Let's see where we stand

[krlambert6]

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

Idk man I was responding agreeing to the poster's valid point about Pope and mercenaries with a little hope that there's been some correction there.

As far as Kam goes he was in multiple early mock drafts last year because of his size and shooting them played with some of the lowest assist rate guards in the country. Think plenty of other coaches could've seen that and wanted him. It's not rocket science.

Relax brother.

 

[RunninRichie]

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

He played here 30 years ago and signed some autographs.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Idk man I was responding agreeing to the poster's valid point about Pope and mercenaries with a little hope that there's been some correction there.

As far as Kam goes he was in multiple early mock drafts last year because of his size and shooting them played with some of the lowest assist rate guards in the country. Think plenty of other coaches could've seen that and wanted him. It's not rocket science.

Relax brother.

You don't have to tell me to relax. I'm just chatting. I wasn't yelling at you.

I agree, of course other teams would want Kam. But my point was, when other teams want a player, that is when Pope hasn't been able to seal the deal. It's good that Kam is coming back but I never heard of him being connected to another power conference team. If he was, he'd be gone

 

[kyjeff1]

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

We see this all the time. After a loss, you check the posts and predictions for the next game, and it’s all doom and gloom.
After a win, we have dudes thinking we’re winning it all.
It's no surprise after the debacle that this season was, we have most of the fanbase feeling down about the program. The results aren’t surprising at all.
As far as Pope getting a 3rd year, that was known to be a thing the second he was hired. Heck, BCG was going to get a 3rd year, but alcohol stepped in and ruined that idea.
Truth is, no program fires a coach after 2 years, especially a coach that made it to a sweet 16 one of those years after starting with no players, or coaches in April, losing the backup pg, losing your starting wing and playing two hobbled players. He did that against a #3 SOS and against the best conference we've ever seen.
You just can't fire a coach that got a 3 seed and made it to the sweet 16 under those circumstances. Even as bad as 25/26 was, he still made the tournament.
It would be a terrible look on UK if they fired Pope, who is one of our own. Nobody does that.

 

[Drogon]

There is enough there to make the tournament, imo. Whether thats for 1 game or 2, matchups matter. I still think there is an "if" scenario where if 4-5 things happen this team could actually be pretty good. Starting with whether or not Pope uses Moreno in a more meaningful way than he did last season where he severely limited his chance at being highly productive by allowing too much isolation ball and not enough rolling Moreno to the basket. Moreno is simply more than just a ******* screener.

 

[RunninRichie]

We see this all the time. After a loss, you check the posts and predictions for the next game, and it’s all doom and gloom.
After a win, we have dudes thinking we’re winning it all.
It's no surprise after the debacle that this season was, we have most of the fanbase feeling down about the program. The results aren’t surprising at all.
As far as Pope getting a 3rd year, that was known to be a thing the second he was hired. Heck, BCG was going to get a 3rd year, but alcohol stepped in and ruined that idea.
Truth is, no program fires a coach after 2 years, especially a coach that made it to a sweet 16 one of those years after starting with no players, or coaches in April, losing the backup pg, losing your starting wing and playing two hobbled players. He did that against a #3 SOS and against the best conference we've ever seen.
You just can't fire a coach that got a 3 seed and made it to the sweet 16 under those circumstances. Even as bad as 25/26 was, he still made the tournament.
It would be a terrible look on UK if they fired Pope, who is one of our own. Nobody does that.

You mean like UNC did? Hubert beat K in the final four btw.

 

[kyjeff1]

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?

It's what he does. He’s a POS.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

You mean like UNC did? Hubert beat K in the final four btw.

If we're being honest, Hubert is wayyyyy better than Pope

 

[kyjeff1]

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

Pope, a "prick"? Really??? Wow.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

We see this all the time. After a loss, you check the posts and predictions for the next game, and it’s all doom and gloom.
After a win, we have dudes thinking we’re winning it all.
It's no surprise after the debacle that this season was, we have most of the fanbase feeling down about the program. The results aren’t surprising at all.
As far as Pope getting a 3rd year, that was known to be a thing the second he was hired. Heck, BCG was going to get a 3rd year, but alcohol stepped in and ruined that idea.
Truth is, no program fires a coach after 2 years, especially a coach that made it to a sweet 16 one of those years after starting with no players, or coaches in April, losing the backup pg, losing your starting wing and playing two hobbled players. He did that against a #3 SOS and against the best conference we've ever seen.
You just can't fire a coach that got a 3 seed and made it to the sweet 16 under those circumstances. Even as bad as 25/26 was, he still made the tournament.
It would be a terrible look on UK if they fired Pope, who is one of our own. Nobody does that.

