So glad we have Pope and not Cal

chroix · 2026-11-09T07:02:54-0600

Anybody else remember this dude talking a ton of **** a couple years ago? Enjoy!

HipTer · 2026-11-09T07:15:22-0600

BlueSince92 said:
My thing is that if Pope lost to an average UVA team he wouldn’t follow it up by calling us all crazy and going home richer than any other coach in the world on our dime.

The Ganner · 2026-11-09T07:46:13-0600

bbnkat02 said:
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 · 2026-11-09T07:55:34-0600

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.

OGtruebluewildcat · 2026-11-09T08:48:34-0600

Bluetick2100 said:
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!

OliverSimmonsTwinBrother · 2026-11-09T08:51:52-0600

UKBB4Ever said:
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 · 2026-11-09T09:21:22-0600

Anon629549 said:
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.

K_TIME · 2026-11-09T09:22:54-0600

chroix said:
Anybody miss this BS?

Same old Cal baloney.....good riddance to the used car salesman routine.

bnewt · 2026-11-09T11:16:23-0600

Anon1739778738 said:
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 · 2026-11-09T11:19:30-0600

bbnkat02 said:
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.

SlowWalkerSTL · 2026-11-09T11:21:18-0600

treyville said:
We talked to 3 coaches though. It was time to pick one.

We did? What other two coaches did we “talk” to?

bnewt · 2026-11-09T11:23:31-0600

OGtruebluewildcat said:
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

bnewt · 2026-11-09T11:24:38-0600

OliverSimmonsTwinBrother said:
What's even better was Mitch explained his rationale for the quick hire was to keep our roster and signed recruits

Another guy that was allowed to destroy the program

treyville · 2026-11-09T11:47:12-0600

SlowWalkerSTL said:
We did? What other two coaches did we “talk” to?

Pretty sure its common knowledge we "talked" to hurley and scott drew....were you making a point of some kind or nah?

Resignmarkpope · 2026-11-09T14:12:59-0600

Anon629549 said:
Pope will not lose to an average UVa. Much less get blown out

Mark pope is a coach who has never won a championship at any level! A program like Kentucky deserves better! Kentucky Hoosiers baby!

Resignmarkpope · 2026-11-09T14:14:16-0600

Bluetick2100 said:
There is not a coach in the entire country that this board wouldn't bit** about.

What’s positive about having mark pope as the coach?

Johnny_Jeepers · 2026-11-09T14:19:48-0600

Yeah, I don't think this is the year to talk trash about other programs.

UK is a borderline tourney team.

Bluetick2100 · 2026-11-09T14:35:24-0600

Resignmarkpope said:
What’s positive about having mark pope as the coach?

He's better than you.

BigRedMachineBigBlueNation · 2026-11-09T16:10:35-0600

RedwoodHigh said:
Pope is our coach & it’s time to support him & his entire team.
The new assistants are awesome & the future looks bright.
Ì really like all our teams & lets enjoy the

Idk man, did you watch the JMU game? That was scary

rivercatinfl · 2026-11-09T16:14:57-0600

Bluetick2100 said:
There is not a coach in the entire country that this board wouldn't bit** about.

Except maybe Hurley

Mike-D · 2026-11-09T16:19:15-0600

Dr.LutherSan said:
4, counting Shaka Smart.

Scott Drew, Shaka Smart and Mark Pope. Mitch was gonna go out with a bang, regardless.

Catastic5 · 2026-11-09T16:26:06-0600

K_TIME said:
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.

Loucatfan30 · 2026-11-09T22:03:45-0600

I want the va coach

Anon1773686487 · 2026-11-09T22:33:52-0600

Loucatfan30 said:
I want the va coach

Pope jr

JimmyCleatusBob · 2026-11-10T00:25:05-0600

Loucatfan30 said:
I want the va coach

Do you even know his name?

Hopmix · 2026-11-10T00:32:45-0600

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.

rob_47 · 2026-11-10T00:33:14-0600

KentuckyFlyer said:
I hated Cow with a passion, but Virginia is ranked #9. How's this a bad loss??

Because they got absolutely hammered

howitis_rivals115807 · 2026-11-10T00:37:48-0600

pope is worse than cal no doubt. but I dont want cal here anymore. so stop trying to make me say good things about him.

rob_47 · 2026-11-10T00:50:14-0600

Johnny_Jeepers said:
Yeah, I don't think this is the year to talk trash about other programs.

UK is a borderline tourney team

Borderline tourney team? We will see about that. Pretty bad take

Cleatortoises · 2026-11-10T00:55:01-0600

Johnny_Jeepers said:
Yeah, I don't think this is the year to talk trash about other programs.

UK is a borderline tourney team.

When would you have extra time to talk trash about another team?
Only so many hours in a day.

VC99 · 2026-11-10T06:39:56-0600

Catastic5 said:
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.

Resignmarkpope · 2026-11-10T09:52:50-0600

Bluetick2100 said:
He's better than you.

I’m not sure about that. We both have 0 conference or tournament championships. Both have 0 final fours and elite 8. It’s definitely debatable.

Resignmarkpope · 2026-11-10T10:00:51-0600

rivercatinfl said:
Except maybe Hurley

Ricky P, Billy D

Buckwheat Otay Is Dead · 2026-11-10T12:02:14-0600

Billy D

wildcat111 · 2026-11-10T16:04:51-0600

JimmyCleatusBob said:
Pope will not lose to an average UVa. Much less get blown out

Guess you did not watch last year's games?? Gonzaga just to name one.

CaptainDad · 2026-11-10T17:13:11-0600

chroix said:
Anybody miss this BS?

Old Milwaukee State in the round of 64 looms.......

Johnny_Jeepers · 2026-11-10T21:28:07-0600

rob_47 said:
Borderline tourney team? We will see about that. Pretty bad take

We just don't have the Jimmys or Joes. Sorry dude.

So glad we have Pope and not Cal

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