I know its not fair but in football anything can happen and we already seen Stein's product. I am just curious where we stand.
What Season Will Be More Successful?
- Thread starter Farsight Clone
- Start date
Well, Stein has already surpassed expectations as far as I'm concerned. Pope will have to make a Final Four to surpass my expectations.
So, easy call for me: Stein.
So, easy call for me: Stein.
You serious Clark? Stein has literally made history here already. He's being toasted nationwide.
The only history Pope is making is contributing to the worst decade ever in Kentucky basketball.
The only history Pope is making is contributing to the worst decade ever in Kentucky basketball.
Recall, the 2025 team beat Duke and made an epic comeback against Gonzaga. The team was 10-1 and the magic was back in Kentucky basketball. And then the team shat the bed against OSU and lost 8 SEC regular season games.
For Stein, the LSU and South Carolina wins were magical indeed, but there are still games left to play. Games that should be wins aren't certainties. In Stein's defense here, going 1-4 to finish the season would still exceed expectations. This is a sliding scale.
For Stein, the LSU and South Carolina wins were magical indeed, but there are still games left to play. Games that should be wins aren't certainties. In Stein's defense here, going 1-4 to finish the season would still exceed expectations. This is a sliding scale.
Stein could lose out and still pass where UK was predicted. And he damn sure isnt going to lose out.
The person who voted for the horrible coach pope needs their head checked! Pope is the worse coach ever at Kentucky!
Pope has Kentucky looking like Indiana! December win vs Duke is something Indiana fans celebrate kinda like that Christian Wofford shot
UK basketball has indeed turned into a program that celebrates regular season wins. And Dukes NBA center was out most of the second half with cramps. Arkansas is our super bowl now. As long as Pope can beat Cal that's all that matters to a lot. They put Pope vs Cal before UK.
Winning championships is Kentuckys legacy. Not one upping a coach that got fired for underperforming.
Stein has already surpassed expectations. Most media and fans expected 3 or 4 wins. 6-6 was seen as a coach of the year type effort. He's 5-1 so far. Unless Pope spurs his career average of 11 losses. And comes out ripping the nets, Stein will have done a better job.
Stein has all the hallmarks of a lightning in a bottle coach.
We’re staring down another 12-14 loss season in basketball. Basketball would need a full season with no baffling lay downs, serious contention for a SEC title, and a final four to approach what Stein has done,
We’re staring down another 12-14 loss season in basketball. Basketball would need a full season with no baffling lay downs, serious contention for a SEC title, and a final four to approach what Stein has done,
Why do we pit both sports and coaches against each other? I hope CMP surprises everyone!
Pope doesn’t really have all the tools Pope needs for Pope’s system. Otherwise it would be a harder call.
Pope is corny and has never won anything. Stein has revitalized UK football to where national media is talking about it. 5 star recruits are storming the field with fans. This isn’t even a question.
This is the honest truth to the question I picked Stein but lets be honest every sport at UK we should root to be the BEST!
Based on the fact that we have a brand new football HC, and that we are 5-1.. im ready to call it already lol. Stein will have a more successful season simply for the fact that we werent sure if wed even get 3 or 4 wins. Pope would need a Final4 and/or a complete collapse from Stein.
This race is all but over, IMO.
This race is all but over, IMO.
Pope setting records at UK just last year he tied the record for most losses in a season
Football has surpassed expectations with exciting, winning play. Hopefully, basketball will exceed expectations and have a helluva year, too.
Stein has two top 10 wins in 6 games. Will pope have two top 10 wins all season? I honestly dont know.
I really thought six wins would be amazing for this season given the sos. Football is getting some breaks because of opponents' turmoil especially at qb but those are still really good teams. So it looks like we'll probably end with eight wins or more which will be amazing.
I would love to see pope prove doubters wrong and excel, i just really don't see it. Hopefully I'm wrong.
I really thought six wins would be amazing for this season given the sos. Football is getting some breaks because of opponents' turmoil especially at qb but those are still really good teams. So it looks like we'll probably end with eight wins or more which will be amazing.
I would love to see pope prove doubters wrong and excel, i just really don't see it. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Comparing isn't equal to pitting. They're different. We all hope CMP surprises us. But that's sorta this issue. For the basketball season to be a success, in its current state, we have to "hope" for a "surprise".
No he didnt. I am down on Pope as anyone but we lost 16 with Cal a few years ago. We also lost 19 with Sutton n the 80s.
Those seasons happened. 14 is garbage, dont get me wrong but he didnt tie anuthing
Well to be fair, and im not a pope guy, he lost 8 sec games but the conference was the strongest not just ever in sec history but in college basketball history..virtually the entire conference made the tournament. He also had the most ranked wins in the country, if i recall, including against the future national champion in a barn burner
Yes. But even in those unexpected wins the signs of collapse were there.
Barring a final four/championship from pope I think stein has already had the more successful season
A poster made a good point about not having to settle for “hoping” we’re good. And I agree. It’s inexcusable that we have to hope for better than expecting us to know we’re good and be good. This is Kentucky f*cking basketball. Not Mississippi State.
It’s really frustrating when people talk about Mark Pope being a “good coach” because he comes back from behind double digits. Maybe if he had his players prepared for games, we wouldn’t be down double digits in the first place.
If he does the same crap this year, there’s little he could do short of a final four for me to want him to come back for a 4th year.
I like Mark Pope and I really want him to succeed here. He has been mediocre at best the last 2 seasons and at Kentucky, mediocre is just not good enough. Every season we expect to be elite and win titles. It's true that we should occasionally expect a so-so season once or maybe twice a decade, but we haven't even come close to that under Pope. If we have another season like the last two, it may be time to cut bait and look for somebody else.
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Mark pope is a fraud guys! Come on! The guy has never won anything at any level as a coach! No coach of the year! No conference titles and only 3 ncaa tournament wins! Look he’s been coaching over a decade!!! Kentucky Hoosiers
What has pope ever done? Asking for a friend! Please don’t say he beat Duke. Pope will never be cal! Pope is the worse coach in Kentucky history
"UK basketball has indeed turned into a program that celebrates regular season wins." OK, but what do you call rushing the field after the LSU win? Teams celebrate wins.
Pope is a great guy and family man and I appreciate his love and passion for UK basketball. The university of Kentucky and fanbase however cannot afford to put coaches or players ahead of the welfare or success of the basketball program.I hope the team wins a national title or reaches beyond our expectations.
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