Help me understand
- Thread starter HeelVol
- Start date
I'm definitely in favor of it working out, should we need to begin searching in 14 months. I do think things are harder than they were 17 years ago. The pool of elite candidates is probably much smaller to begin with and there's built-in advantages now for a lot of places other than just Lexington. Fully on board with taking a major swing if needed, should Pope not fulfill the demands. Ironically, when it comes to this conversation, some of you all are a lot more optimistic and pumping "sunshine" much more than me. Some of my favorite candidates are retired or locked in.
Calipari couldn't find anyone to be his enemy anymore, and without that no longer had his shtick, so he turned on the fans of his own program. That man can get ****** for eternity. Come back again when Pope has a 9-16 season and I'll still tell Calpiari to get ******.
I assume you mean that it is a good approach (getting 1-2 star freshman to mix in with more experienced players and good portal players).
The only deficiency you note is UK plays to the level of its competition.
Duke (our common enemy) relies on 2-4 Five star players in freshman and sophomore classes to dominate the regular season and yet their youth holds them back from the ultimate prize.
I think Calipari is using the same approach. He seems motivated and a lesser program in Arkansas seems to be happy (not as demanding as the UK fans who are used to Pitino when he had to redshirt Jeff Sheppard because of too much talent and the great run of UK Cal (Wall, AD, MKG, 39-1) seasons.
Pope...he isn't as bad as Gillispie nor the Tubby era. Seems like he's good, not great as of yet.
What are you talking about? I am all for pope having some time to turn things around. He would’ve made elite 8 at minimum last year if at least Robinson stayed healthy. Final four with. Full healthy roster. I think he can get things right. If not he has next year then probably gone.
Last year was nothing like this year. What are you talking about. Teams didn’t catch on later in year. We lost key contributors. When you lose Robinson who was an elite shooter, butler played on 1 arm and Carr played with a bad back it makes you easy to “figure out”. This year is on pope for going away from what he knows style wise. I’m confident he tries to get back to that and succeeds.
Cal won a title at Kentucky and had multiple final fours and deep tournament runs. For that I will be always grateful to him .
Kentucky has 8 titles: 4 with Rupp , and one with Hall, Pitino , Smith and Calipari.
Any Kentucky fans that hates or doesn’t appreciate these 5 gentlemen either doesn’t understand how difficult is to win a NCAA title or let their emotions overcome their common sense.
A UNC fan should not stir the pot on a Kentucky board, especially when you have your own coaching and underachieving problems.
Kentucky has 8 titles: 4 with Rupp , and one with Hall, Pitino , Smith and Calipari.
Any Kentucky fans that hates or doesn’t appreciate these 5 gentlemen either doesn’t understand how difficult is to win a NCAA title or let their emotions overcome their common sense.
A UNC fan should not stir the pot on a Kentucky board, especially when you have your own coaching and underachieving problems.
Last edited:
I'm definitely not trying to stir the pot. If anyone wants to rewind the tape (aka look back at my posts from 2 years ago), I was posting that Calipari had to go because he sent the wrong signal to the proud UK fanbase about the "greatest day in UK basketball history"...no it has nothing to do with the NBA imho. Y'all have had 8 of those greatest days if anyone wonders.
And rewinding the tape...Pope is all UK and I thought that was what y'all wanted...someone who would live and die (figuratively of course) for UK basketball. That is Pope. And he's doing alright.
No, not trying to stir anything up. Just trying to understand why Pope is hated by some when he's the anti-Calipari.
I don’t believe you. Coming here after we lose to UGA at home….
Pope is not anti Calipari. He talked extremely nicely about Cal.
of course there are different opinions within BBN. Do you agree with your family on everything? For instance, should have unc hired within program like they did Or get a proven Coach ?
Duke did a better job by having K let S coach and recruit for the last 2 years while he was still the coach….S learnt on the job under K.
if you are serious on your questions, which I don’t believe you are, Kentucky should have retain Cal for his recruiting and market abilities which have excellently captured in a a GM role. Then Pope would have been able to focus on coaching and learn what it takes to be a coach at the best basketball college program in the country: UK.
I want Pope gone as much as anyone but even I would take him over Cal. I don’t want that POS to ever step foot in KY again unless he’s bringing his team into Rupp.
Honestly they both suck, as they are currently. Cal isn’t what he used to be and Pope never has been good. Atleast not good enough to deserve a job like this.
Honestly they both suck, as they are currently. Cal isn’t what he used to be and Pope never has been good. Atleast not good enough to deserve a job like this.
