Polacek knew and tried to tell our coach

Hypothetically speaking but....

What if this is a fabricated story for KSR to gain better access to recruiting news and tidbits. The staff has issued a gag order and isn't leaking info or doing media. With all the pay wall + sites they need info. I'm just saying maybe they're trying to play Pope as well.

Create a story that Jacob had info about Stokes and tried to warn the staff but closed access prevented forewarning. Pope reconsiders to keep it from happening again. All of a sudden KSR has the inside scoop.

Monday Nitro said:

I believe that a lot of people came here and didn't committ because it's all about money and being promised playing time.

I believe Pope probably knew Stokes wasn't coming here but left the door open like most coaches would do.

I believe Pope has to show major improvement in several areas or this is it for him.

Sorry man, I'm not "done" like you and so many other feeble souls.

Click to expand...

The odds that Pope will show “major improvement in several areas” in this next year are indistinguishable from zero at this point. He’s put together a mid major roster and he is a substandard coach. You’re a liar.

while recruiting talent is important, building a team is the desired result.

If Kentucky tanks next year (I would say tanking is equivalent to this year) then I'm all for saying Pope isn't the man for the job

but right now, everyone is dumping on him because he isn't paying extortion money to 19 - 23 year olds who may or may not perform on the court.

If Pope's job was on the line for his recruiting success in the portal, then the angst would be 100% valid. As of now, UK hasn't won or lost a game with the team he is assembling so coming on here every day talking about what a horrible coach Pope is just fans who expect UK to spend another $22m landing every guy that has a name in the portal.

I have a reputation of being very critical of Kentucky coaches, and I will admit that Pope is not meeting expectations, but I'm not going to lose my mind on here on April 30 for a season that doesn't start until November, especially knowing regardless of what happens, Pope isn't going anywhere until at least 11 months from now.

What I am upset about however is the media claiming they knew something and tried to back channel it as a "favor" to UK while keeping what they were told to themselves.

Imagine a situation where the media leads with Stokes sigining for Kansas, which at a minimum forces Pope AND Stokes to address it. A public question to Stokes - have you signed with Kansas? could have ended up in a very different situation for Pope and Kentucky right now.

Beatle Bum said:

A professed Christian cannot be a bigot? Watching Joel Osteen gives you more credibility?


As a Christian, you don’t care about the moral character of those people you would hire because that would be unprofessional? Caring about moral character is the definition of bigotry? LOL



I don’t know who Barnhart disdains and I am confident you don’t, either. And, as far as sources, a lot of people on here parrot dumb a$$ things. That does not make them more credible.

Click to expand...

Wait, are you saying Barnhart could be bigoted?
And No, watching Osteen or whomever is no litmus test for morality. But it sort of makes your conveniently contrived assumption that I'm some secular anti-Christian bigot kind of fail.
Secondly, as far as hiring and moral qualifications based on religion, its illegal. Secondly, we aren't talking capital murder or felonies activity here. We are talking Barbecues for players, a subjective issue at Memphis with Rose etc. Barnhart needs to hire the best coach available to coach D1 college basketball players. He is not hiring for a Girl scout troop leader or a Sunday school teacher. Good coaches have an edge. Hell, they may even be considered A-holes by some. But no one is asking him to hire Charles Manson. This isn't a difficult concept to grasp.

CutNets said:

In listening to Jones last week I was astonished to hear that there was essentially a forbidden-to-contact clause put down by UK brass for Pearl, Oates, and two others. For the life of me I apparently was not aware of this as I always wondered why we let a couple of great coaches just linger out there.

Click to expand...

When I hear people actually believe we contact Oats I just shake my head. Oats? Mitch Barnhart would hire HIMSELF before he hired Oats. And that’s why Oats ran out and pulled a Barnes “no interests” because he knew he had been blacklisted.

100% fact many boosters believed until the next morning the hire was Pearl. It’s who they lobbied for, it’s who they expected. Pearl likely did too, he wanted to be the first father / son duo in the league. He wanted to likely upend Calipari here. And then, Mitch Barnhart.

It’s astonishing how awful of an AD Mitch was. Worst man to ever have a voice at Kentucky. And they need to get his name off that building next.

MegaBlue05 said:

Yes.

I am a former news and sports reporter. I covered high school sports in Kentucky for a couple small town newspapers in the 2000s.

If the KSR reporter had this info from one source, that’s not enough to credibly publish. The next thing to do before writing something for publication is to corroborate what the source is telling you. If multiple sources report the same thing, it’s fine to go ahead and put it out there because the info is confirmed by multiple sources.

