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Love him or hate him...

RunninRichie

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,711
68,728
113
Something that really irks me is, was Calipari sidelined by Mitch and the admin? Mitch refused to upgrade the craft center, boosters were withholding large NIL. All because of personal beef with Calipari. Calipari eventually started to spite the fans and admin, by not playing the best lineups.
 
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S

Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
599
1,669
93
Praetorian Cat said:
At least Cal always made us look respected on the recruiting circuit and in building a roster.
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That’s vast understatement. The man had a stretch that was by far the greatest recruiting run in CBB history. There was a sustained period there when it seemed like we could just pick and choose whoever we wanted.

I had plenty problems with Cal, but they were never with his recruiting. He’s maybe the best pitch man in CBB history.
 
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Bluegrass7

Redshirt
Apr 8, 2026
6
20
3
Calipari had mailed it in. He was a great recruiter but completely average coach. He was making tons of money off UK and not winning anything. He needed to go. The problem was hiring Mark Pope. I don’t know what went wrong with the hiring decision but anyone with a brain knew Mark Pope was a mistake. The question is how long are they going to continue with that mistake.
 
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H

Hopmix

Senior
Mar 7, 2011
1,274
687
101
RunninRichie said:
Something that really irks me is, was Calipari sidelined by Mitch and the admin? Mitch refused to upgrade the craft center, boosters were withholding large NIL. All because of personal beef with Calipari. Calipari eventually started to spite the fans and admin, by not playing the best lineups.
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this is exactly what it was. Cal was fighting for the program, Mitch was doing a bunch of dumb **** like JMI that was going to handcuff recruiting and status.
 
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T

Tim0808

All-Conference
Apr 4, 2013
782
1,242
93
Bluegrass7 said:
Calipari had mailed it in. He was a great recruiter but completely average coach. He was making tons of money off UK and not winning anything. He needed to go. The problem was hiring Mark Pope. I don’t know what went wrong with the hiring decision but anyone with a brain knew Mark Pope was a mistake. The question is how long are they going to continue with that mistake.
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We do not have an average coach now.
 
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TheKentuckyKid

TheKentuckyKid

Senior
Jul 2, 2025
225
663
93
I worked at a warehouse where we picked orders of paint. I was the top picker for several years and got burned out, my numbers started to dip. I put in for a different role in the company and got it, beat out 30 other employees putting in for the job. I went there and performed pretty good but got burned out and put back in for my old job at the warehouse. I started good and got the highest numbers once again, for a few months. Then I got burned out again. I no longer work for the company.
 
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Resignmarkpope

Resignmarkpope

Sophomore
Mar 13, 2026
220
186
43
Bluegrass7 said:
Calipari had mailed it in. He was a great recruiter but completely average coach. He was making tons of money off UK and not winning anything. He needed to go. The problem was hiring Mark Pope. I don’t know what went wrong with the hiring decision but anyone with a brain knew Mark Pope was a mistake. The question is how long are they going to continue with that mistake.
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Pope crap recruiter and he’s a horrible coach
 
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Praetorian Cat

Junior
Mar 22, 2026
174
280
63
loublue22_rivals308424 said:
Arkansas is paying him to be the 1 seed, just like we were.
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No, they are paying him to be relevant, which involves recruiting, winning games and tournaments. He's recruited pretty well for them, won more games than we have and won the SEC tournament in year 2, and has taken them to 2 sw16s in 2 years.

Can he do better for them? Sure!

Would most UK fans trade results with Arky over the last 2 years? You bet!
 
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loublue22_rivals308424

Heisman
Jan 30, 2004
105,618
12,799
78
Praetorian Cat said:
No, they are paying him to be relevant, which involves recruiting, winning games and tournaments. He's recruited pretty well for them, won more games than we have and won the SEC tournament in year 2, and has taken them to 2 sw16s in 2 years.

Can he do better for them? Sure!

Would most UK fans trade results with Arky over the last 2 years? You bet!
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Cal has been better but only really marginally. This year they lost almost all their marquee OOC games, got blown out at Florida and lost at home to Mark Pope. They won the SECT but played multiple double digit seeds. He also beat two double digit seeds in the NCAAT. Musselman actually had better seasons for them.

Point is, Pope sucking doesn't mean Cal is back to his old form.
 
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Praetorian Cat

Junior
Mar 22, 2026
174
280
63
loublue22_rivals308424 said:
Cal has been better but only really marginally. This year they lost almost all their marquee OOC games, got blown out at Florida and lost at home to Mark Pope. They won the SECT but played multiple double digit seeds. He also beat two double digit seeds in the NCAAT. Musselman actually had better seasons for them.

Point is, Pope sucking doesn't mean Cal is back to his old form.
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Hmm

Lost to MSU by 3 @ msu.

Lost to Duke by 9.

Beat UL by 9

Beat Texas Tech by 7

Lost to Houston by 9.

2-3 in their non conference matchups, losing some close ones.

Doesn't seem like losing almost all OOC marquee games.

Finished the season ranked 13th. Tied for 2nd in the SEC and won the tournament, beating a pretty good Vandy team in the process.

Mussleman had them in a couple of E8s, but it's not like Cal has caused them to fall on hard times.
 
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loublue22_rivals308424

Heisman
Jan 30, 2004
105,618
12,799
78
Praetorian Cat said:
Hmm

Lost to MSU by 3 @ msu.

Lost to Duke by 9.

Beat UL by 9

Beat Texas Tech by 7

Lost to Houston by 9.

2-3 in their non conference matchups, losing some close ones.

Doesn't seem like losing almost all OOC marquee games.

Finished the season ranked 13th. Tied for 2nd in the SEC and won the tournament, beating a pretty good Vandy team in the process.

