Matt Jones disturbing stat

[JayHank]

Teams use to fear UK especially playing them in Rupp.

Those days are long gone. Just as gone as a Kentucky player having the stamina to play more than 30 minutes.

 

[Seth_C]

I just can’t think of an argument why it shouldn't be at least an elite eight to get an auto-extension at UK

I would be fine with a one year extension for the first Sweet 16, but only the one. Personally I’d prefer the same for an Elite 8. If they want to hand out automatic one year extensions for Final Fours I say go for it.

 

[Doc4UK!]

Anyone not worried about the future is living in a dream world. We are not Sweet 16 bound this year and next year looks like a potential losing season.

Currently we only have three players who are capable of scoring twenty points in a game and we lose two of them. Hopefully Chandler returns.

Moreno could go in the draft but most likely returns which is a positive but who plays behind him? Jelavic and Garrison will likely move on, and Johnson has long been rumored to be dissatisfied with the staff and is already flirting with his second choice North Carolina.

Yes, Cam Williams might return and possibly Lowe. Q is gone. Noah has not proven to be an SEC player. Who knows about the red shirts.

So that is it for next year. Who is our Philon or Acuff or Dybantsa or Boozer? Every championship team has at least one of those NBA worthy players. So we will once again be an early exit from both the SEC tournament and the NCAA. We are definitely trending more toward an Indiana or UCLA status than a Kansas and Duke status.

Finally it seems Pope wants to have an NBA like rotation but unfortunately does not have the bench to do so. Garrison and Johnson have horrible +/ . When they enter, we tend to go in reverse.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

See I cannot separate the two to be honest. The thing is if you get down by that much all the time vs anyone with a pulse.........you're not coming back in a large majority of those games.

The fact we are down by so much should tell you all you need to know.............regardless of whether or not we actually end up winning the game.

I'd rather win then lose obviously. But this isn't sustainable. There's no team that plays like this that's considered to be a good team or title contender which is what UK should be about.

I don't think we should have the mindset of "well as long as we comeback this is ok".........this just doesn't work.

We go down by so much because we aren't an elite team. And at UK and for Pope, you need to be more often then not.

It’s certainly not a sustainable model. I called it a house of cards a couple weeks ago and the popettes wouldn’t hear it.

I gave up on Pope a long time ago. And on Barnhardt years ago.

But we are stuck with both. All we can do is hope we win.

I want to stay ahead of Kansas. If we can hold them off until we get a new coach they will never catch us. But they have gained 3 games on us this season already.

 

[AllBall]

In UKs 19 games against power 5 opponents. Uk had trailed in 15 of those games at halftime. Have been down by more than a dozen points in 13 of those games and we have a record of 10-9. With five games left we will be dogs in 4 of them. This stat alone should cost you your job at UK. Pope knows this stat and hasn’t changed a thing in the first half all year.

Jones is late to the party. Many have been screaming this for weeks. The noise died down when we were on a winning streak but now it's front and center again.

 

[AllBall]

Yeah, Cal just got stubborn and wouldn't change for some reason. I kept wondering his last 5 or so years here where the guy was who coached a team of Derrick Rose and a lot of role players to the NCAA title game.

Cal was tired of being micro managed and handcuffed by the Barnhart administration. Because he's so vindictive, Cal chose to push against the powers that be to prove a point. To him not getting the buyout is worth being able to laugh at the current state of UK basketball.

Ultimately, Pope should've kept Antingua to help with his transition and keep recruiting afloat.

 

[jof2]

0% chance that Pope gets fired after this year. Zero. Zip. Nada. Zilch.

Actually, let me rephrase that - there is a 0% chance Pope gets fired for basketball results. If he smacked a kid, banged a staffer, got caught dropping bets on games - different story. But they could finish 17-16 with a first round NIT loss and he will be back next year. Mark Fox is going to be the sacrificial lamb after this season no matter what happens. Should NEVER have been here to begin with after his disastrous 3-29 2023 season at Cal Berkley in a 4 bid Pac 12. But Pope will be here. He is going to use the injury card and promise to make staff adjustments and bring in a "defensive specialist". Whatever. But he will be the head coach unless he wants to go. Mitch will retire and we'll get a new AD. And if Pope has a terrible year next year they will show him the door. But Mitch won't make that call. Not after two years.