You're talking about quick knee-jerk reactions.

Nothing about this is quick or knee-jerk.

Genuinely...what more do you need to see??

Year 3 is bad enough. It's gonna be infuriating when we're sitting here having these exact same conversations before year 4.

I don't want to hear you saying "no one hires a coach after 3 years! Billy G woulda been here 4 years if he wasn't a drunk! He's had injury problems!" There will always be excuses.

 

[kyjeff1]

You mean like UNC did? Hubert beat K in the final four btw.

Right. That FF run bought Hubert a few more years.

Heck, with Roy's leftovers, he went 20-13 against the 50th rated SOS. We would hang Pope if he did that.

Then he went 23-14 in 24/25 and kept his job.

If Pope didn’t get to the sweet 16 in year 1 and have a bucket full of impressive wins, he would be in a lot more trouble, but even then, he would still get a 3rd year.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

“Why are we doing year three of this?”

That would be my bad. I forgot to fire Pope.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Pope, a "prick"? Really??? Wow.

dude I make no secret that it's personal now with Pope. I can't stand even seeing him or hearing him.

If you could see how excited I was at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, you wouldn't believe it was the same guy.

But yeah sometime around the Louisville game (where something happened before the game but not really he was just "dropping breadcrumbs like Taylor Swift") I began to really despise the guy.

He'll be alright tho, he's making $5.5MM to do a job that anyone would kill to have, and do it poorly. I don't have a lot of sympathy.

 

[RunninRichie]

Right. That FF run bought Hubert a few more years.

Heck, with Roy's leftovers, he went 20-13 against the 50th rated SOS. We would hang Pope if he did that.

Then he went 23-14 in 24/25 and kept his job.

If Pope didn’t get to the sweet 16 in year 1 and have a bucket full of impressive wins, he would be in a lot more trouble, but even then, he would still get a 3rd year.

Ok, but Hubert also had a list of impressive wins and went to a title game. He was also a former player. Yet, UNC canned him. He also recruited miles better than Pope.

 

[kyjeff1]

You're talking about quick knee-jerk reactions.

Nothing about this is quick or knee-jerk.

Genuinely...what more do you need to see??

Year 3 is bad enough. It's gonna be infuriating when we're sitting here having these exact same conversations before year 4.

I don't want to hear you saying "no one hires a coach after 3 years! Billy G woulda been here 4 years if he wasn't a drunk! He's had injury problems!" There will always be excuses.

Show me a program that fired a coach after two years where that coach never missed the tournament and the termination was based on lack of performance. You can't.

Nobody does that.

Pope had a terrible 2nd season, but his first season was a success and it solidified him getting a 3rd season.

Even if he went to the NIT this year, he was getting a 3rd season.

If year 3 ends up like year 2, I don't even think the media can say UK was wrong to fire him. Some will, but not many. Fire him now and we get bombed by everyone.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Ok, but Hubert also had a list of impressive wins and went to a title game. He was also a former player. Yet, UNC canned him. He also recruited miles better than Pope.

He also got Caleb.

You guys remember Caleb? The recruit that Pope and his staff thought we had locked up? But turns out he was going to UNC the whole time and was just trolling Pope? One of the several recruits to do that to Pope, btw.
How do we like having a coach at THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY that gets treated like Forrest Gump by recruits?

He'd be decent at like Washington State or Cal maybe

 

[kyjeff1]

“Why are we doing year three of this?”

That would be my bad. I forgot to fire Pope.

Yup, somehow, it's our fault.

 

[RunninRichie]

Show me a program that fired a coach after two years where that coach never missed the tournament and the termination was based on lack of performance. You can't.

Nobody does that.

Pope had a terrible 2nd season, but his first season was a success and it solidified him getting a 3rd season.

