Basketball discussions

Anon726530 · Saturday at 4:25 PM

What in the world is going on, this has gotten absurd. Even our basketball discussions have turned loser, James Madison is a solid opponent - what happens if we make the Sweet 16

I absolutely love him as our former national championship player, but he is not the right guy

Do you think he is the only coach in the country willing to lead the winningest program in division one with a fanbase known for traveling better than any other that starts with a $20 million budget AFTER you have had a horrible season ? We have lost our way

Anon629549 · Saturday at 4:28 PM

James Madison is a very good opponent.

RunninRichie · Saturday at 4:28 PM

The farewell tour continues on Tuesday.

UKCowboys · Saturday at 4:31 PM

We are 2-0. Can't ANOTHER post like this wait till after the Kansas game? If we lose, then you can run up the white flag and surrender, because Lord knows, losing to Kansas early means your season is over. But.. if we beat them, your thread/post looks pretty nonsensical. So why?

JASUN74 · Saturday at 4:45 PM

UKCowboys said:
We are 2-0. Can't ANOTHER post like this wait till after the Kansas game? If we lose, then you can run up the white flag and surrender, because Lord knows, losing to Kansas early means your season is over. But.. if we beat them, your thread/post looks pretty nonsensical. So why?

I can’t for understand why any Kentucky fan would be so negative already about this season. We’re 2-0 and learned how to win games with an entirely new roster. Definitely have things to work on but a ton of potential 1 thru 10. Just got to let a few games play out and Mark will find his best rotation.

BlueSince92 · Saturday at 4:46 PM

I don't care if JMU is good or trash. We beat them and probably did it more in a learning mode than what we could have done if we had only wanted to maximize the final score differential. As for the rest we shall see.

NociHTTP · Saturday at 4:49 PM

Anon726530 said:
What in the world is going on, this has gotten absurd. Even our basketball discussions have turned loser, James Madison is a solid opponent - what happens if we make the Sweet 16

I absolutely love him as our former national championship player, but he is not the right guy

Do you think he is the only coach in the country willing to lead the winningest program in division one with a fanbase known for traveling better than any other that starts with a $20 million budget AFTER you have had a horrible season ? We have lost our way

- you all just don't get it
- I love our coach
- but he should not be our coach
- you all have lost your way

Did I get your troll template correct?

/s <= for Cowboi

UKCowboys · Saturday at 4:54 PM

NociHTTP said:
- you all just don't get it
- I love our coach
- but he should not be our coach
- you all have lost your way

Did I get your troll template correct?

No. You forgot that he IS OUR COACH. You are literally rooting for us to do poorly so you can dog Pope. You hate Pope more than you love the program. And what is the cause of that level hate? He has been here two years. A S16 and second round exit. Not setting the world on fire, but the guy didnt miss the big dance or have a losing record. Yall kill him like he has been here 10 years and done nothing

NociHTTP · Saturday at 5:28 PM

UKCowboys said:
No. You forgot that he IS OUR COACH. You are literally rooting for us to do poorly so you can dog Pope. You hate Pope more than you love the program. And what is the cause of that level hate? He has been here two years. A S16 and second round exit. Not setting the world on fire, but the guy didnt miss the big dance or have a losing record. Yall kill him like he has been here 10 years and done nothing

Are you really this dense? Take the straw out of your mouth. Should I put an "/s" after it all?

Edit: now I see why you can't be taken seriously.

UKCowboys · Saturday at 5:29 PM

NociHTTP said:
Are you really this dense? Take the straw out of your mouth. Should I put an "/s" after it all?

Like arguing with a second grader

clifmcc · Saturday at 11:02 PM

JASUN74 said:
I can’t for understand why any Kentucky fan would be so negative already about this season. We’re 2-0 and learned how to win games with an entirely new roster. Definitely have things to work on but a ton of potential 1 thru 10. Just got to let a few games play out and Mark will find his best rotation.

I mean 2 games only and all this, really

NociHTTP · Saturday at 11:04 PM

UKCowboys said:
Like arguing with a second grader

So, logic really isn't your thing.