JB

My sentiments exactly.

 

[BigBluefoot]

And I think as long as he makes to sweet sixteen his contact is automatically extended,,,,, thank you Mitch for hiring pope who brings us no hope…

This team will.not sniff anything close to a sweet 16 this season. Hell, we might be lucky to even make the tournament.

 

[AJG-15]

Cal was lazy. When he wanted to he could coach. His coaching jobs n the 2011 and 2014 tournaments were great IMO.

With age and success , majority of us become ”lazy” Unless you have Kobe mentality. Cal gave us title number 8 and plenty of great memories . I will always be grateful for that .

even in departure Cal was gracious and UK did not have to pay him. Cal understood that his last 5 years were not good and the fan base turned against him…..

I would have totally kept Cal as the ambassador role or GM …. But that’s just me … I will respect all coaches that won a title for Kentucky.


i respect Mark Pope the player and captain of ‘96 team. Pope as a coach, still needs to earn his accolades since he didn’t accomplish nothing …..So far, he overpromised and underdelivered And is overpaid.

With 0 NCAA wins prior to Kentucky job, it was obvious that he would have to learn on the job. It’s very hard to learn at Kentucky because of the fan and media pressure and expectations. He added to the pressure himself with his introductory speech and before the second year with the Ferrari comment.

He would have to be very deliberate in his next moves : staffing, GM hire, who he keeps as players and who he brings next year, maybe overpay and sign a superstar or two, cause year after year 3 …..

 

[UKGrad24]

I will agree with his substitutions being strange and he’s definitely experimenting to much with lineups and I think he struggles at times having a feel for the game because he depends so much on analytics, but I don’t agree with a couple of things you’ve said.

Pope does a good job making halftime adjustments or we wouldn’t have came back and won so many ball games this season. I think you’re being a little too dramatic about his in game coaching being bad because he’s out coached Barnes, Cal and Rick this season. Cal’s Arkansas team is way more talented than we are too. Lack of talent and injuries has hurt this team. Recruiting better could solve a lot of problems.

I’m not going to name drop the players but you and I both should agree that some of these guys aren’t good enough to play here. Popes substitution patterns wouldn’t look as bad if we had better players and also guys that fit his style of play lol A couple of our power forwards don’t fit his style of play at all because they can’t shoot worth a crap.

If he can’t recruit any better we will definitely be looking for a new coach after next season. I hate that too, it sucks seeing one of our own struggle here but we can thank Barnhart for putting him in that position

Oweh and Chandler are good enough to play here but not in those roles. Oweh is a 3rd option defensive specialist on a team here that’s title capable. We should definitely have another go to at multiple positions and Oweh should be behind those. He should be passing a lot more, to more dependable offense players. Lots of guys can average 17-20 per game that don’t because they aren’t the go to option. Oweh has improved leaps and bounds though, largely due to injuries where he’s been relied on a lot more.

I don’t think anything is overly dramatic. I left out that his halftime adjustments have been good. They have, much of the time. But as the game goes on it gets bizarre and it’s some of the worst coaching I’ve ever seen. He is without question, the worst coach at subbing patterns I’ve ever seen. If I even began to get into that, this would be much longer and you wouldn’t want to read it. The team doesn’t do what they’re told, they don’t have respect for him. That’s obvious on the court and it’s obvious with his presser comments. You can’t have a coach that doesn’t demand respect.

