Please 😢

[Dr.LutherSan]

It’s going to be difficult to pull a guy from the top 4 other than maybe Oats and that’s a HUGE maybe. Oats may just have the “it” factor to want to be at the pinnacle. Others at football schools are getting paid well with less pressure. The next coach has to have brass balls that wants to be the Nick Saban of college basketball or it will be trying to hit an up and coming coach with the right personality.

Either way UK’s AD doesn’t have the ability to choose the right guy.

I wish I could make a counter argument, but you're right on the money.

 

[TheBlueMist]

I understand what you are saying but, no way you can blame this stuff on Cal. Fans are upset because this is an underperforming team, on offense and defense. We will win games but we are well behind the front runners.

Cal's last five years factor into this just like Tubby's final years played into people's frustration with Billy Clyde. I am not excusing Pope's lack of coaching acumen this season for the fanbase's frustration. Most of our angst is the result of pre-season hype (and an alleged huge NIL) and what has followed with seemingly no significant adjustments to give us hope that this will change.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

I think we all questioned the hire then got behind him because there was Jack **** we could do about it. Last year was fun and a certain "what if" with injuries.

This year is an abomination given what our boosters spent and what we are seeing on the floor.

I didn’t think it was a bad hire. I didn’t want Drew, the only other offer. I did want Vogel.

But I loved Pope the player. He and Walker were my two favorite players on the ‘96 team. And Pope was tough as hell and smart. There were stories about Pitino having to dial Pope back in practice because he was hurting our players.

We needed a program first coach after Cal and we got that in spades with Pope.

I thought he would be great with UK resources.

I’m shocked at this turn of events.

He doesn’t coach anything like he played.

Pitino was a master at preparing. Almost over prepared. Pope doesn’t prepare at all.

Pitino was obsessive with conditioning. Our players don’t appear to be in good shape.

Pitino was all about individual instruction. Every year a player played for Pitino they got better. Much better.

Pope’s players do not show improvement.

How is it possible he was a captain on a Pitino E8 and title team in addition to practicing a year under Pitino before playing and not adapt anything from Pitino?

 

[BBNinSCar]

At the D1 level?

He’s not ready for a job like Kentucky. But, I hate rehashing the same old names.

 

[sk73]

Cal's last five years factor into this just like Tubby's final years played into people's frustration with Billy Clyde. I am not excusing Pope's lack of coaching acumen this season for the fanbase's frustration. Most of our angst is the result of pre-season hype (and an alleged huge NIL) and what has followed with seemingly no significant adjustments to give us hope that this will change.

We just do not agree. Total turn over of players in Popes first year and again in his second year. A total new slate each season. Pope gets all the credit and now, all the blame. I went from pulling for him to succeed to now pushing for him to leave. Cal doesn't enter in to the mix in any way.

 

[Anon1767463013]

As I was saying. PLEASE!

 

[Kameron50]

You got that right

Good coaches are not supposed to regress in their second year on the job.

 

[Woodrow24]

He will get a 3rd year no matter what so there is really no reason to start this but I know yall are gonna do what you’re gonna do

I want him gone at this point too I’m just saying it ain’t gonna happen

Most of the time I would agree with this but idk now with NIL and all of the money spent on this team.

 

[Macys Socks]

1a. Dusty May
1b. Nate Oats
2. Tommy Lloyd
3. Todd Golden
4. T.J. Otzelberger
5. Grant McCasland
6. Mark Byington
7. Sean Miller
8. Kenny Brooks
9. Brad Skinner

Lol love the Kenny Brooks addition!

 

[NociHTTP]

All these coaches are miles above Pope and Mitch didn’t give any of them a sniff because of Jeff Sheppard and crew sold their boy Pope.

I do wonder why Jeff was so supportive of Pope. I don't think it had everything to do with their '96 team.

 

[NociHTTP]

Pope has had 10 plus years as a head coach to win…..anything……and he has not. What makes people think he can do it here under a microscope.

He was at BYU and Utah Valley. You're not "winning anything" at those places.

 

[Dirk2Bowie]

Pining for Pearl is akin to looking at a poster of Cindy Crawford from the 90's and wishing she would knock on your door for a quickie.

There are younger, hungrier coaches out there with more upside (e.g., Lloyd, May, Oates).

This is the first reasonable explanation of why Pearl isn't the right guy. "I dont like him" is a terrible reason.

 

[akaukswoosh]

I hope to never see Bruce Pearl on a Kentucky sideline. Thankfully, this will never happen.

Agree.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

He will get a 3rd year no matter what so there is really no reason to start this but I know yall are gonna do what you’re gonna do

I want him gone at this point too I’m just saying it ain’t gonna happen

Billy Clyde says hold my University of Jodie Meeks.

 

[blackcat714]

Who do you want?

He is a Kenny Payne type guy i think

 

[Argonaut]

He was at BYU and Utah Valley. You're not "winning anything" at those places.

Explain Kevin Young.

 

[Supafuzz75]

Pining for Pearl is akin to looking at a poster of Cindy Crawford from the 90's and wishing she would knock on your door for a quickie.

There are younger, hungrier coaches out there with more upside (e.g., Lloyd, May, Oates).

EG Daily (Doty) is like 70 and I'd munch on her..

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

He was at BYU and Utah Valley. You're not "winning anything" at those places.

Dave Rose, the previous BYU coach had more success than Mark Pope.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

I hope to never see Bruce Pearl on a Kentucky sideline. Thankfully, this will never happen.

Dude is looking to be a senator.

 

[NoDef]

Pining for Pearl is akin to looking at a poster of Cindy Crawford from the 90's and wishing she would knock on your door for a quickie.

There are younger, hungrier coaches out there with more upside (e.g., Lloyd, May, Oates).

Pearl won the SEC in his last year at Auburn. He's won everywhere he has been. He's still got it. Would you rather of had a coach that put together an SEC champion last year or what we have in place now? He doesn't just tell you he plays an exciting style of ball, he recruits to his style and wins big.

 

[Kjuk24]

View attachment 1110726

Lol I feel ya, but aint happenin unfortunately

 

[Uncle B.S.]

Pearl was staying at Auburn because he had an arrangement for his son to succeed him. That was never going to happen here. And now he would never go somewhere where he would have to compete against his son.

 

[Anon1755274519]

Unfortunately, you need to get ready for a post Nolan Richardson run like Ark had. Kentucky blue blood is no more just like Alabama blue blood in football. NIL changed all of that. When pope offers a player a mill and coach Cal offers him the same mill, where will he go??? You guys lost the best NIL coach probably ever.

 

[Anon1755274519]

He was doing it before it was legal..

 

[AFKY_Blue_RedsBengals]

Kentucky needs a proven winner. Period. Someone with a real tournament resume who commands respect and ends this rut. Don't gamble on another unproven coach.