I have shared unconfirmed info with various officials in my career as Jacob tried to do by calling the UK staff. “I’m hearing __. Is this true?” At best, you get answers. At worst, you get no comment.

The fact this staff has completely shut out local media contacts is both baffling and incredibly stupid.

Click to expand...

Pope has been shutting people out for a while. No access for guys he needs. Guy is Barnhart’s Jockey, he was a control hire pure and simple.

Ash Williams said:

The odds that Pope will show “major improvement in several areas” in this next year are indistinguishable from zero at this point. He’s put together a mid major roster and he is a substandard coach. You’re a liar.

Click to expand...

You have to love it. A guy that’s in his 50’s with no career success and handles a program as bad as anyone ever has is going to “possibly show major improvements” it’s just the most hilarious stuff I’ve ever seen. A toddler wouldn’t confuse what’s happening lol. Just recruiting alone tells you he cannot coach at Kentucky. Good lord.

BigBluefoot said:

Wait, are you saying Barnhart could be bigoted?

Click to expand...

Is that a real question? Go back and read what I said. I meant it. Professing to be a Christian does not mean the person is not a bigot.

BigBluefoot said:

And No, watching Osteen or whomever is no litmus test for morality. But it sort of makes your conveniently contrived assumption that I'm some secular anti-Christian bigot kind of fail.

Click to expand...

I made no such assumption and that is why I stated a professed Christian can be a bigot. Keep up.

BigBluefoot said:

Secondly, as far as hiring and moral qualifications based on religion, its illegal.

Click to expand...

It most certainly is not illegal to apply your morality to decisions in the workplace.

BigBluefoot said:

Secondly, we aren't talking capital murder or felonies activity here. We are talking Barbecues for players, a subjective issue at Memphis with Rose etc.

Click to expand...

You are the one making assumptions now.

BigBluefoot said:

Barnhart needs to hire the best coach available to coach D1 college basketball players. He is not hiring for a Girl scout troop leader or a Sunday school teacher. Good coaches have an edge. Hell, they may even be considered A-holes by some. But no one is asking him to hire Charles Manson. This isn't a difficult concept to grasp.

Click to expand...

LOL. Uh … okay. And?

BlueWorldOrder74 said:

View attachment 1276559

Click to expand...

I wonder if some of you could hold a conversation in public. LOL

Beatle Bum said:

I wonder if some of you could hold a conversation in public. LOL

Click to expand...

Of course I can.

MegaBlue05 said:

Yes.

I am a former news and sports reporter. I covered high school sports in Kentucky for a couple small town newspapers in the 2000s.

If the KSR reporter had this info from one source, that’s not enough to credibly publish. The next thing to do before writing something for publication is to corroborate what the source is telling you. If multiple sources report the same thing, it’s fine to go ahead and put it out there because the info is confirmed by multiple sources.

I have shared unconfirmed info with various officials in my career as Jacob tried to do by calling the UK staff. “I’m hearing __. Is this true?” At best, you get answers. At worst, you get no comment.

The fact this staff has completely shut out local media contacts is both baffling and incredibly stupid.

Click to expand...

Are you Alan Cutler?

Ash Williams said:

The odds that Pope will show “major improvement in several areas” in this next year are indistinguishable from zero at this point. He’s put together a mid major roster and he is a substandard coach. You’re a liar.

Click to expand...

You’re wrong on every subject . Embarrassing

mdluk1 said:

Per KSR, Polacek knew a month ago the stokes had already signed with kansas and tried to tell the UK coaches but they would not take his call. And waiting on stokes caused us to miss on players that WANTED to come. Seriously coach?

Not one of the top targets we recruited and got on campus, committed. WTF Coach?

I am done. Pope needs to be told that barring winning the SEC regular season AND the SECT, plus getting to at least the Elite 8, this is your last season at UK.

Click to expand...

Couldn't he leave a message?

mdluk1 said:

Per KSR, Polacek knew a month ago the stokes had already signed with kansas and tried to tell the UK coaches but they would not take his call. And waiting on stokes caused us to miss on players that WANTED to come. Seriously coach?

Not one of the top targets we recruited and got on campus, committed. WTF Coach?

I am done. Pope needs to be told that barring winning the SEC regular season AND the SECT, plus getting to at least the Elite 8, this is your last season at UK.

Click to expand...

Can't make this **** up. What a clown show Pope's tenure has been.