I do hate that this is happening to one of our own, Mark is a strange guy but I do like him. I’ve also heard he’s not quite as nice to people who’ve helped him, but ego probably is a lot to do with that. Who knows what being the top figure in the state does to your frame of mind. But this is exactly why I have no interests in hiring former players from this point out. Fanbase doesn’t handle it well, it ruins the legacy of the coach, and we have to come down on a guy we really care about. I don’t want to see this happen anymore. Unless it’s a Roy Williams slam dunk, no more former players. It rarely works anywhere anyway, hardly at all. Especially with a record like Pope, this simply won’t work. And we don’t have time to let him grow, he was hired to win now we’re in serious droughts. Can’t risk it.

 

[Woodrow24]

Oweh and Chandler are good enough to play here but not in those roles. Oweh is a 3rd option defensive specialist on a team here that’s title capable. We should definitely have another go to at multiple positions and Oweh should be behind those. He should be passing a lot more, to more dependable offense players. Lots of guys can average 17-20 per game that don’t because they aren’t the go to option. Oweh has improved leaps and bounds though, largely due to injuries where he’s been relied on a lot more.

I don’t think anything is overly dramatic. I left out that his halftime adjustments have been good. They have, much of the time. But as the game goes on it gets bizarre and it’s some of the worst coaching I’ve ever seen. He is without question, the worst coach at subbing patterns I’ve ever seen. If I even began to get into that, this would be much longer and you wouldn’t want to read it. The team doesn’t do what they’re told, they don’t have respect for him. That’s obvious on the court and it’s obvious with his presser comments. You can’t have a coach that doesn’t demand respect.

I do hate that this is happening to one of our own, Mark is a strange guy but I do like him. I’ve also heard he’s not quite as nice to people who’ve helped him, but ego probably is a lot to do with that. Who knows what being the top figure in the state does to your frame of mind. But this is exactly why I have no interests in hiring former players from this point out. Fanbase doesn’t handle it well, it ruins the legacy of the coach, and we have to come down on a guy we really care about. I don’t want to see this happen anymore. Unless it’s a Roy Williams slam dunk, no more former players. It rarely works anywhere anyway, hardly at all. Especially with a record like Pope, this simply won’t work. And we don’t have time to let him grow, he was hired to win now we’re in serious droughts. Can’t risk it.

I understand your frustration. I don’t get attached to coaches like some on here. The programs more important than the coach whether we like the guy or not.

Normally nice guys finish last in college sports so I won’t be surprised if Pope doesn’t make it here. His recruiting is so bad that it’s unbelievable, imo. To many sources have confirmed he spent 22 million dollars and idk how you take a major program with that kind of money and still struggle recruiting. As a coach, X’s and O’s will only get you so far, you gotta have talent. If some of these guys would take off the blue tinted glasses they will see this roster doesn’t have enough talent on it right now. If Pope doesn’t do good with the portal and get more talent he needs to be let go. It is what it is.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

I actually loved Calipari. He crapped the bed the last five years but he was perfect for UK basketball, matter a fact, he would be the perfect GM and recruiter if he ever decided to step aside from coaching. He can sell the program and help families without all the other pressures of coaching. I would welcome him back to Lexington with open arms. It was time for a new voice in Lexington, I just wish it wasn’t Mark Popes.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

I actually loved Calipari. He crapped the bed the last five years but he was perfect for UK basketball, matter a fact, he would be the perfect GM and recruiter if he ever decided to step aside from coaching. He can sell the program and help families without all the other pressures of coaching. I would welcome him back to Lexington with open arms. It was time for a new voice in Lexington, I just wish it wasn’t Mark Popes.

Even the last five years. We crapped the bed ........in March. Some of those seasons we actually had some very good teams that just happened to get upset at the wrong time.

He wore out his welcome but it definitely illustrates that you need to be a very good recruiter above all here. I don't think Mark Pope is a "bad" coach. I just don't think he can recruit at the level that he needs to here. At least he hasn't shown that yet.

 

[Woodrow24]

Even the last five years. We crapped the bed ........in March. Some of those seasons we actually had some very good teams that just happened to get upset at the wrong time.

He wore out his welcome but it definitely illustrates that you need to be a very good recruiter above all here. I don't think Mark Pope is a "bad" coach. I just don't think he can recruit at the level that he needs to here. At least he hasn't shown that yet.

