There's a lot of behind the scenes info that may not ever come out. Something happened and it looks like the timetable changed. I don't believe Mark Pope was the target all along considering some of the reported initial moves.
Aaron Torres ROASTING Mitch Barnhart
- Thread starter RunninRichie
- Start date
I really don't think you can wait on Donovan. He very well could win the two play-in games and wind up in a 4-7 game series, that could last 2 more weeks on top of that.
You're looking at least a week from now. To possibly 3-4 weeks from now, before he'd commit to us. Don't think you can wait that long.
You're looking at least a week from now. To possibly 3-4 weeks from now, before he'd commit to us. Don't think you can wait that long.
Mitch is too busy virtue signaling than doing his job. Really tired of this bad dream. Barnhart is an embarrassment and it's plain to see. That said, that makes the President and the Board of Trustees a joke as well. I hope they prove me wrong. I really do.
I did too but 3/4ths of this board went absolute ape **** at the thought of him.
Barnyard will retire in two years. Pope may or may not outlast him.
This has DISASTER written all over it.
Drew wasn't my first choice, but Pope wasn't my 50th choice.
No brainer between the two of them.
Mitch seemed hell bent on hiring a choir boy instead of a killer for coach.
It is going to suck for us, and may ruin Mark Pope's promising career in the process as well.
No brainer between the two of them.
Mitch seemed hell bent on hiring a choir boy instead of a killer for coach.
It is going to suck for us, and may ruin Mark Pope's promising career in the process as well.
Mitch got completely pantsed during this search
Good god
Good god
I hate to agree with him, but I do. This was as big a debacle as losing to St Peter's and Oakland, only this one could potentially kill the program for years.
And by the way, I'm gonna support Pope fully. I hope I have to eat so much crow that it sickens me.
Says you, I know a bunch of people who are okay with it and willing to give an ex UK a chance Rupps Rafters is not an overwhelming majority of our fans THANK GOD
I was giving him the benefit of the doubt until seeing the hire, but this was definitely handled poorly now that the dust is settling. I’m actually fine with Drew being the first choice because he has an impressive resume and seemed like a realistic possibility. Unfortunately for us, his family just wasn’t wanting to move, and I can respect that.
Things got weird quickly after that though because it seemed like there wasn’t much of a plan B. There were conflicting reports about whether we actually approached Oats with some saying we did and others claiming he was basically on a do not call list because of the off court incident last year, but assuming it’s true that we called and tried to convince Alabama to lessen his buyout, that’s a bizarre footnote in this saga that isn’t getting much attention but well illustrates the aimlessness of our search. What possible reason would they have to even consider such a thing?
Then of course there was the Hurley stuff today, which was clearly a desperation move to try and sway a guy who had made it abundantly clear he wasn’t interested by simply offering him ungodly amounts of money. It arguably made us a punchline when he still said no.
Finally after that, we ended up settling for Pope only a couple of hours later, somehow going straight from the back to back national champion to a guy who hasn’t even won his conference in 9 years of coaching. Again, I’m fine with Drew being the first choice and was excited when it looked like we were getting him, but this reeks of not having a coherent plan beyond him and just getting it over with quickly once he was out. That’s not acceptable for a program at our level.
Things got weird quickly after that though because it seemed like there wasn’t much of a plan B. There were conflicting reports about whether we actually approached Oats with some saying we did and others claiming he was basically on a do not call list because of the off court incident last year, but assuming it’s true that we called and tried to convince Alabama to lessen his buyout, that’s a bizarre footnote in this saga that isn’t getting much attention but well illustrates the aimlessness of our search. What possible reason would they have to even consider such a thing?
Then of course there was the Hurley stuff today, which was clearly a desperation move to try and sway a guy who had made it abundantly clear he wasn’t interested by simply offering him ungodly amounts of money. It arguably made us a punchline when he still said no.
Finally after that, we ended up settling for Pope only a couple of hours later, somehow going straight from the back to back national champion to a guy who hasn’t even won his conference in 9 years of coaching. Again, I’m fine with Drew being the first choice and was excited when it looked like we were getting him, but this reeks of not having a coherent plan beyond him and just getting it over with quickly once he was out. That’s not acceptable for a program at our level.
Yup. If this goes as mediocre as everyone thinks it will, it will be hard to re-gain the clout UK has had.
It’s like the Patriots losing the “Brady-Belichick” allure. You can’t really get it back. It’s easier in this situation, but my point still stands.
If Rafters was representative of our fan base , I’d push for mass sterilization. Just unhinged lunatics on this board who’s entire life happiness is hinged on a game.
I feel bad for the players if they don’t do well, but couldn’t give two ***** about a lot of the idiots on here. Bunch of armchair miscreants demanding “excellence” in a program, when they couldn’t find their own *** with both hands and a flashlight.
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That's my biggest takeaway, a small portion of these posters kept whining like that would've been a bad hire. Some of these guys are clueless
I’ll be supporting mark pope but..
