Cal's return fire on Pope

AllBall

All-American
May 5, 2015
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During the post game press conference Cal slip an indirect jab in at Pope. Here's a summary of the transcript.
When asked about his roster for next season. Cal responded:

Well, we have 3 five star players coming in. They're good players but they're physical, got a beast to them bc you're going against 25 yr olds. So we have those three, and guys coming back, and we'll see who wants to be a part of this.
Look we're all in the same boat right now.

How bout this? There's a lot of people who have no idea. You have no recruits. Zero. You have no idea who's coming back. You don't have the same money you had a year ago. You do not! And now all the sudden you're trying to keep guys, figure out who else is out there, who wants to come and who wants to put in a bidding war.
 

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
3,324
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During the post game press conference Cal slip an indirect jab in at Pope. Here's a summary of the transcript.
When asked about his roster for next season. Cal responded:

Well, we have 3 five star players coming in. They're good players but they're physical, got a beast to them bc you're going against 25 yr olds. So we have those three, and guys coming back, and we'll see who wants to be a part of this.
Look we're all in the same boat right now.

How bout this? There's a lot of people who have no idea. You have no recruits. Zero. You have no idea who's coming back. You don't have the same money you had a year ago. You do not! And now all the sudden you're trying to keep guys, figure out who else is out there, who wants to come and who wants to put in a bidding war.
I want to see proof that 1)We ever had $22M(people saying it is not proof, a ledger sheet is proof) and 2) Proof that we will have less money than last year, because I don't believe it.
Rumor(not proof) has it that we have offered $7M to Stokes. So hypothetically, if thats true, and then Muurinen says he wants to come here but its gonna cost $3M....are the folks going to say no? Stop it.
IF, IF, IF.....the $22M number is true, then players like Noah, Jasper and BG ll had to make at least $1.5M each. The math is impossible any other way. THAT'S the kind of bullcrap that won't happen again
 

Bluegrass79

Senior
May 4, 2006
395
550
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Let me tell you something:

You think Kentucky's not going to find its way in the age of buying players?

We been buying players since Santa Clause.


Just u wait mfer.
Its amost Christmas time. Money is nothing here really.

One horse is worth 1,000,000 chickens.
One legendary run at Kentucky is worth more than 5 Sweet Pigsoey 16's.......
 

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,256
84,740
113
Meh.

Arkansas fans know so little about basketball they are actually happy to have Calipari, because they don't understand his philosophy. And that he's an extinct species.

Here it is, rendered so simple even a hog can understand it:

1. Get McDonald's All America talent by telling kids to forget college: They are on a four-month audition for the NBA.
2. Let them continue to play the same defense they were playing in AAU ball: "Occasional Man-to-Man." Nobody's drafting you on your ability to function in diverse and complex defenses.
3. On offense: Throw it around the perimeter until you get one of your superior talents isolated on an actual college player, who will be inferior in physical ability.

That's it. From Derrick Rose to Darius Acuff. It actually worked in the early days of One-and-Done because you had guys like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins and Karl Towns playing against college kids. But other teams - beginning with Duke - adapted and added real basketball dynamics to the mix.

Now, with NIL, Cal's system will never work again. Too many pro-level players sticking in college because it makes financial sense. What matters now is a coach with a system that is better than your system. That may not be Mark Pope. It's certainly not Calipari. He's a brontosaurus and the meteor has hit the Gulf of Mexico. He probably senses he's in big trouble. But it is not like he can stop being a brontosaurus.

Pope is on the clock - one year to show he can actually perform in this era. Arkansas is probably stuck with Calipari until he "changes an other 20 or 25 lives" -- by which he means allowing kids to park their God given talent in his godforsaken system for four months until they can go where their talent was taking them with or without Calipari.
 

UKGrad24

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Apr 2, 2024
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He’s not wrong plus Calipari has 4 fins fours 2 title games and a NT here not to mention all the SEC titles and the record setting. Pope is not worthy of an assistant job on the staffs. Can’t deny it.

But what a mess Barnhart has created. Just keep Calipari and let him finish his legacy go go Boeheim if this is your answer. You move on Calipari you need to have the right guy and he didn’t. This is a mess. Calipari 2.0 sucks and Pope sucks a tad more and this is the position we’re in thanks to Mitch Barnhart. F’n moron.
 

Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
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How bout this? There's a lot of people who have no idea. You have no recruits. Zero. You have no idea who's coming back. You don't have the same money you had a year ago. You do not! And now all the sudden you're trying to keep guys, figure out who else is out there, who wants to come and who wants to put in a bidding war.

I don’t think you even need to call this an “indirect” shot, because it’s so CLEARLY aimed at Pope and UK. There’s absolutely no doubt about who he’s talking about there. It’s about as direct as a shot can be without explicitly saying the name.

And he’s right. Our situation looks dire right now, certainly far worse than his.
 

UKGrad24

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Apr 2, 2024
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Meh.