Pope is the exact opposite of Calipari as a coach

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

As Cal used to say....."you need dudes"............if u do not have dudes you are a fraud.

This team just lacks that.

They are a decent team. A team that can win some games they maybe shouldn't win........but that's about it.

 

[Woodrow24]

Oweh and Chandler are good enough to play here but not in those roles. Oweh is a 3rd option defensive specialist on a team here that’s title capable. We should definitely have another go to at multiple positions and Oweh should be behind those. He should be passing a lot more, to more dependable offense players. Lots of guys can average 17-20 per game that don’t because they aren’t the go to option. Oweh has improved leaps and bounds though, largely due to injuries where he’s been relied on a lot more.

I don’t think anything is overly dramatic. I left out that his halftime adjustments have been good. They have, much of the time. But as the game goes on it gets bizarre and it’s some of the worst coaching I’ve ever seen. He is without question, the worst coach at subbing patterns I’ve ever seen. If I even began to get into that, this would be much longer and you wouldn’t want to read it. The team doesn’t do what they’re told, they don’t have respect for him. That’s obvious on the court and it’s obvious with his presser comments. You can’t have a coach that doesn’t demand respect.

I do hate that this is happening to one of our own, Mark is a strange guy but I do like him. I’ve also heard he’s not quite as nice to people who’ve helped him, but ego probably is a lot to do with that. Who knows what being the top figure in the state does to your frame of mind. But this is exactly why I have no interests in hiring former players from this point out. Fanbase doesn’t handle it well, it ruins the legacy of the coach, and we have to come down on a guy we really care about. I don’t want to see this happen anymore. Unless it’s a Roy Williams slam dunk, no more former players. It rarely works anywhere anyway, hardly at all. Especially with a record like Pope, this simply won’t work. And we don’t have time to let him grow, he was hired to win now we’re in serious droughts. Can’t risk it.

What I meant about being dramatic is I think that you and others including myself are still aggravated with that loss and it’s making people forget about what Pope does good as a coach. Not everything he does is bad, it’s just that he’s not been capable of building teams that can compete at the level that will satisfy UK fans.

 

[rick64]

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Barnfart has never understood the importance of Kentucky MEN’S basketball, it’s almost like he’s resentful of the dominance that it has over all of the other sports here. When he was hired he immediately focused on football and the other less popular teams here. They have all improved but at the cost of men’s basketball. Actually men’s basketball should have their own AD because of how big it is. Football and women’s basketball are never going to have a chance to win championships while in men’s basketball Kentucky traditionally is in the conversation except for recently. Because the focus has been taken away from men’s basketball and spread around on the other sports, this is the result.

********

 

[The Nightman2]

********

Gotta love posters who blame football lol

 

[UKGrad24]

I understand your frustration. I don’t get attached to coaches like some on here. The programs more important than the coach whether we like the guy or not.

Normally nice guys finish last in college sports so I won’t be surprised if Pope doesn’t make it here. His recruiting is so bad that it’s unbelievable, imo. To many sources have confirmed he spent 22 million dollars and idk how you take a major program with that kind of money and still struggle recruiting. As a coach, X’s and O’s will only get you so far, you gotta have talent. If some of these guys would take off the blue tinted glasses they will see this roster doesn’t have enough talent on it right now. If Pope doesn’t do good with the portal and get more talent he needs to be let go. It is what it is.

Agree 100%.

 

[UKGrad24]

What I meant about being dramatic is I think that you and others including myself are still aggravated with that loss and it’s making people forget about what Pope does good as a coach. Not everything he does is bad, it’s just that he’s not been capable of building teams that can compete at the level that will satisfy UK fans.

Yea Pope has some good coaching qualities, I don’t really look at some of it much because I don’t expect UK to hire a guy who doesn’t know anything between baselines. Gillispie was really good at developing talent, probably better than a lot of coaches actually. He could take a freshman and have him playing like an all American 3/4 years later. Still, lots of bad, not fit for UK. And it is frustrating, Kentucky isn’t being taken care of by a lot of poeple far more responsible than Mark Pope.

