Does Pope know?

[ChocoChicken]

Does Pope know that he’s about to become one of the most hated figures in Kentucky basketball? That he’ll constantly be ridiculed by Kentucky fans for the rest of his life? That Mark Pope will be placed in the same category as Billy Gillispie and Eddie Sutton?

Does he even care that his legacy will never have anything to do with being the captain of the 1996 team? That he will be known as the man who made Kentucky a national laughing stock.

He had an opportunity to resign before the heat got real. But ego and greed got in the way of that.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

He’ll take his 5 million dollar cash grab, move back to Utah and be fine. How many times has he actually been in Rupp since 1996. I’d say 3 or less before becoming coach.

 

[Ukdaddy98]

No…bc he is a stand up guy who will likely fail at this thing. Never humiliated the university with his personal demons like Clyde and Sutton did… repeatedly! He will likely be looked back on as a great disappointment.

 

[PoopooPeePee]

He’s a Mormon, ultimately Utah is home to him. He takes the money laughing and living a great life.

 

[Cats_2010]

No…bc he is a stand up guy who will likely fail at this thing. Never humiliated the university with his personal demons like Clyde and Sutton did… repeatedly! He will likely be looked back on as a great disappointment.

Don’t disagree but he has certainly humiliated us on the hardwood and national landscape. And the beatings next year aren’t even here yet.

 

[Cats4321]

He probably doesn't know how disappointed the fans are. I'm sure the people who talk to him regularly are telling him how great of a job he's doing. However, I don't think he'll be hated if this ends soon. If he gets a 4th year, then all bets are off.

 

[NociHTTP]

There is not one UK fan that I know, and I know a lot of them, that would "ridicule" Pope. The one who's being ridiculous is you. You sure do not come off as a UK fan. Maybe you are, but your priorities seem messed up. Get a grip. Pope is well aware that he's not doing great on the recruiting trail, he doesn't need people like you trying to stir up hatred. And he's done far more for the University of Kentucky than you will ever dream of doing.

 

[Bluegrasskingreboot]

Whiffing on recruits is not a moral failure but cutting and running when things get tough is.

You seldom make it as far as Pope has in life even before coming back here by being a quitter.

If I was him I'd rather we hate me than I hate me for not even trying to overcome adversity.

Can't land a star? Make do without or develop one and make it work.

His responsibility is to fix it or spend all effort in the attempt.

 

[ftp000]

Don’t disagree but he has certainly humiliated us on the hardwood and national landscape. And the beatings next year aren’t even here yet.

So, by your logic Bill Self has been even more humiliating on the hardwood the last 2 years?

 

[Loucatfan30]

He should be embarrassed to go outside and get the mail when he gets back to Utah. He robbed Uk and destroyed this team.

 

[kyhankypanky]

Great question.

Here’s another: Does Pope know deep down that this job is too big for him and that he’s failing?

I say yes. And that has to make a man feel miserable.

 

[BookofMormon]

It would be interesting to understand where he is personally on this - does he know it's the beginning of the end, or does he still hold out there is a chance to be amazing? He had to know this was going to blow up the fan base. His last chance is inspiring this really marginal roster to become something well beyond it's expectations.

 

[Chadrock]

Does Pope know that he’s about to become one of the most hated figures in Kentucky basketball? That he’ll constantly be ridiculed by Kentucky fans for the rest of his life? That Mark Pope will be placed in the same category as Billy Gillispie and Eddie Sutton?

Does he even care that his legacy will never have anything to do with being the captain of the 1996 team? That he will be known as the man who made Kentucky a national laughing stock.

He had an opportunity to resign before the heat got real. But ego and greed got in the way of that.

Come on folks. Pope is not the first coach to have some bad seasons. Look at the seasons Sutton, Pitino, and Gillispie had...they were awful. You never know how teams will gel and respond in this new age of professional athletism masquerading as college sports.

If anything, we should all be praying these youngsters get an education with all this nil/tp lunacy. Pope will be fine - let's get behind him and his staff.

 

[BigBluefoot]

So, by your logic Bill Self has been even more humiliating on the hardwood the last 2 years?

Not our monkeys, not our circus.
Now back to your whataboutism and deflection dance.

 

[Cats_2010]

So, by your logic Bill Self has been even more humiliating on the hardwood the last 2 years?