Mussleman had them in a couple of E8s, but it's not like Cal has caused them to fall on hard times.
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They lost to the three best teams they played OOC. The margin is irrelevant, a loss is a loss. Then they got blown out in the tournament.

I feel like we're talking about different things. What I'm saying is that, if Cal had done here exactly what has done there over the last two years, everyone would be still be calling for his head. And rightfully so.
 
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Drcats2025

Drcats2025

Heisman
Nov 13, 2012
7,945
15,762
93
One of the most sure fire ways to tell that someone lacks intelligence is when they say, “see, UK should have never fired Cal. Look where we are now”. I immediately know then that they aren’t worth holding a conversation with about Kentucky basketball, or anything in life, really.
 
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Praetorian Cat

Junior
Mar 22, 2026
174
280
63
loublue22_rivals308424 said:
They lost to the three best teams they played OOC. The margin is irrelevant, a loss is a loss. Then they got blown out in the tournament.

I feel like we're talking about different things. What I'm saying is that, if Cal had done here exactly what has done there over the last two years, everyone would be still be calling for his head. And rightfully so.
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I mean, they beat the 6th ranked UL team that was the 2nd highest ranked team they played. You remember when we played UL how that went?

Then they lost to 2 E8 teams and Houston. Not exactly bad losses.

I would say the margin is pretty relevant as it shows they were a pretty good team who lost some close games to other really good teams.

I mean, SEC tournament champions, tied for 2nd in the league. SW16 2 years in a row. Solid recruiting class and likely some nice portal additions would probably keep many UK fans a lot more excited and engaged than what we currently have.
 
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loublue22_rivals308424

Heisman
Jan 30, 2004
105,618
12,799
78
Praetorian Cat said:
I mean, they beat the 6th ranked UL team that was the 2nd highest ranked team they played. You remember when we played UL how that went?

Then they lost to 2 E8 teams and Houston. Not exactly bad losses.

I would say the margin is pretty relevant as it shows they were a pretty good team who lost some close games to other really good teams.

I mean, SEC tournament champions, tied for 2nd in the league. SW16 2 years in a row. Solid recruiting class and likely some nice portal additions would probably keep many UK fans a lot more excited and engaged than what we currently have.
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I dont agree, but that's fine.
 
C

Catphright23

Senior
Dec 6, 2023
418
831
93
Cal isn't a good coach no more, pope seems like he's a bad recruiter. Sometimes talent will win you games but when you get deeper in march you'll lose. Cal isn't the answer and I guess if pope is gone well have to find a good up and comer who can recruit and coach.
 
SlowWalkerSTL

SlowWalkerSTL

Freshman
Jun 12, 2023
73
92
18
RunninRichie said:
Something that really irks me is, was Calipari sidelined by Mitch and the admin? Mitch refused to upgrade the craft center, boosters were withholding large NIL. All because of personal beef with Calipari. Calipari eventually started to spite the fans and admin, by not playing the best lineups.
Click to expand...
Think about how forward thinking Cal was in recruiting. If Mitch was smart, he would have given Cal the keys to NIL and said, “drive.”

I hated that it ended the way it did. Cal did so much for UK, the fans, and the players the first half of his tenure, but the last half wasn’t great for sure.

Hated that it had to end but had no clue it would get this bad.
 
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SlowWalkerSTL

SlowWalkerSTL

Freshman
Jun 12, 2023
73
92
18
Drcats2025 said:
One of the most sure fire ways to tell that someone lacks intelligence is when they say, “see, UK should have never fired Cal. Look where we are now”. I immediately know then that they aren’t worth holding a conversation with about Kentucky basketball, or anything in life, really.
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Kind of like all of the fans who were excited about Pope. Anyone with half a brain knew that he was a horrible hire and anyone singing his praises, including everyone who pack Rupp to welcome him, are clueless.

Did you attend that event?
 
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Loucatfan30

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2024
878
1,042
87
Cal wasn't perfect by any stretch and he went through a bad patch trying to figure it out but we are way worse without him. You can't let that guy walk out the door unless you know who is for sure walking in. I hate the fact that we have become such a non factor in college basketball.
 
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Loucatfan30

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2024
878
1,042
87
SlowWalkerSTL said:
Kind of like all of the fans who were excited about Pope. Anyone with half a brain knew that he was a horrible hire and anyone singing his praises, including everyone who pack Rupp to welcome him, are clueless.

Did you attend that event?
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I didn't attend for this very reason. There was never any way this was going to work out. No track record of success!
 
Drcats2025

Drcats2025

Heisman
Nov 13, 2012
7,945
15,762
93
SlowWalkerSTL said:
Kind of like all of the fans who were excited about Pope. Anyone with half a brain knew that he was a horrible hire and anyone singing his praises, including everyone who pack Rupp to welcome him, are clueless.

Did you attend that event?
Click to expand...
Nope. I sure didn’t. Hated the hire from day one. Did I hurt your feelings, pal?
 
K

KyKevin

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2021
1,680
2,538
113
Praetorian Cat said:
No, they are paying him to be relevant, which involves recruiting, winning games and tournaments. He's recruited pretty well for them, won more games than we have and won the SEC tournament in year 2, and has taken them to 2 sw16s in 2 years.

Can he do better for them? Sure!

Would most UK fans trade results with Arky over the last 2 years? You bet!
Click to expand...


Arky was a hell of a lot more fun to watch for sure.
 
TheBlueMist

TheBlueMist

All-American
Feb 5, 2004
2,072
5,018
113
2024 - Oakland
2023 - Kansas State
2022 - St. Peters
2021 - 9-16 record

Who cares about paper recruiting wins when the season ends is abject disappointment?

How about we do better than old man Cal and Pope?
 
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