It’s not just the Georgia loss to me though. Ive listed the many reasons I’m ready for a change. I’m pretty much off the Pope wagon for good, baring some really wild unforeseen stuff.

 

[Loucatfan30]

I understand your frustration. I don’t get attached to coaches like some on here. The programs more important than the coach whether we like the guy or not.

Normally nice guys finish last in college sports so I won’t be surprised if Pope doesn’t make it here. His recruiting is so bad that it’s unbelievable, imo. To many sources have confirmed he spent 22 million dollars and idk how you take a major program with that kind of money and still struggle recruiting. As a coach, X’s and O’s will only get you so far, you gotta have talent. If some of these guys would take off the blue tinted glasses they will see this roster doesn’t have enough talent on it right now. If Pope doesn’t do good with the portal and get more talent he needs to be let go. It is what it is.

The problem is he will not kick people off the team at the end of the year. If he doesn't he will have too many coming back and it will make it impossible to attract elite talent we need.

 

[Loucatfan30]

I actually loved Calipari. He crapped the bed the last five years but he was perfect for UK basketball, matter a fact, he would be the perfect GM and recruiter if he ever decided to step aside from coaching. He can sell the program and help families without all the other pressures of coaching. I would welcome him back to Lexington with open arms. It was time for a new voice in Lexington, I just wish it wasn’t Mark Popes.

Cal should have transitioned out like Coach K but he never was given that road by a AD that supported him. He could have been a huge asset to an inexperienced coach if that was who we were going to hire. Now Cal has to be sitting back and laughing at all of us and Mitch.

 

[Loucatfan30]

What I meant about being dramatic is I think that you and others including myself are still aggravated with that loss and it’s making people forget about what Pope does good as a coach. Not everything he does is bad, it’s just that he’s not been capable of building teams that can compete at the level that will satisfy UK fans.

He is an ok coach and a terrible recruiter.

 

[wildcatdon]

Cal was tired of being micro managed and handcuffed by the Barnhart administration. Because he's so vindictive, Cal chose to push against the powers that be to prove a point. To him not getting the buyout is worth being able to laugh at the current state of UK basketball.

Ultimately, Pope should've kept Antingua to help with his transition and keep recruiting afloat.

Mitch didn’t micromanage Cal. That’s a stupid rumor started on this board. Cal just sucked as a coach and that’s the bottom line.

 

[Loucatfan30]

Mitch didn’t micromanage Cal. That’s a stupid rumor started on this board. Cal just sucked as a coach and that’s the bottom line.

He didn't support Cal. Cal didn't need managing he needed support. Can you imagine how our season would have been different if Mitch figured out a way to get Cal 1M a year he needed to get Hunter Dickenson. He would have been the center with Rob and Reed and we are final four bound. Instead we had terrible options at center. We were still a high seed so the year was successful but Dickenson would have been a huge difference maker those 2 years. If Mitch had supported him like we needed more than likely we wouldn't be dealing with Pope we would be watching Acuff dominate.

 

[UKGrad24]

He didn't support Cal. Cal didn't need managing he needed support. Can you imagine how our season would have been different if Mitch figured out a way to get Cal 1M a year he needed to get Hunter Dickenson. He would have been the center with Rob and Reed and we are final four bound. Instead we had terrible options at center. We were still a high seed so the year was successful but Dickenson would have been a huge difference maker those 2 years. If Mitch had supported him like we needed more than likely we wouldn't be dealing with Pope we would be watching Acuff dominate.

You are 100% on the money. Calipari never had the support he needed from his AD, and I’m no fan of Calipari. Duke is doing as good as they are because they have A+ management top to bottom. It’s one of the reasons.

