Let's see where we stand

What's our record going to be, and where will we finish?

  • 40-0 Babeeeeeeee!

  • 35+ wins, Final Four

  • 30+ wins, Elite Eight

  • 25+ Wins, Sweet Sixteen

  • 20+ Wins, Round of 32

  • Barely make the NCAAT and first round exit

  • Under 20 wins, NIT or worse


Results are only viewable after voting.

Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
8,336
26,580
113
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.
 

BlueSince92

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
10,713
3,305
230
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JHannibalSmith

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
39,078
61,368
113
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

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
8,336
26,580
113
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?
 
Jan 10, 2015
19,162
32,607
62
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

All-Conference
Oct 5, 2023
907
1,692
92
We turn down an NIT invite at the end of the year due to the coaching staff being fired
 

JHannibalSmith

All-American
Sep 28, 2006
2,481
7,528
98
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

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
823
1,451
93
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?
 
  • Like
Reactions: UKGrad24

SenseMaker_Cats

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,388
4,887
113
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: anot

BlueSince92

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
10,713
3,305
230
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kyjeff1

Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
8,336
26,580
113
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

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,003
3,513
113
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

Heisman
Jul 22, 2013
10,537
26,625
113
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

All-Conference
Mar 30, 2026
816
1,897
83
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

All-Conference
Mar 30, 2026
816
1,897
83
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

Junior
Jul 1, 2025
80
206
33
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.
 

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
2,093
2,005
97
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

All-Conference
Oct 16, 2002
9,068
3,262
113
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

All-Conference
Mar 30, 2026
816
1,897
83
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

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
10,713
3,305
230
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?
 
  • Like
Reactions: kyjeff1