Man, that's my fault. I thought you were talking about UK/UT in 2025. Yeah, Arkansas should have won that game
Pope bashers
- Thread starter Lameguy
- Start date
Man, that's my fault. I thought you were talking about UK/UT in 2025. Yeah, Arkansas should have won that game
When you have no reasonable argument against what someone has actually said just make up something to attribute to them that you can sarcastically attack?
I am pretty certain he was referring to himself with this rather than you.
That must have been it ,lol. Didn’t think about it that way.
Pope isn't the program, he's the coach of the program.
I just wish we could wait until we lose a game to trash our team and coach.
I get labeled as a pumper. In reality, I always want our coach to do well because that means Kentucky is doing well. I said last year that he wasn’t going to be fired during or after last season, while half if you thought hiring Bruce Pearl in December of last year was realistic.
I have maintained that this year is Pope’s make or break season. If he doesn’t improve from last year or heaven forbid is worse, he’s out. I hope we get a year 4 of Pope because we won the SEC and made a FF. That said, he historically averages 12 losses a year for his career and has never won a conference championship or conference tournament. I plan to cheer on the Cats and let the chips fall where they may. We either have a great year or get a new coach. Simple as that.
I get labeled as a pumper. In reality, I always want our coach to do well because that means Kentucky is doing well. I said last year that he wasn’t going to be fired during or after last season, while half if you thought hiring Bruce Pearl in December of last year was realistic.
I have maintained that this year is Pope’s make or break season. If he doesn’t improve from last year or heaven forbid is worse, he’s out. I hope we get a year 4 of Pope because we won the SEC and made a FF. That said, he historically averages 12 losses a year for his career and has never won a conference championship or conference tournament. I plan to cheer on the Cats and let the chips fall where they may. We either have a great year or get a new coach. Simple as that.
I can't see any reason this needs to be said as I don't think there is one person who would think any different.
Once again he’s just 2 years in, give him at least this year and quit punishing him for Cal’s failures in his last 7 years.
I don’t exactly know what you expect. No one here has an option to *not* give him another year. He’s getting it. Doesn’t mean those of us who don’t believe it’s going to matter are going to stop talking about. We already potentially lost a major backup in backcourt.
How many injury excuses does he get? At some point excuses run out.
There’s a difference between talking about issues and kicking and screaming about it. Be honest a lot of people on here act like children. They resort to name calling, I would almost bet that when they were toddlers they were the biters.
Cal has nothing to do with Pope’s coaching.
You acting like the Pope boys aren’t in the thick of it with the name-calling…There’s a difference between talking about issues and kicking and screaming about it. Be honest a lot of people on here act like children. They resort to name calling, I would almost bet that when they were toddlers they were the biters.
But many of us are merely coping. We’re terrified. We don’t know what’s going to happen and for many of us, that in of itself is horrifying. We usually have some kind of idea when we’re good. Now we’re hoping to be good, praying for a miracle. It’s not a great feeling.
I mean I'd love for Pope to be successful here, just like any other coach before him.
But the recruiting just hasn't been there.
This is year 3. We are a fringe top 25 team. If this team doesn't massively overperform to that, we are more than likely a fringe top 25 team in the tournament and struggle to make it out of the first weekend.
The ones that say I'd like to see what he can do without the injuries..........that's not the main problem here lol. At complete health, is this a team you'd consider a title contender? That's the problem here.
But the recruiting just hasn't been there.
This is year 3. We are a fringe top 25 team. If this team doesn't massively overperform to that, we are more than likely a fringe top 25 team in the tournament and struggle to make it out of the first weekend.
The ones that say I'd like to see what he can do without the injuries..........that's not the main problem here lol. At complete health, is this a team you'd consider a title contender? That's the problem here.
Never said he did. His failures here with the incredible talent that he had created an atmosphere with certain fans that expect a turn around immediately. Those same fans are taking their 10 years pent up frustration out on Pope. Just give him this year and see where everything falls.
How many title contenders have we had here in the last 10 years with unbelievable talent. I would say one in 2017. Now how many people assumed would be are a lot more.
