41-21 in two seasons with no recruits on the way.

[Son_Of_Saul]

Would you have taken that at the beginning of the Mark Pope era?

He was an unforgivable hire. We may not make the tournament, gentlemen. We still have five games that we could lose. Even if we win two, we're sitting at 19 wins going into the SEC tournament.

Think about that. This is Billy Clyde level bad.

 

[WhatTypeOfBlood]

Would you have taken that at the beginning of the Mark Pope era?

He was an unforgivable hire. We may not make the tournament, gentlemen. We still have five games that we could lose. Even if we win too, we're sitting at 19 wins going into the SEC tournament.

Think about that. This is Billy Clyde level bad.

While I agree with you. I thought making the tourney was a lock at this point right? We were just in the running for first in the sec. I get we could lose more games but figured we did enough already. I expect to win a few more.

We aren’t the only team betting right? Surely one of our upcoming games has some players gambling.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

While I agree with you. I thought making the tourney was a lock at this point right? We were just in the running for first in the sec. I get we could lose more games but figured we did enough already. I expect to win a few more.

We aren’t the only team betting right? Surely one of our upcoming games has some players gambling.

If Kentucky completely collapses down the stretch, they may not hear their names called on selection Sunday. That's a fact. That means they would finish 8-10 or 9-9, with a first-game loss in the SEC tournament.

It's actually quite possible. The only game that I think that we should win is the road game at South Carolina, but at this point we might lose that one too.

 

[PacoGator]

Kentucky will make the tournament and Pope will build the roster for next year through the transfer portal.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Kentucky will make the tournament and Pope will build the roster for next year through the transfer portal.

The problem is he sucks at signing top level talent thru the portal.

You have to have some high level talent to win.

If you dint, you have to be a great coach. No one can argue pope is a great coach.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

I would venture to say that three buzzer beaters have changed the entire trajectory of UK basketball. If Oweh hadn’t beat Oklahoma twice last year at the buzzer, our seed would have been much worse and no way Pope would have made it to the sweet 16 if we played a team with a pulse. This year the LSU game got us on a run but in reality we should have lost that game plus the two Tennessee games. This season has been a bigger disaster than any of the BCG years. We at least had Paterson and Meeks and played hard nosed defense.

 

[[email protected]]

Even with the big wins, there were red flags. How many damn times are we going to be down double digits and then hope like hell that the other team will choke.

I think he is the worst recruiter I’ve ever seen at a blue blood school. There are no excuses with all of the resources available to him. That is why you see some SEC coaches throw in a little jab at Pope because of the NIL budget that he is able to use to get players and still have 10+ losses.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

This was Billy Gillespies record at UK and we cut bait quickly. Why do we own Pope another year.

Record: 40-27 (25-9 in 2007-08; 22-14 in 2008-09).

• Highlights: Named Co-SEC Coach of the Year in his first season (2008) and led the team to the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

 

[[email protected]]

It’s wild that ole Billy G had a better resume than Pope when he first got hired.

 

[BlueandWhite13]

I would venture to say that three buzzer beaters have changed the entire trajectory of UK basketball. If Oweh hadn’t beat Oklahoma twice last year at the buzzer, our seed would have been much worse and no way Pope would have made it to the sweet 16 if we played a team with a pulse. This year the LSU game got us on a run but in reality we should have lost that game plus the two Tennessee games. This season has been a bigger disaster than any of the BCG years. We at least had Paterson and Meeks and played hard nosed defense.

Wow. This is pathetic type fandom level. Playing the *if* game through two seasons. Diminishing UK’s star player (that has just tied for the most 20 point games mind you), beating rivals back to back. Sure, not the type of season we all expect. But you and many others on this site are embarrassing. UK faithful is definitely no more Lolol

 

[RunninRichie]

This was Billy Gillespies record at UK and we cut bait quickly. Why do we own Pope another year.

Record: 40-27 (25-9 in 2007-08; 22-14 in 2008-09).

• Highlights: Named Co-SEC Coach of the Year in his first season (2008) and led the team to the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

BCG was fired for cause. Not because of his 14 losses.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

BCG was fired for cause. Not because of his 14 losses.