Supafuzz75 · 2026-11-08T00:14:58-0600

Anon726530 said:
What in the world is going on, this has gotten absurd. Even our basketball discussions have turned loser, James Madison is a solid opponent - what happens if we make the Sweet 16

I absolutely love him as our former national championship player, but he is not the right guy

Do you think he is the only coach in the country willing to lead the winningest program in division one with a fanbase known for traveling better than any other that starts with a $20 million budget AFTER you have had a horrible season ? We have lost our way

Could of saved up all that writing and just shut the F up,, ya know.. It doesn't matter what you,, me,, or bob from Somerset thinks right now,, everyone will know something at years end.. You and rest of you Annons put a pipe in it already.. Its stupidest sh it on earth what some y'all do

Ash Williams · 2026-11-08T03:18:05-0600

Anon629549 said:
James Madison is a very good opponent.

They are definitely bound for the final four this year

UKCowboys · 2026-11-08T03:29:25-0600

Ash Williams said:
They are definitely bound for the final four this year

So there are only four good teams this year huh?

NDColdcat · 2026-11-08T08:07:11-0600

UKCowboys said:
So there are only four good teams this year huh?

No, but according to this thread, there's at least 150 good teams.

paulcalhoun_rivals397471 · 2026-11-08T19:39:29-0600

NDColdcat said:
No, but according to this thread, there's at least 150 good teams.

Just as a matter of fact there are 150 above average teams given that there are 363 D1 teams.

K_TIME · 2026-11-08T19:45:45-0600

UKCowboys said:
No. You forgot that he IS OUR COACH. You are literally rooting for us to do poorly so you can dog Pope. You hate Pope more than you love the program. And what is the cause of that level hate? He has been here two years. A S16 and second round exit. Not setting the world on fire, but the guy didnt miss the big dance or have a losing record. Yall kill him like he has been here 10 years and done nothing

Just stop with the "anyone critical of the coach doesn't love the program" crappola.

1. Last season was a mess
2. Recruiting has seen us losing battles consistently....
3. James Madison isn't a top 30 team...they may be good for a mid major....but a top notch UK team should not be losing with 10 m8ntues to go in game.....
4. It's fine to wait for the season....but when/if we start being down to Kansas double digits first half and go on to lose handily, finish out of top 5 in SEC again and get this crappy 5-7 seed nonsense.....

This simply ain't what a Ky team with all the funding we've got should be putting up in year 3.

yoshukai · 2026-11-08T19:53:55-0600

There may come a time this season when we are all pissed about how the season is unfolding . We ain’t there yet. At least not for me .

paulcalhoun_rivals397471 · 2026-11-08T20:09:54-0600

yoshukai said:
There may come a time this season when we are all pissed about how the season is unfolding . We ain’t there yet. At least for me .

If we are sitting pretty after 15-20 games I'll not be declaring that means the rest of the season is going to be smooth sailing and coronating anyone just the same as if it is not great at the point I'll not be throwing in the towel and trashing everyone involved. It's a long season that is very likely to contain ups and downs. I'll wait till the dust settles before making a definitive call on what kind of season we have had.

UKCowboys · 2026-11-08T20:16:32-0600

K_TIME said:
Just stop with the "anyone critical of the coach doesn't love the program" crappola.

1. Last season was a mess
2. Recruiting has seen us losing battles consistently....
3. James Madison isn't a top 30 team...they may be good for a mid major....but a top notch UK team should not be losing with 10 m8ntues to go in game.....
4. It's fine to wait for the season....but when/if we start being down to Kansas double digits first half and go on to lose handily, finish out of top 5 in SEC again and get this crappy 5-7 seed nonsense.....

This simply ain't what a Ky team with all the funding we've got should be putting up in year 3.

So the next coach has to be in a FF after two years here? Good luck selling that to anyone fella

K_TIME · 2026-11-08T22:54:40-0600

UKCowboys said:
So the next coach has to be in a FF after two years here? Good luck selling that to anyone fella

Stop...just stop.

