I wanted to poll the fanbase to understand the actual percentages of current sentiment within BBN, so we have a clear view of where most of the fans stand right now.
Be Honest: What are your true thoughts with UK's coaching situation
- Thread starter TyCatPrice14
- Start date
Where's the vote for wanting Calipari out but not ever wanting Pope and wanting to have stuck with Calipari if Pope was the alternative?
Technically that can still be answer C because you would rather have Cal.
Last edited:
Most people are gonna vote your first option. It was time for Cal to go, and while we didn’t want Pope at first, we definitely wanted him to succeed. I’d STILL love for him to succeed, but Pope is not the guy. He’s just not,
In my opinion, Calipari is much better than Pope but neither is right for Kentucky.
Guarantee one of the guys still wanting to keep Pope is Nitro.
Why conveniently? That is more of a hindsight is 20/20 answer. There is still an option that says they do not want Pope anymore. Unless there are fans that surprisingly wanted Pope to fail the moment they announced him. You can also vote C and wish he was back.
Mitch bungled this. It was time for Cal to go, but Pope and Shaka weren’t our only options.
Because this question should’ve been in there:
I was ready to move on from Cal and I was glad to see the change. In no way shape or form was I OK with Mark Pope being hired as head coach.
But it says no one else. Can you remove that and I will be happy to choose option C.
Answered A. Pope has to go. Too awkward. Too nerdy. And just not good. Was hoping he was more like Brad Stevens who is nerdy but knows his stuff.
Cal was DONE here so I was ready to see him go.
With Pope, as a recruiter I never expected him to do great with recruits ranked 1-20, but what I did think was that he would excel with recruits mostly in the 40-80 range that fit his style and he would outscheme more talented teams like was happening to Cal every March. Instead, he abandoned his style and can't even get a Top 100 recruit. I was tired of the yearly National Recruiting Championships ending in early exits so I would say the (lack of a) scheme aspect has been even more disappointing to me than the recruiting failures.
With Pope, as a recruiter I never expected him to do great with recruits ranked 1-20, but what I did think was that he would excel with recruits mostly in the 40-80 range that fit his style and he would outscheme more talented teams like was happening to Cal every March. Instead, he abandoned his style and can't even get a Top 100 recruit. I was tired of the yearly National Recruiting Championships ending in early exits so I would say the (lack of a) scheme aspect has been even more disappointing to me than the recruiting failures.
I really wanted Pope to succeed as our Basketball Coach, but anyone with an inkling of a Basketball IQ. Knows after two years: it's not a good fit.
Tubby wasn't the best recruiter, but he knew how to coach the X&O’s of the game.
Cal, is an elite recruiter and an average X&O’s coach.
Pope is neither and it's tough for him and the UK fans.
Pope has proven he's not the guy for the UK Mens Basketball Coaches job! I hope he understands the assignment and loves the program enough to step away!
Is Pope too stubborn, which is what worries me!!
Tubby wasn't the best recruiter, but he knew how to coach the X&O’s of the game.
Cal, is an elite recruiter and an average X&O’s coach.
Pope is neither and it's tough for him and the UK fans.
Pope has proven he's not the guy for the UK Mens Basketball Coaches job! I hope he understands the assignment and loves the program enough to step away!
Is Pope too stubborn, which is what worries me!!
I think I'm getting a bit sick of all the Pope haters, who actually hate him. He's a a good guy, good family guy, good alumni with a ring on his finger. He ain't the answer. But he's here all year long trying to put a team together. Nothings gonna change until next march so STFU and don't be an 8 year old with no impulse control.
There isn't a single answer in this poll that shows HATE towards Pope. Only people wish we had someone else or kept Calipari. If UK fans HATE Pope then they are not real fans. Your confusing the two.
I can't change the answers unfortunately but this is meant to be much simplier than you might be making it. Choose A if you want a new coach, Choose C if you want Calipari.
I wanted a new coach but was pissed when they hired an unproven scientologist I mean Mormon
As I've said in multiple threads, I wanted to keep Cal. The main reason for his lack of success in the latter years was missing the truly elite recruits (top 5). However, I believe he would have landed Dybansta, along with his usual stable of studs, and flipped that on its head.
I know about the booster situation but I'd like to think if boosters are dumb enough to give Pope $22M to spend on backups, they would grudgingly give Cal what he needed for AJ.
I know about the booster situation but I'd like to think if boosters are dumb enough to give Pope $22M to spend on backups, they would grudgingly give Cal what he needed for AJ.
It's a replay of Mark Stoops last year.
1. We all knew it was time to move on from Stoops
2. But a bad financial forced another wasted year due to Mitch
3. Stoops was on hot seat and couldnt' get kids to come play...so he got a ton of plan B kids that weren't SEC level....and got kicked all around by UL, Vandy, Tennesee, etc... and inevitably got fired the next year regardless.
