19-12 Regular Season - change my mind (please)

[KentuckyStout]

We are riding the short bus to 19-12 like a snowball headed for hell. One win in SEC tourney, one win in NCAA tourney. 21-14 final record. This tonight - was not Kentucky basketball.

We are going to lose the all-time wins record to Kansas. Again.

This is how you become Indiana. It really is. You let people like Mitch Barnhart run your program into the ground because he leeches away every ounce of hope you have and slowly gets you to accept mediocrity. Something really has to change or this program is going to be replaced, historically, by freaking UCONN.

 

[kyjeff1]

You think we're getting to 19 wins? I don't. This team looks broken and it's going to take a pit bull of a coach to fix it. Mark Pope doesn't have the chops to fix this.

You can't just stand there with your arms folded and say nothing all game while your team stinks at every aspect of the game.

These kids got their money, they don't need to earn it. They played like it too.

 

[TFCat11]

Not sure about the wins right now, but this team is definitely losing 14+ on its current trajectory!

Hence, no tournament with a $22 million roster**!

** = I don’t believe for a split second UK spend even near that much! But that doesn’t matter…

 

[BlueBomb]

We are riding the short bus to 19-12 like a snowball headed for hell. One win in SEC tourney, one win in NCAA tourney. 21-14 final record. This tonight - was not Kentucky basketball.

We are going to lose the all-time wins record to Kansas. Again.

This is how you become Indiana. It really is. You let people like Mitch Barnhart run your program into the ground because he leeches away every ounce of hope you have and slowly gets you to accept mediocrity. Something really has to change or this program is going to be replaced, historically, by freaking UCONN.

Well, we lost 12 games last year. Might as well go for a repeat.

 

[akaukswoosh]

You think we're getting to 19 wins? I don't. This team looks broken and it's going to take a pit bull of a coach to fix it.

This and getting Quaintance playing.

 

[Anon1755209580]

If that happens, we will have a mass exodus and very likely will struggle to replace them with anything better. The replacements will likely be even worse. Things could get rough for a bit.

 

[KentuckyStout]

You think we're getting to 19 wins? I don't.

I think we can, yes.

But I do agree - this thing is broken and off the rails currently.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Struggling to care right now. They’ve already destroyed my optimism. In short order. I saw the issues after Gtown (and honestly during Purdue). Yeah, we won that game but it wasn’t a good showing for real, Purdue just sucked ***. I said then, and I’ll say now, we have real issues that I don’t think can be fixed regardless of the coaching.

Hope like hell I’m wrong. Hope like hell.

 

[kyjeff1]

I think we can, yes.

But I do agree - this thing is broken and off the rails currently.

It's possible, the SEC is down quite a bit compared to last year, but before I can project 19 wins, I need to see all of these issues fixed.

-chemistry is not just off, it's straight up bad
-Mo D and Garrison cannot play together
-The plan to shoot 35 threes with this roster has to get canned
-Garrison's minutes need to get cut to single digits
-Oweh needs to play for the team and become a leader
-Pope needs to be a coach and not their best friend
-J Lowe needs to play
-Mo D can never shoot a 3 ever again
-Guys need to play like every possession matters

I know Pope wants to play a certain way, problem is, he didn't recruit that way and he would rather play non shooters (Garrison and Mo) than a guy like Kam.

There are so many problems to fix and I don't really have confidence in Pope to fix them and I really like Pope.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

17-14

 

[NociHTTP]

You think we're getting to 19 wins? I don't. This team looks broken and it's going to take a pit bull of a coach to fix it. Mark Pope doesn't have the chops to fix this.

You can't just stand there with your arms folded and say nothing all game while your team stinks at every aspect of the game.

These kids got their money, they don't need to earn it. They played like it too.

IMO he's trying really hard to be the polar opposite of Cal. In more ways than one

 

[senonesy]

22-9 final regular season record. 4 seed NCAA tourney. Bookmark this post.

 

[CELTICAT]

9-4 OOC, 9-9 SEC

So I've got it at 18-13 going into the SECT.

 

[megablue]

We are riding the short bus to 19-12 like a snowball headed for hell. One win in SEC tourney, one win in NCAA tourney. 21-14 final record. This tonight - was not Kentucky basketball.

We are going to lose the all-time wins record to Kansas. Again.

This is how you become Indiana. It really is. You let people like Mitch Barnhart run your program into the ground because he leeches away every ounce of hope you have and slowly gets you to accept mediocrity. Something really has to change or this program is going to be replaced, historically, by freaking UCONN.

I am not a UConn fan, of course, but to their credit ... they have won 6 titles, under 3 different coaches, in the past 25 years.
No matter how you look at it, that's pretty impressive.

 

[JakeKx]

Anytime you win less than 20 games it should be the end of your job here. Exactly what I said in 2020 with cal.

