So glad we have Pope and not Cal

The Ganner

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2009
489
1,342
93
Pitino has one more NCAAT win than Pope here at St. Johns. He's done well but has gone no further than Pope has since he's been there. We need to stop trying to relive the past and look for younger and talented coaches. Pope is younger but the jury is still out (and grumbling) until we see what happens this year. Interesting year for Pitino too to see how far he can get. Didn't help his resume he got punked by Cal AGAIN in the R32 a couple of years ago.
So you're saying Pitino took over a school that hadn't won a tournament game in over 20 years and had only MADE the tournament 5 times since 2000 and has had as much success at that dump as Pope has had at the Mecca of college basketball? And you think this looks good for Pope?
 

VC99

Senior
Sep 16, 2025
328
774
93
What's funny is people were mad about Cal getting upset in the first round of the tourney but they forget that Pope also got upset in the first round of that exact same tournament lol yet they will defend Pope.
 
Last edited:
Aug 4, 2025
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There is not a coach in the entire country that this board wouldn't bit** about.
I try to argue this all the time.

In this era of college sports where coaches can make multi millions and recruit talent via NIL/Portal not that many are going to come here and risk being on the hot seat year 2 two.

Not only do we bich about our current coach, we whine about FORMER coaches!

Poor Cal is still somehow being held to UK expectations!
 
Feb 3, 2025
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The job was offered to only one coach before Pope. That was Drew. Barney did no search because he thought he had Drew hired for years.

When Drew backed out Barney made one call. He knew Pope would take the job.

It was a panic hire.
What's even better was Mitch explained his rationale for the quick hire was to keep our roster and signed recruits 🤣
 

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,508
26,041
113
Pope will not lose to an average UVa. Much less get blown out
Oh really....
- Home loss to bad UGA team last year (first time in 17 years)
- Home moss to bad Mizzou team last year
- 35 point loss to Gonzaga in Nashville last year
- 25 pt loss at Vandy last year

I'm glad to be off Cal merry go round but Mark Pope isn't an upgrade at this point.
 

bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
9,006
11,255
113
The day cal screwed the pooch with Nike his days at UK were over . He couldn't get the top players in the top 10 any more. Screwed his self with boosters and the fan base. He did it to himself and screwed Ky at the end of his tenure. I hope he loses every game he coaches.
Exactly
His arrogance bit him in the butt again and uk and the fans continue suffering for it
 

bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
9,006
11,255
113
Pitino has one more NCAAT win than Pope here at St. Johns. He's done well but has gone no further than Pope has since he's been there. We need to stop trying to relive the past and look for younger and talented coaches. Pope is younger but the jury is still out (and grumbling) until we see what happens this year. Interesting year for Pitino too to see how far he can get. Didn't help his resume he got punked by Cal AGAIN in the R32 a couple of years ago.
Agree with younger coach, but will uk go that route?
Need a young aggressive coach that is hungry to win, that won't be dunked by other coaches or recruits.
 

bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
9,006
11,255
113
I try to argue this all the time.

In this era of college sports where coaches can make multi millions and recruit talent via NIL/Portal not that many are going to come here and risk being on the hot seat year 2 two.

Not only do we bich about our current coach, we whine about FORMER coaches!

Poor Cal is still somehow being held to UK expectations!
Don't think anyone cares about ccc, just can't stand what he did ans was allowed to do to uk and it's heritage. He wrapped on the fans and university as well as being a lousy coach
 
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Catastic5

All-Conference
Sep 12, 2026
812
1,991
93
Oh really....
- Home loss to bad UGA team last year (first time in 17 years)
- Home moss to bad Mizzou team last year
- 35 point loss to Gonzaga in Nashville last year
- 25 pt loss at Vandy last year

I'm glad to be off Cal merry go round but Mark Pope isn't an upgrade at this point.
It’s a downgrade. Lucking into a Sweet 16 his first season looks like a fluke right now.
 

Hopmix

Senior
Mar 7, 2011
1,318
750
101
Pope will never put a title contender on that court. Calipari would. He’s coach his way out of it but they woukd be contenders.
 

VC99

Senior
Sep 16, 2025
328
774
93
It’s a downgrade. Lucking into a Sweet 16 his first season looks like a fluke right now.
My theory is he had some success only because for 1 year and 1 year only BBN put no pressure on him, and he and everyone knew that. The second actual Kentucky expectations hit him, he and his team completely imploded.
 
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dynastydreamuk

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2010
1,914
1,548
113
Pitino has one more NCAAT win than Pope here at St. Johns. He's done well but has gone no further than Pope has since he's been there. We need to stop trying to relive the past and look for younger and talented coaches. Pope is younger but the jury is still out (and grumbling) until we see what happens this year. Interesting year for Pitino too to see how far he can get. Didn't help his resume he got punked by Cal AGAIN in the R32 a couple of years ago.

You didnt read or comprehend my post, or I wasnt clear.

I said after about 7 other qualified coaches said no, IF that was the case, then pitino could have been hired for am easy stop gap hire... and pope should have never been considered.

Writing this after another blowout loss none the less.

But yea, there was a huge number of young new coaches more qualified than pope who hadnt even won more than 25 games ever, never won his conference or even finished better than 3rd I think and no ncaa wins prior to kentucky.
 
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