Finishing in top 4 of SEC isn't crazy expectations
Getting past sweet 16 ain't crazy expectations
Last year was close to Gillespie-esque season....an utter joke of a team.
Recruiting like Pope has done.....ain't crazy expectations

There is zero world that Pope is being treated in a way that other coaches will be too much for them to come to UK with all it's resources.

NociHTTP · 2026-11-09T01:28:22-0600

UKCowboys said:
So the next coach has to be in a FF after two years here? Good luck selling that to anyone fella

My friend, you're so consumed with trying to be the consumate fan that you can't even recognize sarcasm. Just think of the kids!

UKCowboys · 2026-11-09T03:19:12-0600

K_TIME said:
Stop...just stop.

Finishing in top 4 of SEC isn't crazy expectations
Getting past sweet 16 ain't crazy expectations
Last year was close to Gillespie-esque season....an utter joke of a team.
Recruiting like Pope has done.....ain't crazy expectations

There is zero world that Pope is being treated in a way that other coaches will be too much for them to come to UK with all it's resources.

He would have made it past the S16 the first year if not for injuries. He might have finished top 4 in the SEC year two wity a healthy PG(Look what the kid is doing now). I don't blame him for injuries, therefore, I don't hate the man and call for his head like he is the worst coach ever

K_TIME · 2026-11-09T08:28:38-0600

UKCowboys said:
He would have made it past the S16 the first year if not for injuries. He might have finished top 4 in the SEC year two wity a healthy PG(Look what the kid is doing now). I don't blame him for injuries, therefore, I don't hate the man and call for his head like he is the worst coach ever

I dont' think much percentage of fans hate Mark Pope....(many say super good guy and loves being a former Cat)....they just simply say he was a bad reach hire when it was announced (no NCAA tourney wins) and not worthy of this job. And he's lived down to that assessment. Not the worst coach ever....just not in this echelon. No more, no less.

But there is no hate it saying a person isn't fit for the job they've been given.

UKCowboys · 2026-11-09T09:00:31-0600

K_TIME said:
I dont' think much percentage of fans hate Mark Pope....(many say super good guy and loves being a former Cat)....they just simply say he was a bad reach hire when it was announced (no NCAA tourney wins) and not worthy of this job. And he's lived down to that assessment. Not the worst coach ever....just not in this echelon. No more, no less.

But there is no hate it saying a person isn't fit for the job they've been given.

I did not want him whem he was hired, threw a fit on here when he was. But he is here.
To me, there are two primary camps on here...those who want the Cats to win and do well, which means supporting Pope....till the season ends. And the other, which want Pope gone so badly, that they are taking enjoyment from us losing because it means Pope will be fire faster. I can't get behind option B

Im The Village Idiot · 2026-11-09T09:03:12-0600

paulcalhoun_rivals397471 said:
If we are sitting pretty after 15-20 games I'll not be declaring that means the rest of the season is going to be smooth sailing and coronating anyone just the same as if it is not great at the point I'll not be throwing in the towel and trashing everyone involved. It's a long season that is very likely to contain ups and downs. I'll wait till the dust settles before making a definitive call on what kind of season we have had.

100%

SenseMaker_Cats · 2026-11-09T09:09:29-0600

UKCowboys said:
I did not want him whem he was hired, threw a fit on here when he was. But he is here.
To me, there are two primary camps on here...those who want the Cats to win and do well, which means supporting Pope....till the season ends. And the other, which want Pope gone so badly, that they are taking enjoyment from us losing because it means Pope will be fire faster. I can't get behind option B

100% false. There are plenty in camp B but there’s more that just aren’t happy with where we are. How can you blame them? I’ll say it again. I’ve never wavered. Always been in Camp A but was accused last week of being a Pope Pumper and a Pope hater on the same day and that’s because of folks like you who have to push everybody into one or the other.

jrpross_rivals · 2026-11-09T11:23:18-0600

K_TIME said:
Just stop with the "anyone critical of the coach doesn't love the program" crappola.