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

What really grinds my gears is that we could been on title 15 or 16 right now if Mitch had left the Billy G situation play out instead of rashly firing him. Hell recruiting wasn't a problem, I think one of his UK commits is just now a sophomore in HS.

 

[kyjeff1]

IMO he's trying really hard to be the polar opposite of Cal. In more ways than one

There are some coaches out there that stay cool as a cucumber on the sidelines, first one that comes to mind, is Dennis Gates (Mizzou). But even he has no issue getting into his players when the situation calls for it.
The situation called for it last night, many times and he just stood there.
I'm definitely not calling for Pope to be fired, no way, he wants to win as bad as I do, but I have reservations about his ability to handle this job given the fishbowl it is and this situation here, is not an easy one to navigate. I hope he gets it done though.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

We are riding the short bus to 19-12 like a snowball headed for hell. One win in SEC tourney, one win in NCAA tourney. 21-14 final record. This tonight - was not Kentucky basketball.

We are going to lose the all-time wins record to Kansas. Again.

This is how you become Indiana. It really is. You let people like Mitch Barnhart run your program into the ground because he leeches away every ounce of hope you have and slowly gets you to accept mediocrity. Something really has to change or this program is going to be replaced, historically, by freaking UCONN.

Right now that's a very optimistic take.

 

[Anon1759768907]

19-12 id take in a heartbeat

 

[KentuckyStout]

22-9 final regular season record. 4 seed NCAA tourney. Bookmark this post.

My expectations have been lowered so far I'm at the point I hope you are right.

 

[KentuckyStout]

Right now that's a very optimistic take.

I know

 

[JakeKx]

What really grinds my gears is that we could been on title 15 or 16 right now if Mitch had left the Billy G situation play out instead of rashly firing him. Hell recruiting wasn't a problem, I think one of his UK commits is just now a sophomore in HS.

There are a few posters on this board that would 100% have been okay with this. No questions asked. They’re the “real fans”.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

We are riding the short bus to 19-12 like a snowball headed for hell. One win in SEC tourney, one win in NCAA tourney. 21-14 final record. This tonight - was not Kentucky basketball.

We are going to lose the all-time wins record to Kansas. Again.

This is how you become Indiana. It really is. You let people like Mitch Barnhart run your program into the ground because he leeches away every ounce of hope you have and slowly gets you to accept mediocrity. Something really has to change or this program is going to be replaced, historically, by freaking UCONN.

Mitch's position is like a pastor's position. He has other programs to oversee (football, baseball, volleyball, etc.), and those "additional" responsibilities are like a pastor overseeing hospital calls, prayer night, Sunday School, etc.

But Kentucky men's basketball is to Mitch what the Sunday morning sermon and relationship building is to the pastor. You've got to knock those two out of the park, otherwise you won't have a church for long.

He's failed in that department. This is the same clown who gave us Billy Clyde.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Mitch's position is like a pastor's position. He has other programs to oversee (football, baseball, volleyball, etc.), and those "additional" responsibilities are like a pastor overseeing hospital calls, prayer night, Sunday School, etc.

But Kentucky men's basketball is to Mitch what the Sunday morning sermon and relationship building is to the pastor. You've got to knock those two out of the park, otherwise you won't have a church for long.

He's failed in that department. This is the same clown who gave us Billy Clyde.

The problem you got there is half the fanbase thinks football is just as important as basketball though and until you at least have a hierarchy you can’t have a direction. We have eight natties in one sport and we claim a contested 1950 championship in the other that isn’t even recognized by the NCAA

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

The problem you got there is half the fanbase thinks football is just as important as basketball though and until you at least have a hierarchy you can’t have a direction. We have eight natties in one sport and we claim a contested 1950 championship in the other that isn’t even recognized by the NCAA

I don't buy that.

Our fan base would be fine with UK football going 2-10 every year if we are making Final Four in basketball. This was more than proven in the 1990s.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I don't buy that.

Our fan base would be fine with UK football going 2-10 every year if we are making Final Four in basketball. This was more than proven in the 1990s.

I’d be fine with 2-10, but dude I’ve been crucified mercilessly for saying football don’t matter.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I’d be fine with 2-10, but dude I’ve been crucified mercilessly for saying football don’t matter.

The football fans are a vocal minority, but trust me when I write this: the overwhelming majority of BBN would be fine with being dogshite in football if it meant we were #1 in basketball again.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

The football fans are a vocal minority, but trust me when I write this: the overwhelming majority of BBN would be fine with being dogshite in football if it meant we were #1 in basketball again.

I agree with you, but the football are very loud. You don’t know about this and don’t even need to care but I defended you specifically last spring. You were quite a name on the football thread, and while you and I don’t agree on much, that’s something we agreed on and I took up for you over there. There was a poster CaptainBoogerBuns taking posts of yours to the football people and trying to get mods to deal with you if you posted there. I’m just telling you I’ve lived out this football conversation here and on KSR+.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

9-4 OOC, 9-9 SEC

So I've got it at 18-13 going into the SECT.