Even if he went to the NIT this year, he was getting a 3rd season.

If year 3 ends up like year 2, I don't even think the media can say UK was wrong to fire him. Some will, but not many. Fire him now and we get bombed by everyone.

Rodney Terry.

 

[kyjeff1]

dude I make no secret that it's personal now with Pope. I can't stand even seeing him or hearing him.

If you could see how excited I was at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, you wouldn't believe it was the same guy.

But yeah sometime around the Louisville game (where something happened before the game but not really he was just "dropping breadcrumbs like Taylor Swift") I began to really despise the guy.

He'll be alright tho, he's making $5.5MM to do a job that anyone would kill to have, and do it poorly. I don't have a lot of sympathy.

Man, I can understand not liking him, or being mad at him, but jeez, he’s not a prick. Wow.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

If year 3 ends up like year 2, I don't even think the media can say UK was wrong to fire him. Some will, but not many. Fire him now and we get bombed by everyone.

Jeff...the people that would "bomb" us for firing Pope...are the same people that are currently laughing at us for having to deal with Pope.
National media hates us. They want us to suffer. Piss on them. Who gives a f*ck what they think?

 

[RunninRichie]

Jeff...the people that would "bomb" us for firing Pope...are the same people that are currently laughing at us for having to deal with Pope.
National media hates us. They want us to suffer. Piss on them. Who gives a f*ck what they think?

Dick Vitale said no coach would come to UK after we "ran Tubby off".

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Revisit once roster is set, IMO.

Fair...As it stands now, this team barely eeks in. In large part due to the silly expansion of the tournament. Two good additions and I think it's S16 capable. Two more "meh" additions and nothing changes. A soph from Furman can't be your best player and have quality expectations. It's akin to thinking a 260lb big coming off ACL/MCL surgery will be ready in 6 months, the 3rd team ACC PG, and some dude that averaged 9pts at Tulane will lead the team to the glory land. Need those last two signings to be significant upgrades.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Dick Vitale said no coach would come to UK after we "ran Tubby off".

Yeah I'm sure Michael Wilbon will dedicate a full segment to the Pope firing when it happens and use it to say all UK fans are entitled babies or something.

And...Who gives a sh*t??? They love us being saddled with Pope.

Their absolute worst nightmare is us finding the next Rick or Cal and shoving it up their *sses.

 

[UKGrad24]

The issues with Pope are about recruiting. He is a flat out terrible recruiter and it isn’t changing. In the NIL era with UK resources and cash available he shouldn’t be half this bad. New era, terrible recruiter, you fire him and nobody wouldn’t understand that. Hubert went to a final four at UNC and they were thinking of moving on him 2 years later. The fans wanted it over not long after that final four because they could see it wasn’t going anywhere. Nobody is blaming UNC.

This is not 1997 where it takes 4 years to build a roster. Pope is the only coach in history that’s been allowed to step in and immediately buy rosters. 0-14 this season on top 20, he’s around 0-40 now on top blue chip players since coming to Kentucky or worse. Read that again.

Who in the world thinks anyone would blame Kentucky from moving away from that? lol. I don’t think some of you are thinking this through. Not to mention, Pope is super embarrassing for this program. He’s Indiana level cringe.

 

[RunninRichie]

The issues with Pope are about recruiting. He is a flat out terrible recruiter and it isn’t changing. In the NIL era with UK resources and cash available he shouldn’t be half this bad. New era, terrible recruiter, you fire him and nobody wouldn’t understand that. Hubert went to a final four at UNC and they were thinking of moving on him 2 years later. The fans wanted it over not long after that final four because they could see it wasn’t going anywhere. Nobody is blaming UNC.

This is not 1997 where it takes 4 years to build a roster. Pope is the only coach in history that’s been allowed to step in and immediately buy rosters. 0-14 this season on top 20, he’s around 0-40 now on top blue chip players since coming to Kentucky or worse. Read that again.

Who in the world thinks anyone would blame Kentucky from moving away from that? lol. I don’t think some of you are thinking this through.

Rodney Terry was also let go, made the NCAAT 3 years in row, got an elite 8 too. Big 12T title as well. He was fired after 2 full seasons at Texas.

