Freeman Damning Quote

[katwest]

Freeman and his camp are a pos, for him or his camp to be close to signing and say something like that after signing with St John’s is making him look stupid. If that’s why he signed with them why did he flirt with Kentucky so long. It’s not about what he said, it was ALL about the almighty dollar. He himself sounds too soft to play for Pitino with his fragile legs.

 

[UKGrad24]

GIVE HIM A SECOND DAMN!!!!!!

 

[UKGrad24]

But, Tyran Stokes is going to pick Pope over Self who has coached several NBA all stars and just had the projected top 2 overall player on his team?

Cool story

Landing stokes means Pope is really done. More than now. It would show to save his job, he threw 10 times the money in a prayer. I don’t think anyone in charge would give that to him. But if so, the agents would absolutely destroy him if he gave into bidding war demands. It’s why pope won’t do it, he’s done already, but if he caved to bidding war over pressure, he’s out of here.

Can’t be said enough. This is a Risk / leverage business now. Mark has all risk and no leverage. It was one of the worst hires we could have made.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

GIVE HIM A SECOND DAMN!!!!!!

Come on man he just needs a 3rd year to make this all right..... Bull **** he hasn't done **** in all the years he's coached he wasn't going to get it done here at UK either.

 

[kfwa]

I guess I have to spell it out for you lol

"He wanted a guy that would coach him hard, and wanted someone who had coached pros."

The Bold is the MOST Damning. The Bold + Italics is adjacent to the bold because Pope got Kobe Brea to the pros.

It's like saying, hey man the sky is blue on a clear sunny day. And you're saying the sky is red. Keep living in your fairytale I suppose.

you think you're making a point but the point isn't relevant. Its like saying the name on the front of the jersey means something.

there are few if any recruits out there that are going to even remember what sentiment Freeman meant in his quote if their choice is between school X and Kentucky. They are just going to look at who provides the best financial opportunity - at least as long as the NIL era remains as it is now.

 

[FinalF]

That quote is crap. He wanted more money period and I don’t blame him. Get what you can but own it.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Pope made the first offer and it was fair money. If he wanted to play for Pope, he would have committed. He either used UK to up offers at other schools and had no intention of coming, or Pope has such a poor reputation and personality that he started shopping after the visit just to find somewhere, anywhere to go to keep from having to play for him. I’d guess it’s the second scenario.

They're attracted to Kentucky because the brand is still massive and they know we got dozens of NBA guys. The name has enough sway to get anybody interested in a visit. Get the red carpet treatment from a blue blood? Why not???

Then they get here and it's just Pope and Fox being weird and talking about inner beauty and "existing in the college basketball space" and taking them to pet the horses and then the player calls their agent "please for the love of god don't make me play here."

 

[jfinman]

I guess the wanting more money part wasn’t a factor .

If it were about the money, then Pope or his financial advisors failed miserably, because Freeman's net income would be substantially greater in Kentucky as opposed to New York - which is where St. John's is located. The state income tax in KY is a flat 4%. NY's state income tax bracket for the amount allegedly offered Freeman is 9.65%. Freeman's net income would be greater in Kentucky,

 

[Buckwheat Otay Is Dead]

Pope played Pitino last year . Pope beat Pitino.. money talks and bs walks. Total bs

 

[UKgrad22]

Freeman didn’t even visit St. John’s, he had a singular zoom call (that was reported) with them and the only other thing that was stated was they outbid us for him. No player is gonna flat out say “I wanted more money”, so of course they have to say stuff like he did.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Obviously! But even if Pope matched St. Johns, that quote is maybe why he chose St. Johns over Kentucky. Think people.

When you have the same results over and over with recruiting guys then it is pretty obvious that folks dont believe in the current brand or the person selling it.

Some of the comments from Lowe and Jaspers uncle were no doubt childish but that doesn't mean they were lies. Same thing with JQ and as others have stated he no doubt had some knee swelling. There also is a great argument to be made that they shut it down because they lost confidence in Pope and his plan for utilizing JQ.

Its literally the same story with every high school recruit or portal target. Guys are considered locks by every pundit then the player visits us and they run as quick as they can in the other direction.

Sad days for our beloved program .

 

[notFromhere]

An extra mil would have changed that perspective

Exactly

 

[notFromhere]

Does that include the kid that chose to stay with BYU instead of follow Pope to UK?

 

[notFromhere]

Not being a Pope defender and maybe I’m just forgetting, but who are these pros that Donnie would even be aware of since like Donovan Mitchell?

Walter Clayton was a transfer out that I know made it. Blanking on others at the moment.

This was a “source” that used a true statement to deflect from the money angle which is understandable but unnecessary from Goodman. Why not just come out and say they had the highest offer, a HOF coach, and NYC was too much to pass up for Donnie.

Because Goodman hates UK, and only uses the name and subject matter for clicks.

He's just pssed he was totally wrong about both Wright and Freeman (not to mention countless others).

 

[notFromhere]

no one in freeman's camp wanted him at uk. no one....not sure why pope and thought they could over come that hurdle. unless they were willing to over spend by a ton. i'll give cal credit....he seemed to manage these land mines pretty well. pope seems to step on them with 2 feet.

How many times did Cal get all of his targets landed while at Kentucky?

He was just smarter about how he handled the negotiations than Pope has.

 

[notFromhere]

I don't think you're comprehending the point here.

No matter if its manufactured or not, its the simple fact that it was said. Because it was said, its a damning quote to Pope. How?

1. Pope whiffed on Rancik because he thought they would get Freeman.

He got played by Freeman and his people. Wouldn't have mattered who it was, Freeman was always going to find somewhere else to play.