Vast majority of posts on this board think every issue is just binary. Somehow the existence of nuance is just lost.
I would wager 98%+ hope Pope wins because 1) uk wins and 2) he seems like a great guy. We can both cheer for him while also recognize he isn't currently cutting it. It doesn't have to be only one or the other.
You are acting like he intentionally hurt a key backup. Absolutely factual information must be considered when making a fair evaluation and is not a matter of making excuses. Injuries and schedules matter no matter how much you wish that wasn't true.
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I want Pope to win so bad, for my sake and for UK. But nothing I have seen so far going into this year gives me any optimism that this year will be any better than his first here and that just isn't good enough to keep this fan base energized. UK is not going to settle for anything below 3rd in the SEC in a normal year, much less three times in a row.
Obviously our goal is always to win titles but lets not pretend like this is equal to the vast majority of our history. You can't equally weigh 3rd place in a 10-12 team conference of comparatively weak teams to a very strong 16 team conference. To finish 3rd in the SEC this year requires finishing ahead of the 8th ranked team in the country in the preseason rankings. It's an admirable goal but acting like anything less is garbage and automatically demands a firing is ridiculous.
Dusty May won a title in yr two. In this era, it doesn’t take more than a yr. I don’t expect a title, but I don’t expect 26 losses in two yrs either. That said, he should get this year. If it’s like the first two, he gone. And he should be. The standard shouldn’t be lowered just because he’s a former player.
I don’t even know what you mean by the last part. So weird how some of you can’t separate your thoughts. Cal sucked at the end and I wanted him gone. Mark Pope sucks now and if he still sucks after this year I will want him gone too. It’s a simple concept.
Citing an extreme exception to the rule establishes nothing. You have no understanding of or consideration for reality. What Pope has done so far is pretty dead on our standard when playing schedules with a difficulty rating of 10.60 or higher and that is with not even giving consideration to injuries. It has been made especially challenging given how often we have had to play without a PG for one thing.
I'll just copy and paste these facts from another thread:
UK has played 9 schedules rated 10.60 or better in their history and have lost double figure games every time. 7 times pre Pope with an average rating of 11.44 and a record of 144-80 64%. Pope's two schedules avg. rating is 13.50 with a record of 46-26 63.9%.
Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball Index | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Check out the Kentucky Wildcats College Basketball History, Stats, Records, Polls, Leaders and More College Basketball Stats at Sports-Reference.com
www.sports-reference.com
You guys like to refer to anything that doesn't fit your agenda as excuse making but it is truly just factual perspective. I still agree he must find a way to improve on results but his failures are being greatly exaggerated.
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We’ve finished 8th and 9th in the conference. Took a miracle shot to beat Santa Clara. But, everything is fine! Glad you’re willing to lower expectations.Citing an extreme exception to the rule establishes nothing. You have no understanding of or consideration for reality. What Pope has done so far is pretty dead on our standard when playing schedules with a difficulty rating of 10.60 or higher and that is with not even giving consideration to injuries. It has been made especially challenging given how often we have had to play without a PG for one thing.
I'll just copy and paste these facts from another thread:
UK has played 9 schedules rated 10.60 or better in their history and have lost double figure games every time. 7 times pre Pope with an average rating of 11.44 and a record of 144-80 64%. Pope's two schedules avg. rating is 13.50 with a record of 46-26 63.9%.
Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball Index | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Check out the Kentucky Wildcats College Basketball History, Stats, Records, Polls, Leaders and More College Basketball Stats at Sports-Reference.com
You guys like to refer to anything that doesn't fit your agenda as excuse making but it is truly just factual perspective. I still agree he must find a way to improve on results but his failures are being greatly exaggerated.
The only cult with issues is the one trying to run a guy off after 2 years and consecutive S16s!