How… in…the…hell…did…this…happen…
If we’re as rabid a fanbase as they say- we will have protests out his office because I highly doubt he’s technologically versed and isn’t tweeting or giving one single EFF what social media is saying.
This is the biggest reach possible. There’s 3-4 just in the sec alone we should have had above mark pope. Hell maybe Jeff Sheppard will feel bad enough for him that Reed will stay is only positive I can spin right now.
Are we sure today isn’t APRIL ONE?
How… in…the…hell…did…this…happen…
If we’re as rabid a fanbase as they say- we will have protests out his office because I highly doubt he’s technologically versed and isn’t tweeting or giving one single EFF what social media is saying.
This is the biggest reach possible. There’s 3-4 just in the sec alone we should have had above mark pope. Hell maybe Jeff Sheppard will feel bad enough for him that Reed will stay is only positive I can spin right now.
Are we sure today isn’t APRIL ONE?
Doesn't matter he got offered and didn't have the balls to come. Mitch was gonna screw this up regardless.
Agreed Mitch should've retired and had a different AD take care of this. Very sad
How's that campaign of "anyone but Cal" working out for you? lol
Well we can at least get a reset on the UK fanbase. Lose the ones who aren’t all in for the Cats. It needs it.
I was always going to be a Cat fan. Not my first choice but he’s my coach now.
Watched Pope’s teams play and it’s an exciting style. Smart sincere well spoken enthusiastic man.
Get him some top flight recruiting help. Recruiting early will be key.
Hell our Arena is named after a young guy who got his chance at UK.
Let’s roll the dice.
I was always going to be a Cat fan. Not my first choice but he’s my coach now.
Watched Pope’s teams play and it’s an exciting style. Smart sincere well spoken enthusiastic man.
Get him some top flight recruiting help. Recruiting early will be key.
Hell our Arena is named after a young guy who got his chance at UK.
Let’s roll the dice.
Of course Mitch made the conservative choice. Mitch should have been fired after Cal left. the only good things he has done is hire Cal (not his choice), and then finally telling Cal to **** off when he tried to slither back after talking to OSU and Arky.
What’s funny is you guys don’t realize the boosters and Pope are probably friends and this is actually their choice and he’s not going to be fired.
Wouldn’t be the first time you had to eat that much crow. But I have nothing but love for you.
Stop it. He didn’t. He was blind sided and stuck panicking. Which is why we have tonight’s news.
Nope, it wouldn't be the first and likely won't be the last. When you give opinions in real time, it happens. The only way to avoid it is to just not post at all. I've actually considered going that route. There is no doubt, UK basketball is WAY too important to me.
And I loved Pope in the mid-90s and on that 1996 team, which was one of the best ever. I like his energy. I love the fact that he loves UK so passionately. I sincerely wish for him all the best. I will be supporting him completely. Know that. I just think we could have hired him in July and he'd have taken it. Why not exhaust all the top candidates completely and come back to Pope as a fallback position, a last resort. But it seemed once Scott Drew turned him down and the big swing and miss with Hurley, that we all saw coming, happened, Mitch went straight to Pope. I'm not sure that is true, but it sure FELT like it's true. Was any effort made for any other more proven coaches? Guys with actual NCAA-T wins on their resume? It seemed to me Mitch had 1 guy- Drew. He seemed so sure Drew would come, I think he was in shock. But you give Hurley a shot. And now it's 2 strikes and getting embarrased. So, who is a guaranteed yes? Mark Pope would run through a brick wall to get here. Let's call him.
Mitch will either come out looking like a genius here or like a complete buffoon. His job is tied directly to Pope. If Pope fails or loses his job, Barnhart will NOT be allowed to pick another coach. Period.
I talked to a good friend who is a donor and he's absolutely shocked. He said he knew Hurley was going to say no but he didn't blame Mitch for going all out but he had no clue that Pope was going to be the choice.
I asked him why wasn't Pearl contacted about the job and he said he had no clue unless Mitch didn't want to deal with Bruce.
He did say he didn't talk to Barnhart or anybody associated with the athletic department but he didn't think Mitch went the distance on this hire.
I told him I liked Pope but feel like he wasn't ready for this job and that it could be a disaster.
His words were telling when he said join the crowd.
I asked him why wasn't Pearl contacted about the job and he said he had no clue unless Mitch didn't want to deal with Bruce.
He did say he didn't talk to Barnhart or anybody associated with the athletic department but he didn't think Mitch went the distance on this hire.
I told him I liked Pope but feel like he wasn't ready for this job and that it could be a disaster.
His words were telling when he said join the crowd.
Sounds like some of you wanted flash over substance. Figures. Now sit back, keep your pie holes shut, and support the hire.
He was recruiting to Provo, Utah, BYU, that's ridiculous. You don't think he can improve with UK's resources?
Well we all said we were worried with him driving the bus. It was proven correct. He needs a search firm. At least he won’t be running this ship very much longer especially if this crashes and burns. He doesn’t have Cal to take the blame anymore.
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