Let's see where we stand

[Ash Williams]

Shall we separate the Negative Nancies from the Pollyannish Popettes?

Anonymous polling, let's see what percentage of this board thinks Pope will get it done in 26-27.

 

[UKCowboys]

20+ wins round of 32. Add Momcilovic and it goes to S16 or E8

 

[MonsterMash79]

More than likely Mark gets canned mid season and who knows after that. At least that’s what I’m hearing from the old heads

 

[Bluegrass79]

So 85% are saying not good enough....


Quit smoking the dope and fire the Hope

 

[Ford to Mashburn]

With the roster as it stands assuming we get Moreno back I’d say 20+ and sweet 16

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

What is this have to do with pro wrestling?

 

[Hopmix]

More than likely Mark gets canned mid season and who knows after that. At least that’s what I’m hearing from the old heads

No way they can a former cat mod season.

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

Play in at best.

 

[BlueSince92]

TWO more viable high-power perimeter shooting options and this becomes a dark horse Final Four team. Here’s hoping Pope delivers that and at least knows to try. Sometimes it feels like he doesn’t understand his own system.

 

[megablue]

With the roster as it stands assuming we get Moreno back I’d say 20+ and sweet 16

This is how I see it, too ...

 

[BBNSZN914]

Revisit once roster is set, IMO.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Still sort of feels like were gonna struggle, maybe 1 win in the tournament. Hard to really think otherwise. We thought last years team was gonna be a monster, and yes we did have some injuries.. but that didnt explain just how bad we were. At some point, 3-star players are 3-star players.

 

[Ash Williams]

TWO more viable high-power perimeter shooting options and this becomes a dark horse Final Four team. Here’s hoping Pope delivers that and at least knows to try. Sometimes it feels like he doesn’t understand his own system.

Which two high power shooting options are available right now?

 

[kywildcat1021979]

I chose last option but with 70 some teams we are bound to make it in by default. I just don’t know though this will be Pope’s worst year.

 

[JakeKx]

We turn down an NIT invite at the end of the year due to the coaching staff being fired

 

[mdluk1]

How about we wait until our roster is set?

 

[TheDude73]

I felt stupid for voting barely make the NCAA and bow out in the first round because my gut says NIT or worse.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I said round of 32. Im high. Clearlu

 

[Vek96]

 

[JHannibalSmith]

Which two high power shooting options are available right now?

Possibly Momcilovic & Graves, if they withdraw from the draft. So, technically, they aren’t even really options yet. But, there’s not much beyond that. I voted “barely make the NCAAT & 1st rd exit”. I think we’re a bubble team in a 76 team field, with the roster as is. Feels like a 19-13 (8-10) team.

Can’t see us winning a game if we get in. If Pope can somehow land one of those two it raises our ceiling considerably, IMO. Still not FF good, but, probably a S16 type of team. Get both & it could be interesting on paper, at least. Pope still has to coach them & stay out of 15-20 point first half holes.

 

[anot]

Still sort of feels like were gonna struggle, maybe 1 win in the tournament. Hard to really think otherwise. We thought last years team was gonna be a monster, and yes we did have some injuries.. but that didnt explain just how bad we were. At some point, 3-star players are 3-star players.

Because that's what Mark Popes teams do. They struggle. Quick question. And I'm seriously asking because I do not know. Has Mark Pope ever had a single game in his career where his team dominated another good team?

Like a single game where his team got hot and beat a good team by 15-20? He's won some good games here but they were all squeak bys. Which is ok a win is a win. But has he ever just blown the doors off of a decent team ever?

 

[JimboBBN]

Roster is basically complete. We aren’t getting Milan. Make the tournament but first round exit. Pope won’t survive that.

 

[BlueSince92]

Which two high power shooting options are available right now?

You tell me.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

Because that's what Mark Popes teams do. They struggle. Quick question. And I'm seriously asking because I do not know. Has Mark Pope ever had a single game in his career where his team dominated another good team?

Like a single game where his team got hot and beat a good team by 15-20? He's won some good games here but they were all squeak bys. Which is ok a win is a win. But has he ever just blown the doors off of a decent team ever?

Iowa State is all I got.

 

[Ash Williams]

You tell me.

You're the one who said Pope needs to go out and get them. You didn't have anyone in mind at all?

 

[The Ganner]

20+ wins round of 32. Add Momcilovic and it goes to S16 or E8

This is where I'm at. Maybe make a sweet 16 with a good draw, or just hot 2nd game. I don't think we're worse than last year. I don't think we're as good as year 1. Can change if we add more pieces.

 

[UKCowboys]

This is where I'm at. Maybe make a sweet 16 with a good draw, or just hot 2nd game. I don't think we're worse than last year. I don't think we're as good as year 1. Can change if we add more pieces.

Momcilovic makes us really good. I think we still could be anyway if Kam makes a big jump and Hawthorne really has something to offer

 

[BlueSince92]

You're the one who said Pope needs to go out and get them. You didn't have anyone in mind at all?