How do you figure? Kansas has lost 24 games last two seasons to our 26, how is that more humiliating? Self also has something pope doesn’t which is a successful coaching career and a national championship.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Does Pope know that he’s about to become one of the most hated figures in Kentucky basketball? That he’ll constantly be ridiculed by Kentucky fans for the rest of his life? That Mark Pope will be placed in the same category as Billy Gillispie and Eddie Sutton?

Does he even care that his legacy will never have anything to do with being the captain of the 1996 team? That he will be known as the man who made Kentucky a national laughing stock.

He had an opportunity to resign before the heat got real. But ego and greed got in the way of that.

He's the same man who made excuses at the end of the year and talked about Cal's "last four years."

The man is desperate.

 

[ftp000]

How do you figure? Kansas has lost 24 games last two seasons to our 26, how is that more humiliating? Self also has something pope doesn’t which is a successful coaching career and a national championship.

I'm "figuring" based on NCAA tournament wins in the last two. And 24 losses in the Big 12 compared to 26 in the SEC? You can't believe that's better.

 

[ftp000]

He should be embarrassed to go outside and get the mail when he gets back to Utah. He robbed Uk and destroyed this team.

Destroyed what team? Cal took the entire team with him!

 

[ftp000]

Not our monkeys, not our circus.
Now back to your whataboutism and deflection dance.

Good one.

 

[NineBannersSoon]

There is not one UK fan that I know, and I know a lot of them, that would "ridicule" Pope. The one who's being ridiculous is you. You sure do not come off as a UK fan. Maybe you are, but your priorities seem messed up. Get a grip. Pope is well aware that he's not doing great on the recruiting trail, he doesn't need people like you trying to stir up hatred. And he's done far more for the University of Kentucky than you will ever dream of doing.

He’s not doing so great at coaching either.

 

[Hunting9]

He’ll take his 5 million dollar cash grab, move back to Utah and be fine. How many times has he actually been in Rupp since 1996. I’d say 3 or less before becoming coach.

THIS is sad but true. He will be a filthy rich man and live like a king in a place where nobody cares about UK or Kentucky bball. Especially him. At this point he knows he’s out so he’ll have to go through next season and watch us suck …. then spit in our face and ride off into the sunset a wealthy man. My guess is he will send his family back to Utah soon and take plenty of trips home just passing the time till he gathers the millions and gets the hell outta Dodge.

 

[Resignmarkpope]

Does Pope know that he’s about to become one of the most hated figures in Kentucky basketball? That he’ll constantly be ridiculed by Kentucky fans for the rest of his life? That Mark Pope will be placed in the same category as Billy Gillispie and Eddie Sutton?

Does he even care that his legacy will never have anything to do with being the captain of the 1996 team? That he will be known as the man who made Kentucky a national laughing stock.

He had an opportunity to resign before the heat got real. But ego and greed got in the way of that.

Mark pope is a cult member

 

[TyCatPrice14]

Come on folks. Pope is not the first coach to have some bad seasons. Look at the seasons Sutton, Pitino, and Gillispie had...they were awful. You never know how teams will gel and respond in this new age of professional athletism masquerading as college sports.

If anything, we should all be praying these youngsters get an education with all this nil/tp lunacy. Pope will be fine - let's get behind him and his staff.

Would love your definition of "fine".

 

[TTTblue24]

Come on folks. Pope is not the first coach to have some bad seasons. Look at the seasons Sutton, Pitino, and Gillispie had...they were awful. You never know how teams will gel and respond in this new age of professional athletism masquerading as college sports.

If anything, we should all be praying these youngsters get an education with all this nil/tp lunacy. Pope will be fine - let's get behind him and his staff.

I understand what you’re saying and trust me, we ALL want pope to succeed & be the guy for the next 10+ yrs but………you have to see what this team looked like on the court last year, the absolute bone head coaching decisions in game & then his odd and weird behavior off the court after games. We have missed on so many players in just 2 yrs it’s hard to have hope that he turns this completely around cause there’s nothing that he’s done or shown in the past he can and will do that. He got offered his dream job but it’s becoming more evident he’s just not ready for this level of basketball at this time. I said he was 1 job away from taking this position, he should have stayed at byu and learned how to handle NIL and recruiting at a high level with legit NCAA tournament success then came here.
Pearl should have been hired to bridge that gap or even Donovan but Mitch panicked when Drew turned him down so it’s as much as Mitch’s fault as anyone and Eli’s too. I’d love to see pope coach this group to 5-6 losses and be a 1-2 seed in the tournament and SEC as well……..but nothing to this point says he can do that unfortunately.

