Wish he had pulled the plug earlier on him. He would’ve been ridiculed to no end if he had, though. All in all, I love our roster. It worked out.
Are apologies in order ?
- Thread starter UncleAdolph
- Start date
I've been critical of Pope for sure (not on a personal level) and he's deserved much of basketball specific criticism that he's received, but I still genuinely hope he figures it out and does great things. He seems like a really good guy and loves the program. If this is a sign of things to come, then great! Hope he keeps it going
No apologies needed.
2026 has to be the worst hs recruiting class in the history of UK basketball.
I really believe Pope took the year off.
2026 has to be the worst hs recruiting class in the history of UK basketball.
I really believe Pope took the year off.
Nah. You'll get no apology from me any more than a teacher should apologize for being critical with his students who failed most of their previous tests. When the students start to raise their scores, the teacher will give them the appropriate praise. That's what I'll do for Pope in this case. I'm extremely happy for him and for BBN with this news. Hampton is a huge get and he reminds me of Rudy Gay.
I give Pope all the credit in the world for the last week. He's done in the last week what he was paid to do, but to assert that I should apologize for being critical of his recruiting perfomance up until recently is the equivalent of saying that it was was UK-level before the last week. It wasn't, and you know that.
I want Pope to succeed. I want him to land elite players. Believe it or not, I want the best for this program just like you do.
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Pope wasn’t getting it done and he responded to it in the right way. I’m really happy for him and glad he’s improved his recruiting. I’m not sure how others feel about it but I would have rather had Milan on our team than Stokes.
Popes a nice guy and I like seeing nice guys have success. He got his mulligan last season and I hope we have a great and injury free upcoming season. These guys that got mad over fair criticisms of pope probably never played sports in their lives. I know a few of them are just as crazy as the overly negative. On opposite ends of the debate but they’re alike because they’re crazy.
And still ended up with a pretty darn good team. Top 15 good.
this is so true and I think coach went too far riding that horse. It eliminated some stout players that might have signed up if they knew Stokes was not UK bound. He is all about ME and trouble seems to find him. let's see how he does at Kansas.
You said they will still be dirt bags and who cares. Odd statement to make when MP just had maybe the best week he has had since he got here.
Enjoy the good days my friend.
Again you and I are thinking almost exactly alike, my friend
I do not find it be necessary to apologize for anything as I’m NOT sorry for feeling the way I did, based on the evidence in front of me. Until Milan committed to UK, there were legitimate concerns about the future
Honestly there still are. That’s not being negative, that’s being realistic
Pope has made some steps in the right direction; if he’s willing to continue to adapt we may have something. If he isn’t…
oh and @Son_Of_Saul is a huge Kentucky fan and an intelligent poster. To say otherwise simply means you haven’t been around long enough to know him
He put together what he thinks is a good to great roster. Now let’s see if he can lose less than about 8 games and actually be relevant in March. Feel free to flex then. Seems a little premature at this point.
The following is not directed at you rather - That is a critical writers POV looking for an off ramp after the offseason.
Real creators don’t concern themselves with critics, they certainly don’t adjust course based on such. Lastly, todays cimate rarely provides a critic being won over, betting on one leading to the other is a falsehood. Shallow Hope.
There is enough leadership history to disprove what a writer with no real world experience writes. None of this is an endorsement of Pope, rather don’t let this man allow you to think vocal opinions swayed Pope to change his ways and now we’re winning.
Yay us, we knew better, our voices were heard.
This is false.
Rather, good for you staff, keep stacking these wins.
Serious question…What happens if this team finishes, give or take, where the 24-25 team did? Pope got a player he DESPERATELY needed. Let’s see if he can actually coach a little and not lose double digit games, get to at least the semis of the SECT and through the second weekend of the tournament. If he can, flex and take a victory lap. Until then, might wanna chill.
