Bare Minimum For a 3rd Year

[Farsight Clone]

This thread is for every poster here who wants Pope gone after this year. (Including me)

Most threads about Pope is simply unsatisfied about the display of work Pope has produced in his 2nd year. (Fair)

Why do I ask this question? Because we all know, Mitch won't fire him.

So here is my question:

What is the bare minimum that would change your mind to give Pope 1 more chance in the 3rd year to prove himself?

For me I have two Tiers. Because if you combine these 2, I don't think Pope will do it.

Tier A
- Stokes commit / or Collins & Holt Commit
- Stay at 500 or just barely above 500 for the season.


Tier B
- Make the NCAA Tournament
- Get to the SECT Championship game
- Somehow make the NCAA Tournament as a 7-11 seed. (Probably a play in game)
- At least Round of 32 in NCAA Tournament

To me, he would have to get either Tier for me to have a sliver of wanting him to see what he can do in Year 3.

If he somehow can do both, he earned it.

% chance of him doing it? 35%.

What is the Bare Minimum for you?

 

[peterpiper09]

Here’s my honest opinion
I have no idea how this season ends
I do believe next season will have many different things happening both with players and play
If it ends bad then I think Pope would step down
Got to have some redemption time, in anything
But, like I said, don’t know how this season ends yet
Weird stuff happens

 

[catsall]

This thread is for every poster here who wants Pope gone after this year. (Including me)

Most threads about Pope is simply unsatisfied about the display of work Pope has produced in his 2nd year. (Fair)

Why do I ask this question? Because we all know, Mitch won't fire him.

So here is my question:

What is the bare minimum that would change your mind to give Pope 1 more chance in the 3rd year to prove himself?

For me I have two Tiers. Because if you combine these 2, I don't think Pope will do it.

Tier A
- Stokes commit / or Collins & Holt Commit
- Stay at 500 or just barely above 500 for the season.


Tier B
- Make the NCAA Tournament
- Get to the SECT Championship game
- Somehow make the NCAA Tournament as a 7-11 seed. (Probably a play in game)
- At least Round of 32 in NCAA Tournament

To me, he would have to get either Tier for me to have a sliver of wanting him to see what he can do in Year 3.

If he somehow can do both, he earned it.

% chance of him doing it? 35%.

What is the Bare Minimum for you?

There is no fking way that this train wreck can continue another year.

If anyone thinks that we can put a team together for next year with Pope, they are delusional.

No recruit (high school or portal) is going to sign with Kentucky. Period

We would win 5 games next year. Can you imagine what a toxic situation that would be.

If he makes it through the end of this season, I will be surprised.

 

[NociHTTP]

For me, it's C:
- continue showing the emotion that got him a technical and his team fired up
- continue spreading the floor
- get up into his guy's faces when they slack off
- continue being transparent about the game's evolution
- go into the portal like he did in year 1 and get athletic shooters

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Elite Eight and a top 20 defense. Don’t care which year but if I don’t get both, I want him gone. If we can’t win titles down the road with him, I don’t want to waste my time.

My goals are only about what happens on the court because that’s what matters. You don’t remember who Kentucky had in the 1983 high school class but I’ll bet you remember the 1984 basketball season quite well. Win…or leave.

 

[Jaime Chitwood]

His players have quit on him. zero chance any of this happpening.

 

[NoDef]

Pope is struggling right now and I get it. He really wants to win, but I don't know if he can win at this level. Terrible roster management with unlimited resources. Strikes out on every top high school recruit. JQ stock dropping isn't going to help him, even though JQ stock only on athleticim. The slow ball style that Pope is playing now only exposes JQs flaws. He made a roster totally opposite of what he does good.

 

[theBlues]

Here is my opinion: this season is likely lost and if UK does not make the NCAA tourney and Pope is the coach next year...next year will also be a lost year and then we'll get a new coach. So the smart move is to make a coaching change this year or as soon as our season is over unless we want next year to be as bad or worse than this year.

 

[NociHTTP]

There is no fking way that this train wreck can continue another year.

If anyone thinks that we can put a team together for next year with Pope, they are delusional.

No recruit (high school or portal) is going to sign with Kentucky. Period

We would win 5 games next year. Can you imagine what a toxic situation that would be.

If he makes it through the end of this season, I will be surprised.

 

[Bluetick2100]

Fire Pope. Fire Cal. Fire Stoops Fire Mitch. Hell let's just FIRE EVERYBODY at UK. Turn out the lights Percy.

 

[TFCat11]

As long as Pope has a pulse, I’m lobbying for 8-10 years… Minimum! Either he’s replaced after this season, or give the man some time to work through the growing pains!

This 3 year argument is for wusses, which is why so many are clamoring for it!

 

[Kyfan27]

Simply show he knows what he's doing and just coach the team you have. Do you think if Nate Oats had this team they would be this bad? It's ok for the guys to just not be as good as you thought (even though the $22 million number is bad) but do something differently. You have the depth so press the s**t out of teams and make defense as chaotic as possible. Offense is so hard for this team so try to generate easy buckets with your defense. Still talking about depth sit guys that won't do what you ask. Who cares if they transfer out? I really don't want any of these guys back anyway. Show you can coach differently outside of your normal "system." Hiring a GM would perk my ears up. That should help recruiting. Also restructure this JMI crap. Basically restructure everything to where all Pope does is coach ball. Nothing else. I do think he's pretty good at coaching so let other people do the things you're not good at.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Not a damn thing he’s got to go. Our culture right now is va gina

 

[catsall]

As long as Pope has a pulse, I’m lobbying for 8-10 years… Minimum! Either he’s replaced after this season, or give the man some time to work through the growing pains!

