouth. I did things here that you could only imagine doing."

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,127
97,968
113
Excellent video. The also include a clip of Pope's stupid rant about "progress" as well where he compares Cal's last four years of winning percentage vs. Pope's first two years here.

Looks like Pope is doubling down on his worthiness of the UK coaching position. If all he's doing is measuring "progress" by Cal's last four years, we're truly screwed because Pope will consider another Sweet Sixteen and a top 3 SEC finish success.

 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,127
97,968
113
You would think a guy that only has a 63% career winning percentage would not be so committed to comparing winning percentages with a guy who has a career 75% winning percentage, has taken four programs to Sweet Sixteens, coached in six Final Fours, and been to the Elite Eight 12 times.

Cal's response should be, "Let me know when this kid wins more than 25 games in a season."
 
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BlueSince92

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
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Truth be told, I've lost respect for Pope this week after our tourney loss. He had a horrible season but for the longest time I was still like, "he showed his first year he can coach so I can forgive him a horrible season IF he's able to figure out recruiting somehow."

But that was based on my assumption of him keeping the attitude he came here with. That losses hurt him as much as they hurt us.

This crap about how fourteen freaking losses aren't that bad ("theyre just not 'the standard'") because it's still progress is bullcrap.

He didn't do himself any favors with me Monday. If he'd have just said, "I feel so ashamed I want to run and hide and I promise I'll figure it out somehow"——then even if I didn't believe his optimism I'd still respect him a lot more.
 

BigBlue1992

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
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Whether UK fans love him, hate him, or just got sick of him, John Calipari is one of the top 15-20 greatest college basketball coaches of all time.

Mark Pope might barely be a top 50 current college basketball coach. And that’s pushing it.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,127
97,968
113
Truth be told, I've lost respect for Pope this week after our tourney loss. He had a horrible season but for the longest time I was still like, "he showed his first year he can coach so I can forgive him a horrible season IF he's able to figure out recruiting somehow."

But that was based on my assumption of him keeping the attitude he came here with. That losses hurt him as much as they hurt us.

This crap about how fourteen freaking losses aren't that bad ("theyre just not 'the standard'") because it's still progress is bullcrap.

He didn't do himself any favors with me Monday. If he'd have just said, "I feel so ashamed I want to run and hide and I promise I'll figure it out somehow"——then even if I didn't believe his optimism I'd still respect him a lot more.
Good thoughts. I think if he truly understood the assignment as he claims, he would have pledged something to the effect of this: "We will do everything humanly and morally possible to win big next year; and you know what? If we don't win big, I don't deserve to be in this position any longer than one more season."

Instead he doubles down with excuses, as you mentioned. It shows me he's okay with mediocrity. He was a horrific hire. I fear we are truly screwed. If Pope goes something like 25-11 and loses in the Sweet Sixteen, he'll make his case to the new AD that it was a worthy sign of progress, and if the new AD is one of Mitch's Mayberry "ah shucks" pals, we could see Pope stick around for years to come.

If he gets a fourth year with little improvement, UK fans should seriously consider boycotting and cutting all NIL. Hit these effers where it hurts.
 

Anon1679859502

All-American
Jun 28, 2015
4,852
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You would think a guy that only has a 63% career winning percentage would not be so committed to comparing winning percentages with a guy who has a career 75% winning percentage, has taken four programs to Sweet Sixteens, coached in six Final Fours, and been to the Elite Eight 12 times.

Cal's response should be, "Let me know with this kid wins more than 25 games in a season."
That’s part of the problem, Pope isn’t really a kid. He started his basketball career later than most and I think he’s in his early 50’s
 

FatCatMan

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Feb 19, 2026
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Anyone who had any doubts about his being in over his head had them all erased this week when he opened his mouth about progress.

Or at least they should have.