When Calipari’s first order of business here is to separate the AD from the basketball program, what do we expect? Mitch doesn’t want basketball soaking up much more than everyone else, he thinks his job is to temper basketball and prop up the rest, including minor sports. That’s why basketball has suffered, this is the vision of the athletic director. Calipari knew it that’s why he said we’ll always be a “basketball school”. He was talking directly to Mitch. When you’ve got this many issues between administrators and coaches it’s not going to be smooth and seamless.

The 22 million and the issues over what seems to be Mitch’s vision of how that kind of money needs to be spent is exactly proof of the problem. And several here know exactly what I’m talking about.

 

[KyCPA2000]

Pope is on track to take us to depths not reached by Billy G

No, but Cal did with 5 star players

 

[FatCatMan]

No, but Cal did with 5 star players

Outside of the Covid year, John Calipari never went below 4th in the conference.

Mark Pope was tied for 6th his first year and it’s possible we end up even lower his second year despite the SEC being much weaker than the previous year.

Some of you people hate John Calipari so much that you foolishly treat Mark Pope like he’s your savior despite everything that has shown to be contrary to that idea.

 

[KyCPA2000]

LoL....the covid year happened. I'm sorry, you can't use Covid as an excuse. The other teams did their thing.

 

[Skyguyb27]

I thought this last year, but then I started seeing a lot of bad coaching that I thought was just a few mistakes last year that wouldn’t carry over.

Pope’s coaching this year has been abysmal. That’s part of the problem. Not only can he not recruit but as a coach, he’s been just as bad this season on many fronts. His substitutions are head scratching and bizarre. It looks like he wants load management but doesn’t have the roster to even try it once. Oweh was lighting up yesterday and he pulled him out right in the middle of it. Chandler was red hot and he didn’t get him involved at all, letting him go unnoticed for long stretches. His play of Garrison is horrendous. It shocks me, Pope has been coaching not just bad but shockingly awful. Most coaches win that game against Georgia. Calipari might win it. Probably would.

Mark appears to have made a critical error in philosophy. He’s going analytical 100% because he I think he doesn’t trust himself as a coach now. And recruiting probably won’t improve unless he really overpays. It’s not a good long term strategy. Further it appears he severely didn’t understand how to apply data. For a guy as smart as him to not fully comprehend how to analyze the data and apply it is the most shocking thing to me. But it really appears he misunderstands how to apply it.

I get it some are wishing for a turnaround and since there’s no way Mitch is going to fire him they’re just staying in it. And that’s fine, but nobody should encourage this hire anymore until he gives a reason too. Certainly shouldn’t come at anyone who wants a change. And simply winning a few games isn’t going to change it because the future looks so bad. Recruiting IS the lifeblood of the program. If you can’t do it, you’re done. And he can’t do it.

I was giving Pope the benefit of the doubt and assuming he is a good coach but his teams notoriously suck in the first half it seems and I have to ask myself wouldn’t a good coach be able to overcome that? He doesn’t make good adjustments u til the half. Maybe he is needing to see analytics before he can react or something.

 

[UKGrad24]

I

I was giving Pope the benefit of the doubt and assuming he is a good coach but his teams notoriously suck in the first half it seems and I have to ask myself wouldn’t a good coach be able to overcome that? He doesn’t make good adjustments u til the half. Maybe he is needing to see analytics before he can react or something.

I don’t know man. It the most shocking part to me, even over not being able to at least buy a top player. The guy is super brilliant. There’s just no way he should be this bad. I do see some good adjustments at half like you said but it’s alway at half.

In really wondering now if players just don’t respect him and tune him out. Maybe that’s it. Then the me ball gets them down and they have to listen. I don’t know. But he was really throwing players and coaches under the bus last presser, and saying something about ignoring assignments. Remember that presser where Oweh rolled his eyes? Could you see coach K, vintage cal, or knight, Rupp, just any of the great ones allowing this kind of stuff? You gotta fear the coach man, it’s like God, fear is the first step. And I don’t think they do. And maybe that’s the answer. But then, the substitution patterns? Feels like the Oprah matrix, you get a minute! She gets a minute! We all get a minute! I have no clue.