 

[BookofMormon]

I understand what you’re saying and trust me, we ALL want pope to succeed & be the guy for the next 10+ yrs but………you have to see what this team looked like on the court last year, the absolute bone head coaching decisions in game & then his odd and weird behavior off the court after games. We have missed on so many players in just 2 yrs it’s hard to have hope that he turns this completely around cause there’s nothing that he’s done or shown in the past he can and will do that. He got offered his dream job but it’s becoming more evident he’s just not ready for this level of basketball at this time. I said he was 1 job away from taking this position, he should have stayed at byu and learned how to handle NIL and recruiting at a high level with legit NCAA tournament success then came here.
Pearl should have been hired to bridge that gap or even Donovan but Mitch panicked when Drew turned him down so it’s as much as Mitch’s fault as anyone and Eli’s too. I’d love to see pope coach this group to 5-6 losses and be a 1-2 seed in the tournament and SEC as well……..but nothing to this point says he can do that unfortunately.

Using examples from the past does't apply either. See Dusty May. Great coaches today can turn things around quick with the portal.

 

[wkycatfan7]

I just don't understand this mindset at all. MB offered him his dream job, and he took it with RP's blessing with what appeared to be the support of the fan base and former players. He's making every effort, may be in over his head during a crazy time in college sports. Some of you seem to be hoping for his failure which also means the temporary failure of UK basketball. MP may not survive, but I certainly don't hope for that.

 

[TTTblue24]

Using examples from the past does't apply either. See Dusty May. Great coaches today can turn things around quick with the portal.

Does anything you’ve seen from our portal gets to this point shows that can happen? I love the Wilkins kid game but a ? mark coming from furman to the SEC, may atleast went to a FF before going to Michigan so hard to compare pope to may before they took over high level programs. This isn’t his first couple yrs at a power school is my point, I want him to succeed and be the guy but the past isn’t always relevant but can give you an idea especially 10+ yrs worth.

 

[Buckwheat Otay Is Dead]

Does Pope know that he’s about to become one of the most hated figures in Kentucky basketball? That he’ll constantly be ridiculed by Kentucky fans for the rest of his life? That Mark Pope will be placed in the same category as Billy Gillispie and Eddie Sutton?

Does he even care that his legacy will never have anything to do with being the captain of the 1996 team? That he will be known as the man who made Kentucky a national laughing stock.

He had an opportunity to resign before the heat got real. But ego and greed got in the way of that.

Do you know you’re a fake. Gen Z I bet

 

[BookofMormon]

Does anything you’ve seen from our portal gets to this point shows that can happen? I love the Wilkins kid game but a ? mark coming from furman to the SEC, may atleast went to a FF before going to Michigan so hard to compare pope to may before they took over high level programs. This isn’t his first couple yrs at a power school is my point, I want him to succeed and be the guy but the past is always relevant but can give you an idea especially 10+ yrs worth.

In the right program, I love Wilkins. A freshman transfer with upside would be great surrounded by the right players in the right system. Unfortunately I do not think MP is bringing him in with that in mind as much as he is a body to field a starting 5.

I just don't understand this mindset at all. MB offered him his dream job, and he took it with RP's blessing with what appeared to be the support of the fan base and former players. He's making every effort, may be in over his head during a crazy time in college sports. Some of you seem to be hoping for his failure which also means the temporary failure of UK basketball. MP may not survive, but I certainly don't hope for that.

Great post - only caveat is that to potentially get to a great coach, you may need a down year as to move on. It would seem pretty clear that MP isn't the right guy after this portal/recruiting cycle.

 

[Kats meow]

He had an opportunity to resign before the heat got real. But ego and greed got in the way of that.

The “he should resign” crowd really cracks me up. It’s a business. You know….with contracts. UK made a very bad business decision. Pope is just not the right guy but UK is at fault for being dumb.