I can buy the 9-9 SEC. It’s hard for me to see 9-4. I think 8-5 is the ceiling.

 

[senonesy]

We are riding the short bus to 19-12 like a snowball headed for hell. One win in SEC tourney, one win in NCAA tourney. 21-14 final record. This tonight - was not Kentucky basketball.

We are going to lose the all-time wins record to Kansas. Again.

This is how you become Indiana. It really is. You let people like Mitch Barnhart run your program into the ground because he leeches away every ounce of hope you have and slowly gets you to accept mediocrity. Something really has to change or this program is going to be replaced, historically, by freaking UCONN.

Interesting take on a bad Kansas team ranked lower than us and who won’t be ranked at all on Monday.

 

[Goingfor9]

Pope is basically finished. Unless he can start winning and go 3-1 on that non conference from 2-20 UNC to St. John’s I see the team plummeting and pope realizing he’s too far over his head. I think he has already realized but maybe finds an away to change.

we will know soon imo if pope will be back and Barney watch that guy. I think it’s time for him to go. And fast. Wheels may be moving on that.

 

[One2Three]

Interesting take on a bad Kansas team ranked lower than us and who won’t be ranked at all on Monday.

Kansas won a title a couple years ago… We haven’t sniffed a Final Four in a decade.

We’re in the same situation we were in after BCG was fired and before Calipari was hired in 2009. I genuinely feel hopeless.

 

[KyCPA2000]

We are riding the short bus to 19-12 like a snowball headed for hell. One win in SEC tourney, one win in NCAA tourney. 21-14 final record. This tonight - was not Kentucky basketball.

We are going to lose the all-time wins record to Kansas. Again.

This is how you become Indiana. It really is. You let people like Mitch Barnhart run your program into the ground because he leeches away every ounce of hope you have and slowly gets you to accept mediocrity. Something really has to change or this program is going to be replaced, historically, by freaking UCONN.

The team we have seen against decent competition is not a tournament team.

 

[kybassfan]

Right now I can't count 19 wins. The SEC is not as touch as last year but it is still wicked, especially away from home. Out of conference is still tough. On our current path, I don't see 19 wins.

That said, we have some hope. I do not thing Mich St will be representative of our season as much as we have people hoping for that outcome. If we turn things around, then that number could exceed 19 wins.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Right now I can't count 19 wins. The SEC is not as touch as last year but it is still wicked, especially away from home. Out of conference is still tough. On our current path, I don't see 19 wins.

That said, we have some hope. I do not thing Mich St will be representative of our season as much as we have people hoping for that outcome. If we turn things around, then that number could exceed 19 wins.

Nothing unfixable.

 

[Broker]

You think we're getting to 19 wins? I don't. This team looks broken and it's going to take a pit bull of a coach to fix it. Mark Pope doesn't have the chops to fix this.

You can't just stand there with your arms folded and say nothing all game while your team stinks at every aspect of the game.

These kids got their money, they don't need to earn it. They played like it too.

You think we're getting to 19 wins? I don't. This team looks broken and it's going to take a pit bull of a coach to fix it. Mark Pope doesn't have the chops to fix this.

You can't just stand there with your arms folded and say nothing all game while your team stinks at every aspect of the game.

These kids got their money, they don't need to earn it. They played like it too.

After watching Alabama and Illinois, Arizona and Uconn tonight was enough to realize #9 not happing this 2025/2026 year. Those 4 teams would take us to the woodshed.

 

[kybassfan]

After watching Alabama and Illinois, Arizona and Uconn tonight was enough to realize #9 not happing this 2025/2026 year. Those 4 teams would take us to the woodshed.

Many said that in 2014. You really never know.

 

[kyjeff1]

After watching Alabama and Illinois, Arizona and Uconn tonight was enough to realize #9 not happing this 2025/2026 year. Those 4 teams would take us to the woodshed.

Well, the issue for us this year is the same thing UConn went through last year. They collected a bunch of losses early, 3 of them were in the Maui invitational. It took them a long time to get rolling and when they got to March, they were really good, but it was too little, too late. They were an 8 seed and got Florida in round 2.
The way we are struggling right now, we could be in a similar situation. We're that bad.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Many said that in 2014. You really never know.

That team had real NBA players (three future top 17 picks and seven guys total who played in the NBA), with one guy who has already made three All-Star games and who was a complete beast as a frosh.

Where's the NBA talent on this current team?

 

[kywildcat1021979]

So you're telling me we need to break the name back out for Mark Pope...... Ten Loss Pope.... Or is he trending more on the BCG side of things make the tournament the 1st year then go to the NIT the 2nd year? Man if we miss the NCAA tournament this year with the money that was spent on this team........ Mitch and Pope better have a U-Haul ready because man they will need to be out of Lexington pretty fast....