Arkansas fans know so little about basketball they are actually happy to have Calipari, because they don't understand his philosophy. And that he's an extinct species.

Here it is, rendered so simple even a hog can understand it:

1. Get McDonald's All America talent by telling kids to forget college: They are on a four-month audition for the NBA.
2. Let them continue to play the same defense they were playing in AAU ball: "Occasional Man-to-Man." Nobody's drafting you on your ability to function in diverse and complex defenses.
3. On offense: Throw it around the perimeter until you get one of your superior talents isolated on an actual college player, who will be inferior in physical ability.

That's it. From Derrick Rose to Darius Acuff. It actually worked in the early days of One-and-Done because you had guys like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins and Karl Towns playing against college kids. But other teams - beginning with Duke - adapted and added real basketball dynamics to the mix.

Now, with NIL, Cal's system will never work again. Too many pro-level players sticking in college because it makes financial sense. What matters now is a coach with a system that is better than your system. That may not be Mark Pope. It's certainly not Calipari. He's a brontosaurus and the meteor has hit the Gulf of Mexico. He probably senses he's in big trouble. But it is not like he can stop being a brontosaurus.

Pope is on the clock - one year to show he can actually perform in this era. Arkansas is probably stuck with Calipari until he "changes an other 20 or 25 lives" -- by which he means allowing kids to park their God given talent in his godforsaken system for four months until they can go where their talent was taking them with or without Calipari.
Pope is going on what year 12 or 13. No he can’t go in this arena he’s going to be fired lol.
 
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UKGrad24

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While his comment applies to UK, it also applies to many around the country.

Going to be a very competitive portal cycle. Part of the reason Louisville/adidas just dropped a bag for Ellis.

A lot of programs will need to be built in large part in the portal.
He’s 100% taking a shot at UK and Pope you cannot be serious? Are you saying this could be about anyone? Because no it’s about UK obviously and for anyone to come in with well it could the any team! I won’t even dignify that sort of response.
 
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Monday Nitro

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Jul 3, 2025
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I mean he aint wrong. Pope has a massive mountain to climb this offseason.
So what is Cal’s excuse? Pope, The guy he lost to in Fayetteville? I guarantee Arkansas fans are officially sick of him after last night’s heartless performance.
 
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Old Blue Fart

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Mar 23, 2014
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Everybody take a step back.
This is not an anti rant for or against Pope or Cal. But after reading everyone's post, this is where we are:
Cal bragging about his roster for next season but look at this season; Arkansas went one game farther then UK with all that talent, even lost at home to UK.

Arizona whipped Cals butt last night with all that talent; the same kind of butt whipping UK took from many teams this year.

So tell me, which program is in better shape really?

UK has its issues but Cal talks the talk but still is not walking the walk.
 

anot

Sophomore
Mar 27, 2026
137
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I look at Calipari the same way I look at my ex-wife. He can say whatever he wants. It does not affect my current marriage in any way. She is her current boyfriend’s problem now. Have fun with her, current boyfriend. She’s overweight, underemployed and her best days are behind her.
These 🕳️s ain't loyal
 

dynastydreamuk

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Nov 18, 2010
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What is so interesting is I know Cal had two prepared jabs...one for if he lost and one for if he won.

I was wondering what this jab would be since he lost and I think it is a pretty good jab.

Pope comparing his years to cals last couple is just stupid because both were below average for kentucky Basketball
 

RoyKent

Heisman
Feb 3, 2015
22,855
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Pope is a clown and is conveniently cherry picking stats



Mark Pope told fans and media to “go look it up and do the math yourself” on his Coach’s Show this week when comparing his first two years at Kentucky to the previous four before John Calipari bolted for Arkansas.
So, I did.
While the numbers are technically true, it felt intentionally disingenuous.
Kentucky’s winning percentage under Pope is only better than the preceding four seasons if you stop exactly at four.
It isn’t better over the three preceding years, or five, six, seven, or two. Just four.
Only that specific four-year window, which conveniently targets the dreadful 9-16 season (which didn't start on Wednesday o the SEC Tournament).

 

Dr.LutherSan

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Sep 6, 2019
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If we would have hired any of the 15 coaches with a lick of proven work we wouldnt be rap battling with Calapari. We shouldn't bring his name up so much. Let him live in irrelevance over in Arky. He still needs us.
He reached the Sweet Sixteen and has some top talent coming in. We got crucified in the second round, ended the season with 13 losses, and have zero recruits so far.

I don't want the guy back, but saying that he is living in irrelevance over in Arky and that he still needs us is asinine.
 
May 27, 2007
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While his comment applies to UK, it also applies to many around the country.

Going to be a very competitive portal cycle. Part of the reason Louisville/adidas just dropped a bag for Ellis.

A lot of programs will need to be built in large part in the portal.

Yeah that was my initial thought.

It's weird here how everyone takes this guys comments and think he's taking shots at us.

This isn't the first thread about something he said that apparently was a "shot" at UK.