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The questions I'd like to ask Mark Pope...

MdWIldcat55

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,257
84,740
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Assuming as a college coach he has watched these Sweet 16 games, I'd like to ask Pope this question under threat of dismissal if he didn't answer truthfully:

Have you noticed how much BETTER virtually all these teams are than the Kentucky team you put on the court, with or without Jaland Lowe and Kam Williams and Quaintance?

By BETTER, I mean how much harder they play, how much tougher they are under the boards, how much more efficient they are offensively, how much more they protect the ball, how aggressive they are, how much better they shoot the ball, and especially how much more committed they are to defending?

I have to believe Pope has noticed this -- he's been a college basketball coach a long time. Did it change his plans for who to keep and who to recruit? Does it change how he plans to condition the team and the style of play he intends to use?

That question would lead to one more:

Do you honestly think you are the man to close that gap between now and October, with the the assistants you hire, the players you sign and the adjustments you make to your coaching?

Of course, no one -- especially dunce Mitch Barnhart -- will ask Pope those two questions and demand an honest answer. But I hope he asks them of himself. If he can honestly say yes, then please do whatever it takes to make it happen. If he can't, be man enough to leave now -- like today. Negotiate a departure settlement. It will be better for everyone in the long run, you included.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
44,691
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113
MdWIldcat55 said:
Assuming as a college coach he has watched these Sweet 16 games, I'd like to ask Pope this question under threat of dismissal if he didn't answer truthfully:

Have you noticed how much BETTER virtually all these teams are than the Kentucky team you put on the court, with or without Jaland Lowe and Kam Williams and Quaintance?

By BETTER, I mean how much harder they play, how much tougher they are under the boards, how much more efficient they are offensively, how much more they protect the ball, how aggressive they are, how much better they shoot the ball, and especially how much more committed they are to defending?

I have to believe Pope has noticed this -- he's been a college basketball coach a long time. Did it change his plans for who to keep and who to recruit? Does it change how he plans to condition the team and the style of play he intends to use?

That question would lead to one more:

Do you honestly think you are the man to close that gap between now and October, with the the assistants you hire, the players you sign and the adjustments you make to your coaching?

Of course, no one -- especially dunce Mitch Barnhart -- will ask Pope those two questions and demand an honest answer. But I hope he asks them of himself. If he can honestly say yes, then please do whatever it takes to make it happen. If he can't, be man enough to leave now -- like today. Negotiate a departure settlement. It will be better for everyone in the long run, you included.
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The difference in the make up of the teams and the quality of play is ridiculous. Only Houston has played a game that looked like us recently and they would still kick the crap out of us.
 
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U

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
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I don’t know the name of Iowa’s coach. But watch them play.

It’s like watching IU football this last season.

You see a well coached team. A disciplined team.

Don’t scoreboard watch. Watch the play.

They aren’t the only ones. But Iowa doesn’t stand out with super players. It’s just well coached.

Then watch UK play. Again, not the scoreboard. You will not see a well coached or disciplined team.

It’s such a stark difference.
 
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3

3 Putts

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Apr 25, 2025
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We were 75th in RPG, 115 in turnovers which shows both the physical and mental toughness of the team overall. Also, gave up 23 ppg from behind the ark which was 152nd, constantly coming under picks and consistently got burned. I think a lot of that may have come from coaching and maybe the attitude and effort in practice, idk. The big thing to me from watching this team was effort at times and turnovers at critical times, that has to change or we’re not getting any better whatsoever imo.
 
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B

Bichoto

Junior
Mar 26, 2026
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At this point, I don’t think pope likes Kentucky. He must be angry how we treated pitino. I have a hard time believing it’s this difficult to recruit and coach at UK
 
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Monday Nitro

Monday Nitro

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Jul 3, 2025
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MdWIldcat55 said:
Assuming as a college coach he has watched these Sweet 16 games, I'd like to ask Pope this question under threat of dismissal if he didn't answer truthfully:

Have you noticed how much BETTER virtually all these teams are than the Kentucky team you put on the court, with or without Jaland Lowe and Kam Williams and Quaintance?