2. It says everything that most of know to be true by Pope's tenure here. Rick Pitino's coaching style and Pope's are polar opposites. There is nothing that indicates Pope has it to coach hard. He even stated quite the opposite. He wants to coach with positive affirmations.

Undeniably true.

3. He chose Pope's former coach over him.

Nope. St Johns wrote the check. That was Freeman's goal all along. That's why Bama faded, then UConn, then UK. If Bama had come close to UKs offer, he'd be there. They backed off. He could've committed to UK ANY TIME and didn't. He never came close. Leverage

 

[notFromhere]

Yes, but there is nuance. The fact that this was said makes it damning. SMH

No, drama queen, it's not "damning" that he said it. Context matters. It's simply factual.

 

[notFromhere]

It’s still amazing to me there are a few who think he can “turn this around”. Nothing screams “I don’t understand how any of this works” like someone believing he can turn around not just a bad 12 year coaching record, but also horrible reputation blows all over the recruiting trail, with coaches, and agents.

Mark pope was finished the beginning of his second year. He was really finished the day he was hired, but there are elements to his early 2nd year and recruiting situation that show early 2nd year he was done.

This is Kentucky. This is not somewhere you give a guy with his 10 year record “a chance to see”. This is one of the biggest disasters I’ve ever witnessed in our programs history.

I'm of the opinion that Mitch knew this was coming and gave Mark a shot at his dream job the only way he would get it. No one wanted to follow Cal here, and wisely so. EVERYONE HERE is nuts. They either hate the new coach and can't imagine they'd do well, or they love the coach in spite of glaring weaknesses.

After next season, and another incomplete roster if things continue as they are, people will be ready for whatever MID the new Mitch hires as long as we're competitive and recruit pretty well. At least that's what Mitch thought, imo. In the meantime, best of both worlds for MB, WE SAVE MONEY with Pope instead of Cal.

We definitely need to break away from the Barnhart AD tree

 

[notFromhere]

.This WAS Kentucky. This WAS not somewhere you give a guy with his 10 year record “a chance to see”. This is one of the middlest disasters ever witnessed in our programs history.

Fify

 

[notFromhere]

They're attracted to Kentucky because the brand is still massive and they know we got dozens of NBA guys. The name has enough sway to get anybody interested in a visit. Get the red carpet treatment from a blue blood? Why not???

Then they get here and it's just Pope and Fox being weird and talking about inner beauty and "existing in the college basketball space" and taking them to pet the horses and then the player calls their agent "please for the love of god don't make me play here."

That's probably way too accurate

 

[notFromhere]

If it were about the money, then Pope or his financial advisors failed miserably, because Freeman's net income would be substantially greater in Kentucky as opposed to New York - which is where St. John's is located. The state income tax in KY is a flat 4%. NY's state income tax bracket for the amount allegedly offered Freeman is 9.65%. Freeman's net income would be greater in Kentucky,

Not so much for his attorneys, if they're not in NY or live their already.

For Freeman, yes. That's why he needed the extra million to avoid Lexington.

Do math better, BTW.
3.6M is better than 2.9M

 

[Beatle Bum]

I guess I have to spell it out for you lol

"He wanted a guy that would coach him hard, and wanted someone who had coached pros."

The Bold is the MOST Damning. The Bold + Italics is adjacent to the bold because Pope got Kobe Brea to the pros.

It's like saying, hey man the sky is blue on a clear sunny day. And you're saying the sky is red. Keep living in your fairytale I suppose.

Oh, you mean players just don’t say, “I went for the money?” Gosh. Revolutionary take!

These delusional threads and posts are the norm here. Kid praised his future coach who paid him more than any other team. And, why wouldn’t he? But the Freudsters are here to tell us the meaning behind the meaning. LOL

When Stokes picks Oregon, what ever grey matter still exists on this board will melt completely.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Oh, you mean players just don’t say, “I went for the money?” Gosh. Revolutionary take!

These delusional threads and posts are the norm here. Kid praised his future coach who paid him more than any other team. And, why wouldn’t he? But the Freudsters are here to tell us the meaning behind the meaning. LOL

When Stokes picks Oregon, what ever grey matter still exists on this board will melt completely.

Another dense poster. Their camp/Freeman could have said anything else. But what he said was a slight to Pope. Whether you believe it or not. I think you're upset because you only comprehend the surface of things and not capable of "reading between the lines."

 

[jfinman]

Not so much for his attorneys, if they're not in NY or live their already.

For Freeman, yes. That's why he needed the extra million to avoid Lexington.

Do math better, BTW.
3.6M is better than 2.9M

Not so much for his attorneys, if they're not in NY or live their already.

For Freeman, yes. That's why he needed the extra million to avoid Lexington.

Do math better, BTW.
3.6M is better than 2.9M

BTW, do comprehension better. I never attached a monetary amount in my comment. I posted on the presumption of equal value and never mentioned anything about his attorneys.

 

[notFromhere]

BTW, do comprehension better. I never attached a monetary amount in my comment. I posted on the presumption of equal value and never mentioned anything about his attorneys.

Yeah, whatever. Lmao.
Don't cry

 

[NociHTTP]

No, drama queen, it's not "damning" that he said it. Context matters. It's simply factual.

It is damning, in the context that the cat is out of the bag in plain site even for Pope. He's officially been called out, how will he respond?

 

[ZaytovenCat]

lol so basically he was never coming here and only used Dork to drive up his asking price. All while costing us atleast one other guy who wanted to commit but was put on the back burner. Pope is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[Stenchymouse]

Obviously! But even if Pope matched St. Johns, that quote is maybe why he chose St. Johns over Kentucky. Think people.

I'm GLAD that Pope didn't match the offer.

He may be good, be he's not THAT good!!

 

[Ash Williams]

Yowch this is worse than Cal.