 

[Ash Williams]

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?

No, genius, what started this was when you said “you tell me” when I asked you a question. If you can’t answer the question then don’t answer it. But don’t act like it’s my responsibility. I was trying to have a conversation that you turned into a confrontation. Maybe you need to go change your pad.

 

[krlambert6]

You don't have to tell me to relax. I'm just chatting. I wasn't yelling at you.

I agree, of course other teams would want Kam. But my point was, when other teams want a player, that is when Pope hasn't been able to seal the deal. It's good that Kam is coming back but I never heard of him being connected to another power conference team. If he was, he'd be gone

All good. Was just inferring your tone from other posts.

The stories when he agreed to come back was that he took less money. I would almost guarantee if BG and Jelavic got looks from power 5 schools a guy with Kam's build/game would too.

This team is going to be solid, not sure what their ceiling will be, but I think it will be a tough call on Pope's future after the season. Adding, yes I called our coach soft and other nasty things last season and this off season deservedly.

To another poster's point, however, if we make a sweet 16 he isn't getting canned. This team DEFINITELY has the chops to achieve that modest goal.

 

[UKGrad24]

Rodney Terry was also let go, made the NCAAT 3 years in row, got an elite 8 too. Big 12T title as well. He was fired after 2 full seasons at Texas.

I see a lot of people looking at this like it’s 2001. They just aren’t moving with the times. This is mega money pro sports, you don’t sit around at a program like Kentucky when the coach is this bad and a terrible recruiter. Media has been all over this talking about a potentially bad fit. Nobody would say anything other than “he can’t recruit, he can’t coach at Kentucky”. That’s it.

Kentucky administration and many of the fans are still in the pre NIL era loop. It’s obvious.

 

[RunninRichie]

I see a lot of people looking at this like it’s 2001. They just aren’t moving with the times. This is mega money pro sports, you don’t sit around at a program like Kentucky when the coach is this bad and a terrible recruiter. Media has been all over this talking about a potentially bad fit. Nobody would say anything other than “he can’t recruit, he can’t coach at Kentucky”. That’s it.

Kentucky administration and many of the fans are still in the pre NIL era loop. It’s obvious.

That and many are sub-consciously stuck on Pope because he's the "anti-Calipari".

 

[Ash Williams]

Jeff...the people that would "bomb" us for firing Pope...are the same people that are currently laughing at us for having to deal with Pope.
National media hates us. They want us to suffer. Piss on them. Who gives a f*ck what they think?

Isn’t it funny that nobody gave the Texas A&M fans a bunch of grief for preventing stoops from going there?

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Rodney Terry was also let go, made the NCAAT 3 years in row, got an elite 8 too. Big 12T title as well. He was fired after 2 full seasons at Texas.

Pope winning % at UK = 63.9%
Terry winning % at Texas = 62.6%

I guess that 1 percent is the difference in getting another year. Either that or Texas has higher standards than UK now?

 

[RunninRichie]

Pope winning % at UK = 63.9%
Terry winning % at Texas = 62.6%

I guess that 1 percent is the difference in getting another year. Either that or Texas has higher standards than UK now?

He also had more success at Texas than Mark Pope has at UK. In the same time frame.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Isn’t it funny that nobody gave the Texas A&M fans a bunch of grief for preventing stoops from going there?

EXACTLY. Texas A&M fans actually have balls. They were 100% right to do what they did, and everybody knows it

 

[BlueSince92]

It's what he does. He’s a POS.

Clearly.

 

[kyjeff1]

Ok, but Hubert also had a list of impressive wins and went to a title game. He was also a former player. Yet, UNC canned him. He also recruited miles better than Pope.

Wait, are you thinking I disagree with uNC canning him? No, they absolutely should have fired him.

Hubert was there from 2022-2026. That's 4 seasons. They didn't fire him after 2 seasons.

Pope made the sweet 16, it's not runner-up good, but it's still very impressive.

Both Hubert and Pope were getting 3 years. Hubert earned a 4th year just because Roy's players made a miracle run in the tournament. They stunk that year, but all it took, was 1 tournament run and he got a 4th year.

This is year 3 for Pope. His UK coaching career is on the line right now and I agree with that.