The point was, in this era, it doesn't take 3 yrs to build your program or roster. Dusty May is an obvious "extreme" example, but it also shows it CAN be done. Which is and was the point. I've always been cool with the third year. If nothing else, I think it will prove what we all probably know. Pope is "okay", but okay isn't good enough here.Citing an extreme exception to the rule establishes nothing. You have no understanding of or consideration for reality. What Pope has done so far is pretty dead on our standard when playing schedules with a difficulty rating of 10.60 or higher and that is with not even giving consideration to injuries. It has been made especially challenging given how often we have had to play without a PG for one thing.
I'll just copy and paste these facts from another thread:
UK has played 9 schedules rated 10.60 or better in their history and have lost double figure games every time. 7 times pre Pope with an average rating of 11.44 and a record of 144-80 64%. Pope's two schedules avg. rating is 13.50 with a record of 46-26 63.9%.
Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball Index | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Check out the Kentucky Wildcats College Basketball History, Stats, Records, Polls, Leaders and More College Basketball Stats at Sports-Reference.com
You guys like to refer to anything that doesn't fit your agenda as excuse making but it is truly just factual perspective. I still agree he must find a way to improve on results but his failures are being greatly exaggerated.
My only agenda is the Cats being nationally relevant and at or near the top of the SEC. The results in Pope's first two years aren't that.
This is undoubtedly the least excited I’ve been for UK basketball in a long, long time. I forgot we even had a game today until I pulled up social media this morning. It’s really all because I know what we will be with Pope. We will be the same thing he’s been as a coach his entire career. 10-12 regular season losses and the ceiling of a sweet 16. Not Kentucky worthy.
No everything is not fine but ignoring the changing landscape of college basketball is going to keep you miserable. The conference schedules are so unbalamced that it can mean the difference between going 10-8 or 13-5. Take Ky last year, they played 9 conference teams that were ranked top 25, in contrast Alabama only played 4 that were ranked top 25. It also matters when you get teams, take the UNC game last year, couldn’t get a rebound. UNC barely wins due to that and it just so happened Mo D who was our best rebounder was hurt and didn’t play.
So what if there is a guy out there? My original question and issue was how much time does he get once Pope is run out?
Can he get to S16 out of the gate because if he doesn’t then he hasn’t lived up to the Pope standard which was too low for this fan base.
People are leaving the programs with coaches that are great at recruiting, connecting with young talent.
Kids are also saying no to those coaches on the trail and in portal because of money.
Cal last few years here and now at Arkansas perfect example.
Literally one of the best if not the best communicators, connectors to young talent, and pitch men in the history of the game. He got poo pooed here and he’s getting poo pooed at arky.
It’s not just a UK or pope issue.
That’s my bad.
He came up just short with two top tier talents out with injury. That was a S16 squad if not better with those two playing.
Just short? It was the 2nd worst NCAAT loss (by margin of defeat) in UK history.
Again, the two best players Pope built the entire team around out.
Making it that far was a pretty decent coaching job by Pope. It wasn’t a very talented squad. It got to the tournament due in large part to coaching.
This must be Popes burner account. Username checks out and full of excuses!
Iowa State had their best player get injured days before the game. People act like UK is the only team with injuries. Also, JQ was a long shot to play in the first place, so you can’t count him as an injury.
I named one in the post. Pretty well known that Hurley was also not interested.
Donovan and Wright played the ole “I haven’t been officially contacted…” BS
As if they wouldn’t get the gig if they really wanted it!
Fly to Lexington and make MB say no.
Folks it’s not a quiet affair when the UK gig comes open. The history, accolades, resources, fans, pageantry pomp and circumstances are not kept on the low.
All the alleged coaches who could do better and want the gig know when it’s open and can easily tell their agent “call uk I’m interested”
Also, more importantly, you name the amount of time whoever it is gets to win the SEC and make a deep run.
Does he at least get the length of the contract or is it 2 bad seasons and out? Well one bad season due in large part to top two players out.
That’s all I want. I’m not saying Pope should get a contract extension. I’m not saying he doesn’t have a lot of work to do. I’m not saying he shouldn’t be booted if things don’t improve.
I want to know who and how much time they get in the event of Pope not turning it around.
Name 3-5 guys who are going to leave their gigs to come and win immediately.
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