Why did we waste so much time on Stokes?

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ChocoChicken

All-Conference

Apr 6, 2026

383

1,100

93

• Apr 28, 2026

• #1

You’d think this staff would’ve taken the hint that Stokes was never interested and pivoted to recruits and portal transfers who’s be willing to come here. You blew all your eggs on one basket and now you’ll probably be out of a job this time next year.

What a baffling recruitment from a man desperate to keep his dream job.

 

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theBlues

All-Conference

Oct 18, 2025

1,704

3,782

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #2

He took recruiting risks last year too. I hope Pope never makes the first bet because he'd be a gambling addict immediately.

 

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KyLegacyBBN

All-Conference

Jan 12, 2005

10,310

3,607

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #3

Because Mark Pope.

 

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*Fox2Monk*

Heisman

Jun 10, 2009

46,743

85,399

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #4

Bro lost a Nike signed, EYBL number one player to an Adidas school. Lmfao.

 

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Dr.LutherSan

All-American

Sep 6, 2019

4,414

8,912

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #5

Because of data and analytics

 

C

ChocoChicken

All-Conference

Apr 6, 2026

383

1,100

93

• Apr 28, 2026

• #6

theBlues said:

He took recruiting risks last year too. I hope Pope never makes the first bet because he'd be a gambling addict immediately.

Click to expand...

Why are we even hoping CMP does anything? He’s done. It’s over. One more of this BS and he’s getting kicked out of Kentucky.

 

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IYAOYAS1

All-Conference

Dec 15, 2006

31,798

4,445

78

• Apr 28, 2026

• #7

How do you know Pope wasted time? Because that’s all the fans talked about, doesn’t mean Pope was wasting time.

 

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Dr.LutherSan

All-American

Sep 6, 2019

4,414

8,912

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #8

*Fox2Monk* said:

Bro lost a Nike signed, EYBL number one player to an Adidas school. Lmfao.

Click to expand...

From the state of Kentucky

 

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fisherscatfan

All-Conference

Jan 17, 2010

1,182

2,592

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #9

He was worth a good try but Pope cannot read the room and wasted too much time and effort. I cannot believe Pope is actually the coach at UK.

 

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loublue22_rivals308424

Heisman

Jan 30, 2004

105,886

13,657

78

• Apr 28, 2026

• #10

I'm unconvinced he affected other recruits. I dont think hardly anyone wants to play for our coach.

 

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Farsight Clone

All-American

Aug 30, 2025

2,890

5,772

103

• Apr 28, 2026

• #11

 

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T

Tray1971

Freshman

Jul 3, 2025

35

66

18

• Apr 28, 2026

• #12

Pope is defintley out of a job! I would fire him tonight!

 

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CatsFan4Evr

All-Conference

Nov 27, 2003

149,095

4,374

73

• Apr 28, 2026

• #13

Because Mark Pope is ******* clueless.

 

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Farsight Clone

All-American

Aug 30, 2025

2,890

5,772

103

• Apr 28, 2026

• #14

loublue22_rivals308424 said:

I'm unconvinced he affected other recruits. I dont think hardly anyone want to play for our coach.

Click to expand...

The point is that Pope went all in on Stokes and missed out on guys like Caleb Holt etc.

 

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JwUKFan11

Heisman

Nov 11, 2011

7,586

15,710

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #15

Imagine letting a 4-year-old drive and wondering, How, they crashed? Same thing happened here.

 

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C

ChocoChicken

All-Conference

Apr 6, 2026

383

1,100

93

• Apr 28, 2026

• #16

IYAOYAS1 said:

How do you know Pope wasted time? Because that’s all the fans talked about, doesn’t mean Pope was wasting time.

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HE LITERALLY REVOLVED THE ENTIRE ROSTER SELECTION ON GETTING STOKES! WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

 

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Captain Coy

All-Conference

Apr 16, 2024

1,109

1,765

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #17

Gambler's fallacy

 

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loublue22_rivals308424

Heisman

Jan 30, 2004

105,886

13,657

78

• Apr 28, 2026

• #18

Farsight Clone said:

The point is that Pope went all in on Stokes and missed out on guys like Caleb Holt etc.

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I'm saying I don't think he's getting Holt regardless.

 

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Farsight Clone

All-American

Aug 30, 2025

2,890

5,772

103

• Apr 28, 2026

• #19

ChocoChicken said:

HE LITERALLY REVOLVED THE ENTIRE ROSTER SELECTION ON GETTING STOKES! WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

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Correct and that is more proof he is not the right guy for the job.

 

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Captain Coy

All-Conference

Apr 16, 2024

1,109

1,765

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #20

at least that's $6M freed up.

 

Titpwhahi2014

Senior

Feb 27, 2026

271

806

93

• Apr 28, 2026

• #21

Death knell for Pope. I’ll sacrifice next season to get him out of here.

 

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kywildcats4life

Junior

Jun 14, 2006

2,924

373

83

• Apr 28, 2026

• #22

He made Kansas pay up for him at least.

 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman

Jun 10, 2009

46,743

85,399

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #23

JwUKFan11 said:

Imagine letting a 4-year-old drive and wondering, How, they crashed? Same thing happened here.

Click to expand...

Which is why Barnhart should be arrested for not watching the keys.

 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman

Jun 10, 2009

46,743

85,399

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #24

kywildcats4life said:

He made Kansas pay up for him at least.

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Yay! That sure helps us compete.

 

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four_every_hour

Sophomore

Mar 13, 2026

65

168

32

• Apr 28, 2026

• #25

Uhh because he’s the best recruit? Pretty easy answer.

 

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Anon668007

All-Conference

Mar 31, 2026

1,653

3,255

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #26

This is why this failure hurts so much. Pope knew he had to hit big and went for it but apparently with just Stokes. He passed a couple of great players but hey we may not have to worry anymore about his recruiting

 

BlueSince92

All-Conference

Jul 2, 2025

10,920

3,673

230

• Apr 28, 2026

• #27

I don’t really get the waiting narrative. Whom did we ever realistically have a chance with that would have made Tyran Stokes blink?

 

Tri-Countycat

All-Conference

Jul 1, 2025

1,720

4,240

113

• Apr 28, 2026

• #28

Looks like the 10% are pretty upset. Not me, you can only let someone down so many times until they start to expect it.

 

RedwoodHigh

All-Conference

Nov 18, 2025

884

1,311

93

• Apr 28, 2026

• #29

Titpwhahi2014 said:

Death knell for Pope. I’ll sacrifice next season to get him out of here.

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I don’t expect any of our current players to be that disappointed. We now can add at least 2 very good players & go kick some A$$. We have the nucleus of a great team & didn’t need an ego driven teenager who got kicked off his HS football team & transferred 1000 miles away to play for a 3rd HS in 3 or 4 years.
We now have 2 PFS - 3 guards - 3 SFs & 2 seven ft bigs. Plus Lil Thorne.
Build around that base & Kats will win 24+ games & make it to the round of 32.