1. Last season was a mess
2. Recruiting has seen us losing battles consistently....
3. James Madison isn't a top 30 team...they may be good for a mid major....but a top notch UK team should not be losing with 10 m8ntues to go in game.....
4. It's fine to wait for the season....but when/if we start being down to Kansas double digits first half and go on to lose handily, finish out of top 5 in SEC again and get this crappy 5-7 seed nonsense.....

This simply ain't what a Ky team with all the funding we've got should be putting up in year 3.

yoshukai said:
There may come a time this season when we are all pissed about how the season is unfolding . We ain’t there yet. At least not for me .

I agree with both of these takes.

I want Pope to succeed, man. I really do. and I am definitely not writing the season off yet. The JMU game should’ve been a bigger blowout than it was. But that means very little at the stage. If this team really turns on the jets and makes a run, there will be no one happier than me.

But so far, I haven’t seen it. He’s not recruiting (either freshmen or transfers) at an elite level and the results on the court haven’t been elite either. I’m totally pulling for him to succeed this season but if he doesn’t, I think 3 years is enough time to gauge what he brings to the table and whether it’s to up to Kentucky basketball standards.

bnewt · 2026-11-09T11:35:56-0600

UKCowboys said:
He would have made it past the S16 the first year if not for injuries. He might have finished top 4 in the SEC year two wity a healthy PG(Look what the kid is doing now). I don't blame him for injuries, therefore, I don't hate the man and call for his head like he is the worst coach ever

So finishing top 4 in the conference is now the standard?
Wow the expectations have fallen.
Duke and Arizona haven't fallen with their new coaches

UKortho · 2026-11-09T11:36:38-0600

UKCowboys said:
He would have made it past the S16 the first year if not for injuries. He might have finished top 4 in the SEC year two wity a healthy PG(Look what the kid is doing now). I don't blame him for injuries, therefore, I don't hate the man and call for his head like he is the worst coach ever

UKCowboys said:
First, attack hiring AD and GM like we all want them to for HC, go after top personel, not hunting buddies.

Second, fire Pope and the entire staff today.

Third. I don't believe Hurley, Golden or Donovan want to be here, so I dont waste time on them. I go hard after one of either Oats, May, Otzelberger, Byington and McCasland. One of those five should be our next coach. If all five say no, I pivot to Bruce Pearl, who would walk here to coach Kentucky, and would do a Hell of a Job for 3-4 years.

If I were constructing the roster. I would bring back any serviceable player on an NIL which reflects their play last season, take it or leave it. At this point, we should make our best offer to Stokes with a great coach in place, which i think lands him. With Stokes as our only HS commit hard, I am going after the TOP kids in the portal and Europe, not fooling around with developmental types.
After Stokes, my #1 have to sign kid is PF Mikka Muurinen. If we don't get him, I go all in on PF Paulius Murauskas. Have to have one of those two.
I would also attack getting the best PG in the portal. There will be better PGs than Jackson Sheland or Colby Garland, but they would work.
The last big money target is Stefan Vaaks. Great shooter, great player.

Its a big ask, but with our money and the right coach in place, I think a class highlighted by Stokes, Muurinen, Sheland and Vaaks is entirely doable, with a couple of more role players

PG Sheland, Lowe, Garland
SG Vaaks, Chandler, Tyler Lundblade
SF Stokes, Kam, Hawthorne
PF Muurinen, Mo, Jelly
C Moreno, BG, Potter

Your post from March 2026. Perhaps you have multiple personalities in addition to Bipolar fella.

paulcalhoun_rivals397471 · 2026-11-09T15:52:24-0600

UKCowboys said:
He would have made it past the S16 the first year if not for injuries. He might have finished top 4 in the SEC year two wity a healthy PG(Look what the kid is doing now). I don't blame him for injuries, therefore, I don't hate the man and call for his head like he is the worst coach ever

He'd have very likely been tied for 4th last season even with the injuries if not for an obviously crooked call at Auburn.

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