It was painful to watch him exposing his ineptness.
I disparage Pope a lot, everyone knows that. But I think he’s a decent coach. And if he’s willing to self-reflect, I think he could do well at Kentucky, despite my feelings that his personality doesn’t fit the job at all.

That little coach’s show BS killed any hope I had that he’s capable of improving. He’s doubling down and ignoring what he needs to do to become a better coach. I fear he’s pushing away coaches who might tell him what he needs to improve in favor of Mormon BYU buddies who all seem to jerk each other off and refuse to criticize one another.
 

FilsonCat

All-Conference
Apr 5, 2007
3,305
3,863
113
Pope isn't even in the top 50 of current coaches. He's more like a top 100 guy who somehow found himself coaching at a program with top 5 resources.

Next season is going to be tough. One of our toughest as a fanbase. Jesus take the wheel.
 

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
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You would think a guy that only has a 63% career winning percentage would not be so committed to comparing winning percentages with a guy who has a career 75% winning percentage, has taken four programs to Sweet Sixteens, coached in six Final Fours, and been to the Elite Eight 12 times.

Cal's response should be, "Let me know when this kid wins more than 25 games in a season."
Cal isn’t going to respond to Mark. Mark isn’t even on his radar. Mark Pope is a nobody, he’s the luckiest guy ever. Born tall, no skill, ends up on the 96 team, handed the captain sht due to keeping the good players away from the role, NBA but some crazy luck, coach at Kentucky with a horrendous coaching record. There has never been a luckier man in the world than Mark Pope.
 

caliman

Junior
Jun 5, 2016
104
287
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Anyone who had any doubts about his being in over his head had them all erased this week when he opened his mouth about progress.

Or at least they should have.

It was painful to watch him exposing his ineptness.
I said in another thread that he should have been fired as soon as that radio show was over.

And whoever in the PR department that thought it was a good idea to tout is 63.9% winning percentage over Calipari’s 63.4% winning percentage over his last 4 years.
 

FilsonCat

All-Conference
Apr 5, 2007
3,305
3,863
113
BBN is the most toxic fanbase in all of sports.
Not even close. Kentucky is a poor state with limited resources not owned by foreign corporations. People in Kentucky are giving, and they care dearly about the program. We are in a situation where the voices of average people are ignored while corrupt administrators continue business as usual. Things UK sports related continue to cost more and more in a time when most of us are spread pretty thin. And accountability and transparency are worse than they have been in past eras.
 

Genediesel

Sophomore
Mar 18, 2022
203
172
43
Cal isn’t going to respond to Mark. Mark isn’t even on his radar. Mark Pope is a nobody, he’s the luckiest guy ever. Born tall, no skill, ends up on the 96 team, handed the captain sht due to keeping the good players away from the role, NBA but some crazy luck, coach at Kentucky with a horrendous coaching record. There has never been a luckier man in the world than Mark Pope.
"handed the captain sht due to keeping the good players away from the role"

What does this mean?
 

UKGrad24

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Apr 2, 2024
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BBN is the most toxic fanbase in all of sports.
I take it you haven’t traveled around the SEC at all? When you grow up, pick a field that makes some good money and drive to Knoxville, Auburn, and LSU. Come back here and post your findings lol.

Kentucky is easy street compared to a lot of these fanbases son.
 

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
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"handed the captain sht due to keeping the good players away from the role"

What does this mean?
Pitino didn’t want one of the better players being the captain. He wanted a neutral guy that everyone could agree with it going to. Pope didn’t get that for any reason other than he was a neutral player they could all rally around and it wouldn’t make waves. He wanted the good players all on the same page. Classic to do back then, it was the same way on a few of my teams in college.
 

WiseSerpent

Sophomore
Apr 28, 2021
87
150
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Anyone who had any doubts about his being in over his head had them all erased this week when he opened his mouth about progress.

Or at least they should have.

It was painful to watch him exposing his ineptness.

It brought to mind the old adage “peeing on your leg and telling you it’s raining”