I agree he did some bad things but the fan base knew he wasn’t gonna win a championship here either so it made it a lot easier. My favorite is when he said “we aren’t the university of Jodie Meeks” when Jodie was literally caring us to win.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

Wow. This is pathetic type fandom level. Playing the *if* game through two seasons. Diminishing UK’s star player (that has just tied for the most 20 point games mind you), beating rivals back to back. Sure, not the type of season we all expect. But you and many others on this site are embarrassing. UK faithful is definitely no more Lolol

No one diminished anyone. I’m saying we looked exactly like this last year and had OO not made those two circus shots, Pope wouldn’t have had that miraculous sweet 16 that everyone is so thrilled about. Not accepting mediocrity doesn’t make anyone less of a fan, I’m friends and group chat with several former players and you should hear those guys. Pope isn’t the guy and the sooner he is gone the better. It doesn’t take a genius to see this.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

It’s wild that ole Billy G had a better resume than Pope when he first got hired.

Far better. BCG had actually built 2 programs from nothing. He had NCAA wins.

He was pretty much hired at Arkansas and ditched them for us.

BCG was a hot commodity. It didn’t work out. And it was obvious it wasn’t getting better so he was out.

Pope had done nothing to warrant being hired here except for playing here. He was not a hot commodity.

He’s not working out and it’s not going to get better.

But Pope still has defenders where BCG was on an island.

 

[TFCat11]

Would you have taken that at the beginning of the Mark Pope era?

He was an unforgivable hire. We may not make the tournament, gentlemen. We still have five games that we could lose. Even if we win too, we're sitting at 19 wins going into the SEC tournament.

Think about that. This is Billy Clyde level bad.

Clyde had a better pre UK resume, Clyde was a WAY better recruiter, and Clyde (when sober) was a better X/Os coach!

Pope? Maybe a better Girl Scout chaperone than Clyde? Maybe?

 

[JimboBBN]

I love how the fanbase rallied around Mark when he was hired. Pope said all the right things at the beginning and had everyone on board. Unfortunately, that doesn't help you win games. And at this point, I think even his most loyal supporters are starting to see he's not the guy to get us back to where we need to be. And that sucks.

 

[Cats4321]

I hate it, but he has failed so far. Any other coach, and it would be unanimous that we should get rid of him. NEVER hire a former player for this reason.

 

[Kywildcat_nation28]

GO BIG BLUE!

 

[WhatTypeOfBlood]

Pope could sign the 12 apostles and still get beat in Rupp by football teams.

 

[UKortho]

This was like a wrestling promotion. No wonder @Monday Nitro fell in love at first site.

 

[UKortho]

He is a baaaad man lol.

 

[Drogon]

I was dumbfounded when he was hired. Still, I gave him a chance. Ill given him another chance. Just about everyone thought UK would get high potential JQ at some point in the season. His knee hasn't held up. Lowe with a freak injury to his shoulder could not be forseen. I think, along with some mismanaging of the roster there has also been quite a bit of bad luck. I don't like firing a HC after 2 seasons, well, except CBG.

With the portal the next coach can put together a very good team so if next year isn't good Pope can be replaced and players brought in pretty easily. Although, we lose to South Carolina, I might have to go right to cutting bait this season. UK is still good enough to beat them even with our bench being so awful.

 

[lookinfor8]

Kentucky will make the tournament and Pope will build the roster for next year through the transfer portal.

Yea & thhe way it looks with whats out there it will be worse next year

 

[KYWC36]

 

[Badabingbadaboom]

Lotta talk here in Provo of Chandler taking Saunders spot next year at BYU.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

This was Billy Gillespies record at UK and we cut bait quickly. Why do we own Pope another year.

Record: 40-27 (25-9 in 2007-08; 22-14 in 2008-09).

• Highlights: Named Co-SEC Coach of the Year in his first season (2008) and led the team to the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

He was 18-13 in his first year. 1st round NCAA loss. 21-13 his second year. NIT

 

[true-blue1]

Pope is a mediocre coach and anyone that doesn’t believe that is just fooling themselves.

 

[BlueBloodKyFan73]

Lotta talk here in Provo of Chandler taking Saunders spot next year at BYU.

I can see that happening

 

[kywildcat1021979]

Pope is a mediocre coach and anyone that doesn’t believe that is just fooling themselves.

He was when he was hired and nothing has changed other than the team he's coaching.

 

[HenryMuto]

A damn shame that Covid couldn't have waited 1 more month to hit as I really wanted to see what that 2020 team could have done. They would been either a 2 or 3 seed in the big dance and was 25-6 heading into SECT