My issue here is, if he gets to a sweet 16 this year, he will save his job and that's a problem. In my opinion, he needs to have less than 10 losses (assuming it's against a top 5 SOS again) and at least an E8 to get a 4th year. If he gets to a sweet 16, it means we are keeping a guy that probably has a sweet 16 ceiling.

I'm all in on giving him a chance to redeem himself in year 3 by at least getting to the doorstep of a FF, but that's it

I know you guys think those of us defending Pope, are "Pope fans", but we're not, we're just giving him his 3rd year to prove himself.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

I see a lot of people looking at this like it’s 2001. They just aren’t moving with the times. This is mega money pro sports, you don’t sit around at a program like Kentucky when the coach is this bad and a terrible recruiter. Media has been all over this talking about a potentially bad fit. Nobody would say anything other than “he can’t recruit, he can’t coach at Kentucky”. That’s it.

Kentucky administration and many of the fans are still in the pre NIL era loop. It’s obvious.

When you got Dick Vitale, who sugarcoats everything and glazes every coach in the country, commentating one of your games and saying things like "I just don't know if things are going to work out with Pope at UK", you know it's really bad.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

My issue here is, if he gets to a sweet 16 this year, he will save his job and that's a problem. In my opinion, he needs to have less than 10 losses (assuming it's against a top 5 SOS again) and at least an E8 to get a 4th year. If he gets to a sweet 16, it means we are keeping a guy that probably has a sweet 16 ceiling.

There it is. So you know he's not cut out for this, the same way we all do.
So what are we going back and forth for? Isn't this just a waste of a year?
Otherwise why do you think it's a "problem" if he saves his job?

 

[RunninRichie]

Wait, are you thinking I disagree with uNC canning him? No, they absolutely should have fired him.

Hubert was there from 2022-2026. That's 4 seasons. They didn't fire him after 2 seasons.

Pope made the sweet 16, it's not runner-up good, but it's still very impressive.

Both Hubert and Pope were getting 3 years. Hubert earned a 4th year just because Roy's players made a miracle run in the tournament. They stunk that year, but all it took, was 1 tournament run and he got a 4th year.

This is year 3 for Pope. His UK coaching career is on the line right now and I agree with that.

My issue here is, if he gets to a sweet 16 this year, he will save his job and that's a problem. In my opinion, he needs to have less than 10 losses (assuming it's against a top 5 SOS again) and at least an E8 to get a 4th year. If he gets to a sweet 16, it means we are keeping a guy that probably has a sweet 16 ceiling.

I'm all in on giving him a chance to redeem himself in year 3 by at least getting to the doorstep of a FF, but that's it

I know you guys think those of us defending Pope, are "Pope fans", but we're not, we're just giving him his 3rd year to prove himself.

We mostly agree on the bolded part. But, I don't think you need a year 3 at UK to see Pope's ceiling. The guy has been coaching basketball for 15 years. He's never won a conference title. His highest ranked defensive team is like 35 or 37. He's totally green when it comes to recruiting high major talent. And dealing with their agents/handlers. UK is getting abused by agents for higher NIL deals elsewhere. Tyran Stokes and Caleb Wilson both trolled UK hardcore. The staff both thought they had them locked up too. Pat Kelsey saw the Stokes BS a mile away. But Pope didn't? I mean what the hell? I admire your optimism that Pope can suddenly figure this out. And lead a team led by Justin McBride, Zoom Diallo, and Alex Wilkins to a elite 8, with less than 10 losses. In a SEC with a loaded UT, Florida, Arkansas and a solid core of Alabama, Vanderbilt, and Texas. He also broke the #1 cardinal rule for a successful coach. Hiring buddies and friends. He still has Mark Fox on staff.

 

[kyjeff1]

Rodney Terry.

I like that, but what makes it different is, he was an interim coach that bought himself a 2nd season to prove himself.
His best finish in those 2 years, was 21-13 and a 2nd round loss. Then he went 19-16, yeah, that will get you fired.
RT is the best example, but as far as I can tell, the only example.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

All good. Was just inferring your tone from other posts.

LOL, thats fair. But my anger is directed toward those in charge, not anyone on here.
Pope's gonna make me need to increase my medication