Yeah, that’s such a BS narrative. Nobody does that. I’m worried as hell this team finishes about where the 24-25 did. Why? Because it’s another year of mediocrity and Pope proving he’s in too deep. But I’m still gonna cheer like crazy and hope they win every game. I HOPE Mark Pope winds up as successful as Cal and Rick. Unfortunately there’s just no evidence to suggest that being probable or even possible.
doesn't come across as being miserable, he is correct the handful of a**holes on here will never change.... they are the miserable ones
the last 2 years really? his first year he overachieved. he had about 15 minutes to throw together that roster...last year was bad because re rolled the dice on JQ and that failed miserably....
It's a case of "you are who you are". If they're deciding to not wish the worst, that makes them chameleons.
Pope recruited two guys last year that were 5*. No, no one knows who owes him anything. He blew it last year. We had what he called a Ferrari. It’s a year before the kid even comes to campus and we’ve seen guys not make it under Pope. Not to mention, I mean, he has to win this year or he’s gone man is that simple a recruit sitting there for next year isn’t gonna save his butt. And can Mark Pope go a year of being normal? I mean, he may be able to do it in spurts. There’s a long way to go before this guy makes campus and if he doesn’t make sweet 16, I mean there’s gonna be no argument to keep him. And what his daughter’s dad was classless.. JJ’s dad has put far more into being a wildcat and Mark Pope has. Under no circumstances should his daughters have been mocking a Lexington guy. And for that matter, you don’t mock any of our players former players.. coming from the coaches daughter’s mouth is disgusting. Means they talk about it in the house. And what will happen if we need JJ down the road? He’s not coming to Kentucky no that was classless and speaks to the conversations that go on in the pope household.
I'm a sunshine Kentucky fan, and enjoying the hell out of it. Guys like Eagle nuts 69, are not going to take that from me
Well, don’t. Enjoy this, Mark Pope has done many of the things that people said he couldn’t. Great time to be a Wildcat!I'm a sunshine Kentucky fan, and enjoying the hell out of it. Guys like Eagle nuts 69, are not going to take that from me
Well there are some on here that have expressed the viewpoint that if we totally suck next year Pope will be fired and that will be good for the program going forward.
I may sound like a broken record on this topic, but anyone wishing for losses to further their own idea of what the program needs is absolutely not a fan. Period.
You can't expect an Ortho Bug Dr. to have many high IQ viewpoints, lol.
JJ chose to quit on us. Family was publicly critical of the Coach which was classless.
Nobody will want him back. I don’t think JJ loves basketball.
Who would want that in their program?
My biggest disagreement on this board over the past year or so was the argument that "Pope is what he is and will never be anything else." I hate to see anyone labeled as a loser or underachiever because he or she doesn't live up to some arbitrary shortsighted expectations. Hopefully, the future is bright for UK basketball and Pope is a part of that bright future.
It’s the NIL/Portal era. A roster can be built in 5 mins.
JQ was the reason last years team was that bad? If their success hinged on JQ, why would Pope allow that? Why wouldn’t he get other players? (Hint: JQ isn’t the only reason, nor the biggest reason, why last years team was so bad).
Keep my nuts outta your mouthI'm a sunshine Kentucky fan, and enjoying the hell out of it. Guys like Eagle nuts 69, are not going to take that from me
You go by Eagle nuts 69, you must have a liking for them, I didn't make your name, you did Eagle nuts 69
Balls, nuts, I'm sure you like them all
if JQ & Lowe and Kam all were healthy the team would have been miles better...if you can't see that, well that is on you..... and the portal had been open about a month when he got the job, some excellent players were already off the board.... keep up
Believe me Eagles nuts 69, thinks he is smarter then anyone on here, and when the dumba.ss can't think of anything to say, he comes off with his gay s.hit.
Please enlighten us mere mortals with why last year sucked so bad since you insinuate you know?
Yes a roster can be built in 5 minutes but you also have to build it with the leftovers like when Pope was first hired. Remember When Cal took all our players and Pope had to build a team with what was left in 3 or 4 weeks?
If you can't at least acknowledge his first year under those conditions was a success then you are either a Coach Cal sunshine pumper or just being negative for no good reason.
Yes last year sucked. Can we quit being negative with every post and at least see how this season plays out?
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