The 1%

Cats4321

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
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First of all , that is complete garbage. Secondly, there would be a huge sample bias going on there. People who are likely to approach Pope are probably the ones who are still excited to see him...

It's like going to a political rally and asking "who are you voting for?"" and then saying 98% of the Americans favor this candidate.
 

CoffeeCat

Senior
Jul 6, 2025
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Uh Huh Yes GIF
 

AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
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MP doubled down on the coach show By saying that his first two seasons are a progress compared to the last 4 years.

he come up with arguments.

“We just have had some misfortune. With that said — this is what’s going to shock you. If you take the four years before we got here and compare them to the two years since we’ve been here, we actually have a higher winning percentage in the last two than we did in the four preceding — barely, but a higher winning percentage,
This is just explaining the facts of where we are, the facts of the positive things that were accomplished, the positive trend lines that are just facts,”

. “Go look at go do the math yourself.”

“This is also part of the reason that with all these injuries in the last two years, we played the hardest strength of schedule in a two-year period in the history of Kentucky basketball. So not only did we win at a slightly higher rate than the previous four years, but we played a schedule that was rated a 13.55 average in the last two years compared to the four years previous, at an 8.76”.


“Everybody knows the injury history, but the numbers are glaring. In the last few years, we faced a lot of adversity,” Pope said. “In 72 games, we’ve played 10 with a full roster in the last two years, and in 56 games against Power Four teams, we played five games with a full roster. There are so many dynamics that go into that, and that is a real thing that’s been a real issue for us.”

 

AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
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“That’s almost — I mean, that’s in the realm of almost 70 percent more difficult schedule. So in those ways — like, listen, I’m not talking about meeting the standard of where we’re trying to get. Clearly, we did not do that, but we’re making progress.”
 

AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
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“In four years before we got here, we won one game in Nashville. In the last two years, we’ve won three games in Nashville. Clearly, the seed hasn’t been as good, but in the last two years, we lost to the No. 5 and No. 6 team in the country to be put out of the SEC Tournament. In the four years previous, we lost to No. 9, No. 35, No. 67 and No. 81 to be knocked out of the SEC Tournament,”
 

AJG-15

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Apr 8, 2024
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“That doesn’t tell the whole story, but for the people that love Kentucky, they just want to know that we’re making progress. Those are real hard, solid numbers that may be surprising — go look them up. The winning percentage is higher, the NCAA Tournament success is higher, the strength of schedule is ridiculously more difficult, and all of that done in the context of having one of the most unfortunate health trends in the history of Kentucky basketball.”
 

AJG-15

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Apr 8, 2024
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“In ’25-26, this season, UK was one of only five teams in the country with five or more top 20 wins, KenPom top 20 wins, and one or less losses to teams outside the top 40. Those teams were Arizona, Arkansas, Duke, Michigan and Kentucky.”
 

AJG-15

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Apr 8, 2024
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“Sometimes our emotions get so carried away, like, ‘Oh, Kentucky has more losses than normal.’ Yes, the number of losses we had were not acceptable. There was one against a team outside the top 40 in the country. There’s only five teams in the country that can claim that stat that have five or more wins against the top 20.”
 

AJG-15

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Apr 8, 2024
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“The team we lost to was Missouri, which was an NCAA Tournament team. So, again, like being in this company, it’s not where we want to be. We want to be a one of one. We want to be still playing right now. But there is so much to be hopeful for, and we’re going the right direction.”
 

AJG-15

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Apr 8, 2024
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“In those senses — we haven’t met our goals, clearly, but we are making progress, and that part’s exciting. I really bring that up because I think at times, our guys feel like, ‘Man, everybody says this is the worst it’s ever been.’

“It’s not. We’re actually making positive progress.”
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,700
19,830
103
MP doubled down on the coach show By saying that his first two seasons are a progress compared to the last 4 years.

he come up with arguments.

“We just have had some misfortune. With that said — this is what’s going to shock you. If you take the four years before we got here and compare them to the two years since we’ve been here, we actually have a higher winning percentage in the last two than we did in the four preceding — barely, but a higher winning percentage,
This is just explaining the facts of where we are, the facts of the positive things that were accomplished, the positive trend lines that are just facts,”

. “Go look at go do the math yourself.”

“This is also part of the reason that with all these injuries in the last two years, we played the hardest strength of schedule in a two-year period in the history of Kentucky basketball. So not only did we win at a slightly higher rate than the previous four years, but we played a schedule that was rated a 13.55 average in the last two years compared to the four years previous, at an 8.76”.


“Everybody knows the injury history, but the numbers are glaring. In the last few years, we faced a lot of adversity,” Pope said. “In 72 games, we’ve played 10 with a full roster in the last two years, and in 56 games against Power Four teams, we played five games with a full roster. There are so many dynamics that go into that, and that is a real thing that’s been a real issue for us.”

Pathetic that he has to extend it to 4 years to include Cals 9-16 team to barely beat out that percentage. I mean good grief that is embarrassing. Why not compare to the last two years since he has been here for two. Same time frame apples to apples. Let’s highlight all the games we have had our asses completely handed to us. I didn’t think it was possible for me to like a coach less than cal, pope comes and says hold my beer.
 

AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
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Until I heard and saw MP explanation I thought he was well intended and really cared about UK. Now, I Have my doubts. I think he is just an arrogant guy that thinks he is smarter than anyone else.

of course you can carve the last 4 years of Cal and come up with some meaningless stats to explain that you are making progress and you were so unfortunate.

this guy is just a con artist. I heard no remorse in his explanation, he was laughing and joking a day after our team got embarrassed on national stage.
 

coalBucket

Senior
Sep 27, 2008
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Reading these quotes from pope mystifies me. Progress? We talking about progress? Give me a break. Cal sucked and could recruit. You just suck. You’ve beat trash OU, lsu and a meh Mizzou team. The ncaa you’ve beat the mighty Troy, Illinois and a Hail Mary to get past Santa Clara. Records show who you are and who you are not. Do the math pope.
 

paulcalhoun_rivals397471

All-Conference
Aug 23, 2024
1,575
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Until I heard and saw MP explanation I thought he was well intended and really cared about UK. Now, I Have my doubts. I think he is just an arrogant guy that thinks he is smarter than anyone else.

of course you can carve the last 4 years of Cal and come up with some meaningless stats to explain that you are making progress and you were so unfortunate.

this guy is just a con artist. I heard no remorse in his explanation, he was laughing and joking a day after our team got embarrassed on national stage.
Everything he said was factual. I'm not happy with our results this year but everything he claimed here is true. If you look at the Sports Reference site it has the last two schedules rated as the two most difficult in school history. Results must improve and backing off somewhat on the scheduling and staying healthier probably have to be a part of it for that to occur.


Every time our SOS difficulty has been above 11 (7 times) we have lost at least 10 games.
 
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AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
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Everything he said was factual. I'm not happy with our results this year but everything he claimed here is true. If you look at the Sports Reference site it has the last two schedules rated as the two most difficult in school history. Results must improve and backing off somewhat on the scheduling and staying healthier probably have to be a part of it for that to occur.


Every time our SOS difficulty has been above 11 (7 times) we have lost at least 10 games.
Of course , I can come up with 101 statistically correct explanation.

is he genuine, trustworthy ? Not anymore …

i am pretty sure as disciple of RP he dislikes Cal, which I am fine with.

his basis of comparison is laughable …

if that’s how he understands and applies statistical data on analyzing basketball games his games outcomes are a logical result.
 

paulcalhoun_rivals397471

All-Conference
Aug 23, 2024
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Of course , I can come up with 101 statistically correct explanation.

is he genuine, trustworthy ? Not anymore …

i am pretty sure as disciple of RP he dislikes Cal, which I am fine with.

his basis of comparison is laughable …

if that’s how he understands and applies statistical data on analyzing basketball games his games outcomes are a logical result.
I don't think it is fair to call him dishonest based on any of this. Schedule and injuries definitely matter. In the 5 seasons with a schedule rating above 11 (average of 11.7) pre Pope we won 100 and lost 58 for 63.3% which is almost dead on Pope's 63.5% with an average schedule difficulty rating of (13.3).
 
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BlueSince92

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
10,459
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“In four years before we got here, we won one game in Nashville. In the last two years, we’ve won three games in Nashville. Clearly, the seed hasn’t been as good, but in the last two years, we lost to the No. 5 and No. 6 team in the country to be put out of the SEC Tournament. In the four years previous, we lost to No. 9, No. 35, No. 67 and No. 81 to be knocked out of the SEC Tournament,”
“In the last two years, we’ve won three games in the NCAA Tournament. In the previous four years, we won one game total in the NCAA Tournament. “
All this is true to his credit.

But it just means the people who want Cal back are psycho hose beasts.

It doesn't mean we can keep you at Kentucky with results like this without a whale of a recruiting class coming in.

Throw us a bone, man.
 

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
5,745
10,074
108
Boy ‘o boy, Pope is going to burn it down on the way out, isn’t he? If any of you Pope supporters (3rd season dipshits) wonder where I went, I’m still here but I had to put you on ignore because I refuse to be poisoned by your woke ideology nonsense pumping for this absolute clown of a coach!
 

Doc4UK!

All-Conference
Aug 14, 2003
2,789
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In spite of everything he said he is still on a super hot seat for 2026. Your entire offense was Oweh and Aberdeen. They were the only consistent scorers the entire year. They are gone. You (Pope) are essentially a lame duck coach with a coaching staff that is running for the door. You have totally whiffed on high school recruits for 26 and beyond. So now you must rely on the portal to have any type of productive offense or even defense. One problem. The portal requires money. You raised over 20 million in NIL funds from essentially one donor who was sold a bill of goods on how good your roster construction was and he is not a happy camper. So will he pony up again or will he wait for the next coach? And if he does not, how do you get the best players out of the portal? All of this will be answered by the end of April. We will know then whether or not Pope will have any chance at surviving beyond next year.
 
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Tri-Countycat

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
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I’ve never witnessed a coach more out of touch with reality. Cal knew he sucked the last five years and hated his boss. The writing was on the wall. Pope has managed to accomplish distain for him in two years. His teams have done nothing that he sold us on. In his press conference he said his teams would keep coming and coming and coming and never quit. When you play UK you will have to earn a victory. Under Pope I’ve never witnessed a UK team lay down and quit more than a Pope coached team.