 

[wildcatdon]

He didn't support Cal. Cal didn't need managing he needed support. Can you imagine how our season would have been different if Mitch figured out a way to get Cal 1M a year he needed to get Hunter Dickenson. He would have been the center with Rob and Reed and we are final four bound. Instead we had terrible options at center. We were still a high seed so the year was successful but Dickenson would have been a huge difference maker those 2 years. If Mitch had supported him like we needed more than likely we wouldn't be dealing with Pope we would be watching Acuff dominate.

I tend to agree with you on this. I don’t think Mitch supported him either, but he didn’t micromanage him. Both probably wanted to be far away from each other. But Cal wanted everything his way no matter what and Mitch would not give him free rein. Just bad all around.

 

[FatCatMan]

I tend to agree with you on this. I don’t think Mitch supported him either, but he didn’t micromanage him. Both probably wanted to be far away from each other. But Cal wanted everything his way no matter what and Mitch would not give him free rein. Just bad all around.

Work politics (and possibly real life politics considering Cal refusing to allow Tshiebwe to take money from the Crafts for a political ad, which lead to them cutting NIL support to the basketball team) effectively killed Cal’s tenure. And sadly, it’s looking like that might end up killing Kentucky basketball altogether.

This petty nonsense doesn’t belong in the basketball program. The coach shouldn’t have to worry about the administration or the boosters. This is the AD’s job. The coach needs to coach and reign supreme over the basketball program and get all the support they need to succeed without stipulations; and if they can’t succeed, find another coach who will.

But it once again shows that Mitch Barnhart needs to GTFO.

 

[Loucatfan30]

I tend to agree with you on this. I don’t think Mitch supported him either, but he didn’t micromanage him. Both probably wanted to be far away from each other. But Cal wanted everything his way no matter what and Mitch would not give him free rein. Just bad all around.

Don't know who was to blame but relationship between them was toxic. That last press conference they did together was so weird. I would have loved to see Hunter Dickenson on the last team we had with Reed and Rob.

 

[Loucatfan30]

Work politics (and possibly real life politics considering Cal refusing to allow Tshiebwe to take money from the Crafts for a political ad, which lead to them cutting NIL support to the basketball team) effectively killed Cal’s tenure. And sadly, it’s looking like that might end up killing Kentucky basketball altogether.

This petty nonsense doesn’t belong in the basketball program. The coach shouldn’t have to worry about the administration or the boosters. This is the AD’s job. The coach needs to coach and reign supreme over the basketball program and get all the support they need to succeed without stipulations; and if they can’t succeed, find another coach who will.

But it once again shows that Mitch Barnhart needs to GTFO.

I hate that politics and money played a role in Cal leaving the program but the fact of the matter is that it did play a huge role. It was Mitch's responsibility to prevent those issues from happening. Cal was definitely partly to blame as well which is very unfortunate but could you imagine what a 22M Cal at UK roster would look like.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

You are 100% on the money. Calipari never had the support he needed from his AD, and I’m no fan of Calipari. Duke is doing as good as they are because they have A+ management top to bottom. It’s one of the reasons.

When Calipari’s first order of business here is to separate the AD from the basketball program, what do we expect? Mitch doesn’t want basketball soaking up much more than everyone else, he thinks his job is to temper basketball and prop up the rest, including minor sports. That’s why basketball has suffered, this is the vision of the athletic director. Calipari knew it that’s why he said we’ll always be a “basketball school”. He was talking directly to Mitch. When you’ve got this many issues between administrators and coaches it’s not going to be smooth and seamless.

The 22 million and the issues over what seems to be Mitch’s vision of how that kind of money needs to be spent is exactly proof of the problem. And several here know exactly what I’m talking about.

The AD needs to invest heavily into BOTH revenue and profitable sports (bb and fb)without taking anything from either...also fb should never take from bb and vice Versa. I agree his sunlamp focus on Olympic sports is a bit odd.