You’re fooling yourself and kidding us if you think there’s not one other shooter in the entire world available right now besides Momcilovic. All the same I didn’t say Pope needs to do jack ****. I said this team needs two more viable high-power perimeter shooters to become dark horse Final Four good, given his system. If that bothers you deal with it.

 

[Artlaibesghost]

If he makes sweet 16 next year he isn't getting fired.

 

[Ash Williams]

You’re fooling yourself and kidding us if you think there’s not one other shooter in the entire world available right now besides Momcilovic. All the same I didn’t say Pope needs to do jack ****. I said this team needs two more viable high-power perimeter shooters to become dark horse Final Four good, given his system. If that bothers you deal with it.

I never said there isn’t one. You are putting words in my mouth.

You said and I quote, “here’s hoping Pope delivers that.”

Don’t try and turn this around on me. You’re the one who said it. I don’t think anything at all. I’m asking you, since you’re the one who brought it up. You argue like a woman.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

No player is changing the trajectory of the team as long as Pope is the coach.

The guy has embarrassed the brand.

He can only get mercenaries looking for a big check that know they won’t have to earn it.

The last two seasons they took a vacation trip to NYC and did a walk thru in MSG while there.

The team should be forbidden to go to Nashville. First season we went to Vandy and just handed them the ball in a winnable game. Then went to the SEC and forfeited against Alabama.

This past season we went to Bridgestone and did a Washington Generals impression against the Gonzaga Globetrotters. Then went to Vandy and did the same thing with even less effort.

The players are not the problem. Pope has built a culture here in just two years that shows you can just show up, play sometimes, don’t work on your craft, don’t have to play defense and just collect a check.

There’s no way the dude is not trying to get fired and collect a buy out.

He cannot be this bad if he is truly trying to succeed.

He’s a grifter.

 

[chroix]

I predict he has a season like his first year where he outperforms expectations just enough to not get fired but not make anyone very excited at the same time. IMO, the best case scenario possible I can think of for everyone is that the Utah Jazz take him off our hands.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

So most voters thought we would barely make the tourney and lose first round.

Again I ask...am I going crazy? Why are we doing year 3 of this????? Why is this acceptable? We're bringing this dink back for a third year where no one thinks the team is gonna amount to jack sh*t. Great.

At least he cares about the program or something

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

No player is changing the trajectory of the team as long as Pope is the coach.

The guy has embarrassed the brand.

He can only get mercenaries looking for a big check that know they won’t have to earn it.

The last two seasons they took a vacation trip to NYC and did a walk thru in MSG while there.

The team should be forbidden to go to Nashville. First season we went to Vandy and just handed them the ball in a winnable game. Then went to the SEC and forfeited against Alabama.

This past season we went to Bridgestone and did a Washington Generals impression against the Gonzaga Globetrotters. Then went to Vandy and did the same thing with even less effort.

The players are not the problem. Pope has built a culture here in just two years that shows you can just show up, play sometimes, don’t work on your craft, don’t have to play defense and just collect a check.

There’s no way the dude is not trying to get fired and collect a buy out.

He cannot be this bad if he is truly trying to succeed.

He’s a grifter.

This is real fandom right here, boys.
You should be angry at what this prick is doing.
Every year he is here, the UK brand is cheapened and dragged further down in the dirt

 

[krlambert6]

On the mercenary point, I totally agree he brought in far too many last year (JQ, Lowe, Aberdeen, Chandler, Jelavic, Mo, etc).

Having said that, Kam stayed for less money, Hawthorne/Moreno/Noah/Morton are all lifelong Kentucky fans, and at least in his comments McBride seems to get it too.

Addition by subtraction in that regard in my opinion.

 

[wkycatfan7]

I feel like Hawthorne is going to have a good season. Perhaps Noah as well.

 

[rivercatinfl]

I think the team is gonna surprise some people. We won't be a bad team. Get Mon and we have a decent team IMO.
As far as the tournament, we will make it and if these guys gel, we could be at least a sweet 16 group.

All speculation of course. It looks to me like we have a couple wildcards that could make this a special season or a real dud if they don't play well together.
I'm optimistic they will be a cohesive unit.

 

[wkycatfan7]

I feel like Pope is attempting to have a collection of players where their agendas don't overwhelm the team goals. I feel like his first team was more like that than last year's team.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

On the mercenary point, I totally agree he brought in far too many last year (JQ, Lowe, Aberdeen, Chandler, Jelavic, Mo, etc).

Having said that, Kam stayed for less money, Hawthorne/Moreno/Noah/Morton are all lifelong Kentucky fans, and at least in his comments McBride seems to get it too.

Addition by subtraction in that regard in my opinion.

Yeah but who's Kam? What other power conference teams were wanting to pay him big money?

 

[BlueSince92]

I never said there isn’t one. You are putting words in my mouth.

You said and I quote, “here’s hoping Pope delivers that.”

Don’t try and turn this around on me. You’re the one who said it. I don’t think anything at all. I’m asking you, since you’re the one who brought it up. You argue like a woman.

You argue like a little baby. "here's hoping Pope delivers that" is nothing at all like "Pope needs to go out and get them"—the words you tried to put in my mouth that started this whole thing, you head case. WTF is wrong with you?