By BETTER, I mean how much harder they play, how much tougher they are under the boards, how much more efficient they are offensively, how much more they protect the ball, how aggressive they are, how much better they shoot the ball, and especially how much more committed they are to defending?

I have to believe Pope has noticed this -- he's been a college basketball coach a long time. Did it change his plans for who to keep and who to recruit? Does it change how he plans to condition the team and the style of play he intends to use?

That question would lead to one more:

Do you honestly think you are the man to close that gap between now and October, with the the assistants you hire, the players you sign and the adjustments you make to your coaching?

Of course, no one -- especially dunce Mitch Barnhart -- will ask Pope those two questions and demand an honest answer. But I hope he asks them of himself. If he can honestly say yes, then please do whatever it takes to make it happen. If he can't, be man enough to leave now -- like today. Negotiate a departure settlement. It will be better for everyone in the long run, you included.
Click to expand...
It’s not him, it’s the players he brought here AND injuries. It’s his fault for getting the wrong guys. He didn’t magically beat Duke, win at Gonzaga, beat Barnes 4 out of 5 times, win at Arkansas, beat Pitino, etc. He isnt nearly as bad as some want to portray, but recruiting may end up being his downfall.
 
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blackcat714

blackcat714

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Apr 30, 2017
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I believe the players were just not that good its hard to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear sort of thing
 
B

Bichoto

Junior
Mar 26, 2026
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blackcat714 said:
I believe the players were just not that good its hard to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear sort of thing
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If only pope could choose who to recruit and coach. It’s so good we have a loaded class to replace these players that were no good.
 
S

SECHonk

Junior
Jan 3, 2014
1,203
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UKBB4Ever said:
I don’t know the name of Iowa’s coach. But watch them play.

It’s like watching IU football this last season.

You see a well coached team. A disciplined team.

Don’t scoreboard watch. Watch the play.

They aren’t the only ones. But Iowa doesn’t stand out with super players. It’s just well coached.

Then watch UK play. Again, not the scoreboard. You will not see a well coached or disciplined team.

It’s such a stark difference.
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How many times have you watched "the Iowa Coach's" team play?
 
K

kingdom come cat

Junior
Dec 7, 2020
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What stands out to me is how unselfish these teams are and they actual work to set up good shots not necessarily for themselves but other players from drives and ball movement with a purpose, that only happens thur good coaching, attention detail and discipline something I thought or maybe hoped we were getting with Pope but have seen very little sign of.
 
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O

Old Blue Fart

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Mar 23, 2014
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The difference in the way the teams play versus the way UK played indeed stood out last night.
But if you asked Pope about it, what do you say when he asks about Hopkins, Big Z, Big O from Virginia, players all who were big parts of their teams success this year and why did they leave UK?

Then when Pope says, well, we were 3-3 against teams in the E8; 4-3 if you count Purdue.

We just didn't have the right mix of players. I watched the Prey kid from St. Johns, no doubt most on here would say he is not "UK" material but he played very hard, stayed within his skill set and was a big part of a "team".
You need players like that Prey kid.

We seem to have more who want to be the top dog or scared to be the top dog.

We are not that far off I feel to be with these teams. As I watched these teams play, there were more players I did not know who they were but they were really good. UK seems to be getting left overs or wanna-be's.
 
E

EnglandWildcat

Senior
Apr 1, 2011
4,236
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And what’s interesting is teams like Iowa, Purdue, Illinois don’t have much 5-star talent. They aren’t all super athletic. They are skilled, have high basketball IQ, and are well-coached.
 
U

UKBB4Ever

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SECHonk said:
How many times have you watched "the Iowa Coach's" team play?
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Not many.

But you don’t have to watch a team many times to see a well coached team.

Just like you don’t have to watch a Pope team many times to see the obvious.

And I’m not even talking about the quitting.
 
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