Is this any different....just plug in Pope for Stoops...Mitch's stupid finger prints are the same.
1. We all knew it was time to move on from Stoops
2. But a bad financial forced another wasted year due to Mitch
3. Stoops was on hot seat and couldnt' get kids to come play...so he got a ton of plan B kids that weren't SEC level....and got kicked all around by UL, Vandy, Tennesee, etc... and inevitably got fired the next year regardless.
Is this any different....just plug in Pope for Stoops...Mitch's stupid finger prints are the same.
If that’s the case I got to find a new hobby! College basketball would be a no for me. It’s stein time!!!
Cal had to go , or wake up ... he seems to have awakened in Arkansas, but it wasn't going to happen here. I wanted Cal gone, but did not want Pope .. like most of us, I got behind Pope and I thought year 1 was nice. Hopefully Pope , Mitch, Eli all leave VERY soon.
Right now I am between A and B. I still want Pope to succeed but he is fading at the moment. As I said in another thread, Pope needs a miracle right now.
I think Pope is building his best roster this year. Not the most amazing, athletically, but guys fit what he wants to do and they're more athletic than that first team. If Pope's still here next year, he needs a lockdown recruiter and a GM. He got embarrassed this year and has to account for his inability to recruit and negotiate moving forward.
That said, I think Pope has another season as the HC and that's it.
That said, I think Pope has another season as the HC and that's it.
I would rather step in fresh dog crap with my bare feet than go through another year with this staff.
At the time I wanted Cal out and Oats in. What I didn't want was to have Cal out and not know who was next.
Option 5: Cal needed to go or retire but needed to outlast Mitch.
Unless a hire is made for him, Mitch screws up big time. And no i don't believe that Lee Todd story about Mitch wanting Cal in 07 and was the one pushing for him in 09.
He didn't want Cal either time. He didn't go after Stoops, instead Stoops and Couch came to him. Rumors floated in October last year that some donors were already talking to Stein knowing Stoops was done.
But with Pope, Elzy, BCG, Joker....100% his choices. Cal needed to go but Mitch could not be the one to hire a replacement and here we are!
The fact that Mitch couldn't get along with his most successful coach is an indictment of him and an indictment at the lack of leadership at the university level. And because he couldn't get along with him it may have done irreparable damage to the program. History will not be kind to him.
Unless a hire is made for him, Mitch screws up big time. And no i don't believe that Lee Todd story about Mitch wanting Cal in 07 and was the one pushing for him in 09.
He didn't want Cal either time. He didn't go after Stoops, instead Stoops and Couch came to him. Rumors floated in October last year that some donors were already talking to Stein knowing Stoops was done.
But with Pope, Elzy, BCG, Joker....100% his choices. Cal needed to go but Mitch could not be the one to hire a replacement and here we are!
The fact that Mitch couldn't get along with his most successful coach is an indictment of him and an indictment at the lack of leadership at the university level. And because he couldn't get along with him it may have done irreparable damage to the program. History will not be kind to him.
I voted for the second choice. I think it was time for Calipari to move on. Although he wasn't my choice for the job, Pope is here and I think he deserves the chance to prove himself. I fully support him and team, hoping for him to complete the roster to provide an improved team.
He is certainly aware of current expectations, no doubt. We'll see what happens ...
He is certainly aware of current expectations, no doubt. We'll see what happens ...
I would have voted this way as well. Cal was asleep at the wheel here, but he needed to outlast Mitch. Cal was disappointing as heck the last 4-5 years, but he was the devil we knew. Mitch should have never been allowed anywhere near the new coaching hire. I don't hate Pope the man, I have wanted Pope to succeed since the day it was announced. But not because I think he is a good coach or should have ever been considered for the UK job, but simply because this our team and I won't ever cheer against ours or hope for failure. How Mitch and company thought this was going to be a homerun hire is beyond me.
Wanted Cal gone
Don't want Cal back
Never wanted Pope
Pope sucks but he should have never been given the chance to.
Barnhart is to blame for our current situation.
Don't want Cal back
Never wanted Pope
Pope sucks but he should have never been given the chance to.
Barnhart is to blame for our current situation.
Ok. Aren't we past that stage??? How long does a guy get to prove himself?
Regardless of what I want, Pope will be our coach next year. And while I am increasingly disappointed and concerned , I will still support him and the team. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised.
Mitch was working behind the scenes to handcuff Cal. He disliked the push for new facilities being funded outside his approval and the pushback on NIL initiatives.
Egregious contracts. That's all Mitch.
I understand. I am just not upset that he is getting a third, if not a fourth, year. I cannot help but wonder if removing him too quickly would harm the program more than benefit it, especially as relates to potential replacements. Pope is keenly aware of expectations, so we'll see what happens.