You still make no sense. We have been bad compared to expectations. I also never said anything to seem like cal was my idol. Don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Try someone else I guess.
Take a look at the teams winning titles, none of them ever seem to have freshmen starters. Cooper Flagg came close, but there's a reason Houston beat them when it mattered most. Veteran players win titles, so I don't mind not having a freshmen led team.
Arkansas fans are still in their honeymoon stage with Cal. Of course they're happy, they still think he's operating at HOF levels, but give it time. Eventually, they will get tired of losing to teams with less talent. They had a big lead in the sweet 16 last year and lost. That's John Calipari, that's what he does.
Heck, if you're a uNC fan, just look at your history. Look at the uNC teams that won titles, how many were led by freshmen?
Also, you guys happy with Hubert? I can tell you this, UK and duke fans are hoping you guys hang on to him for a long time and it ain't because he's awesome.
To me, it's a bad idea to hire an ex player, or someone that is beloved by the fanbase and our AD is fixing to learn why you don't do that.
Last time, reread your own post. Clearly you're the one not understanding why you were quoted. Good day.
Yea still not seeing it. Idk why you think we haven’t been bad this year just because we have a winning record. We could be a lot better. Idc anything about cal. I think you got me confused or can’t read and comprehend. But please enlighten me on how this Kentucky team has been good.
Pope appears to be our Matt Doughtery at this point. But I would NEVER want Calipari back . Hes not going to win anything at Arkansas either.
How do you feel about Hubert Davis?
I agree. Cal will get them in tourney and have stud freshman but I don’t even see a final four run in him anymore.
Most of us just want to win . You realize Cal was bringing in nba players every year he was here right? He was 25-37 against ranked teams his last 10 years here . Including having ONE ncaa tournament win in his last 5 years here . And had nba players every year .
If you think I envy the 2 seasons Cal has had at Arkansas, you’re an idiot.
By the way…..there’s no way in HELL you guys should have been in the tournament last year.
Final 8 is his absolute ceiling . Funny thing is , in his 5 years Musselman took Arkansas to 3 consecutive sweet 16’s and back to back final 8’s . Cal will never match that IMO.
calm down, dude. I'm trying to tell some of y'all that Pope is a good pick. give him time.
Pope definitely has potential. He didn’t spank y’all four times out of the last four regular season meetings despite being a terrible coach. There are things he needs to figure out and do it quickly because the belief is dwindling — I haven’t given up just yet, although I do think home losses being the norm is absolutely digesting and unacceptable. Thanks for trying to cheer BBN up although I will say I hope Tennessee goes 0-31 every season for the rest of my lifetime.
Doherty was a train wreck...treated people badly apparently. But two season is all he lasted. Pope is doing much much better in comparison. IIRC, UNC in doherty's 2nd season, didn't have as many injuries as Pope has in his at UK.
Hubert...a lot of inconsistency. It's clear he's still learning but getting better. Recruiting is on the upswing compared to Roy's final seasons when UK and Duke dominated the player acquisition aspect of the job.
LOL, you “may” have good intentions but you “may “ be stirring up crap . One thing I have learned, when you’re opponents are telling you to keep your coach………
UConn just lost at home versus Creighton. One of the best coaches and fiery coaches in men's college basketball allowed his squad to lay an egg. It happens.
I just think injuries hurt UK this season and Pope bleeds UK.
It's okay by me if ya'll fire Pope after next season...I think he gets one more year. Who do you go after...Todd Golden?
nope...keep Pope. but go ahead and run him out of Lexington. Go find another "hot" name like Billy Gillespie.
I was just wondering why there's so much complaining for Cal and Pope is the anti-Cal and he's actually doing well...rebuilding and refocusing UK fans to UK banners, not NBA success.
I don't see Golden leaving Florida where he's already won a title. Fans will beg us to "make him say no".....and he will.
really? You sure about that? Or are you the ****stirrer by either wanting Pope gone or wanting him to stay? I don't really care. I came in peace just wondering.
My team, UNC...it's also got its ongoing coach debate. Until Hubert wins 2, he won't be good enough for many UNC fans.
Incorrect. Kentucky has a 76% winning percentage all time. Pope is closer to 67%. That's not acceptable.
Saying it to pump up the fans is one thing. Actually showing you’re capable of doing it is another. He hasn’t come close to that part.
Yep. Can’t believe I’m seeing some “we wan’t Cal back” posts. His hatred for the fanbase was toxic. It’s more of people taking a dig at Pope, though.