This 3 year argument is for wusses, which is why so many are clamoring for it!

We fcking don’t owe Pope anything other than what his contract calls for.

With the portal you can become a top 10 team in one year. Who in their right mind would just throw away another basketball season?

We are the laughing stock of college basketball and football.

 

[Farsight Clone]

As long as Pope has a pulse, I’m lobbying for 8-10 years… Minimum! Either he’s replaced after this season, or give the man some time to work through the growing pains!

This 3 year argument is for wusses, which is why so many are clamoring for it!

I think you would be the sole person on this board who would want pope here for 8-10 years lol

 

[Artlaibesghost]

Just like every other coach I have seen here at UK since Rupp. If he wants to keep this job he has to win and win big. Unfortunately for him Cal left the fan base in such a sorry state he gets even less time than our usual coaches do. I think he will get another year because of who our AD is. In truth BG would have gotten another year if his drunken behavior hadn't been so over the top. It wasn't his coaching bad as it was that got him fired. At this point I don't think Pope will turn things around this season so next year he better win and win big or he is gone.

 

[storm1507]

Elite Eight and a top 20 defense. Don’t care which year but if I don’t get both, I want him gone. If we can’t win titles down the road with him, I don’t want to waste my time.

My goals are only about what happens on the court because that’s what matters. You don’t remember who Kentucky had in the 1983 high school class but I’ll bet you remember the 1984 basketball season quite well. Win…or leave.

Without looking Winston Bennett, James Blackmon???, seems like there was another too.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Without looking Winston Bennett, James Blackmon???, seems like there was another too.

You get the idea though.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Just like every other coach I have seen here at UK since Rupp. If he wants to keep this job he has to win and win big. Unfortunately for him Cal left the fan base in such a sorry state he gets even less time than our usual coaches do. I think he will get another year because of who our AD is. In truth BG would have gotten another year if his drunken behavior hadn't been so over the top. It wasn't his coaching bad as it was that got him fired. At this point I don't think Pope will turn things around this season so next year he better win and win big or he is gone.

Best program in the nation wouldn’t allow this another year. It’s simple UK isn’t the best.

 

[FireWentOut]

Elite eight bare minimum. Dude has the keys to the candy store. Time to act like it.

Right now things are looking pretty bleak. Current players seem tuned out and recruits don't seem interested. Gonna be hard to build a team if you can't recruit, as this season shows.

 

[Goingfor9]

This thread is for every poster here who wants Pope gone after this year. (Including me)

Most threads about Pope is simply unsatisfied about the display of work Pope has produced in his 2nd year. (Fair)

Why do I ask this question? Because we all know, Mitch won't fire him.

So here is my question:

What is the bare minimum that would change your mind to give Pope 1 more chance in the 3rd year to prove himself?

For me I have two Tiers. Because if you combine these 2, I don't think Pope will do it.

Tier A
- Stokes commit / or Collins & Holt Commit
- Stay at 500 or just barely above 500 for the season.


Tier B
- Make the NCAA Tournament
- Get to the SECT Championship game
- Somehow make the NCAA Tournament as a 7-11 seed. (Probably a play in game)
- At least Round of 32 in NCAA Tournament

To me, he would have to get either Tier for me to have a sliver of wanting him to see what he can do in Year 3.

If he somehow can do both, he earned it.

% chance of him doing it? 35%.

What is the Bare Minimum for you?

There isn’t anything unless we win a lot of games on the road. We are 0-2. I dont see many opportunities to win 3 in a row in the sec to get us over .500. The schedule is stacked.

 

[Goingfor9]

For me, it's C:
- continue showing the emotion that got him a technical and his team fired up
- continue spreading the floor
- get up into his guy's faces when they slack off
- continue being transparent about the game's evolution
- go into the portal like he did in year 1 and get athletic shooters

You got a lot of “continue to”. I mean we are 14th in the conference. There’s no continuing anything unless you want to continue to lose.

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

Bare minimum is a title. The same as it is every year.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Bare minimum is a title. The same as it is every year.

False. Even at Kentucky, this is ridiculous. We have had 122+ years of Kentucky basketball and I refuse to refer to 114 of them as abject failures.

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

False. Even at Kentucky, this is ridiculous. We have had 122+ years of Kentucky basketball and I refuse to refer to 114 of them as abject failures.

114 season were failures. If I don't get a new "National Champion " t shirt at Dawahares in May the season was a failure.

 

[Artlaibesghost]

Best program in the nation wouldn’t allow this another year. It’s simple UK isn’t the best.

Why can't people understand that Barnhart is running things it isn't about the best program it's WHOS RUNNING it. You've seen the same things I have what do you think Barney will do?

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Why can't people understand that Barnhart is running things it isn't about the best program it's WHOS RUNNING it. You've seen the same things I have what do you think Barney will do?

Well Barney very well is the main reason but the point still stands

 

[Tri-Countycat]

Start your coaching search right now. Make a big list and start narrowing it down. As soon as the season is over, pull the plug and hire the new guy immediately. You see how things are done in the NFL, they don’t waste time and you don’t have to be terrible to lose your job. College basketball is all about money and if you aren’t winning then you can’t stick around, period.

 

[storm1507]

You get the idea though.

Of course. It just brought back memories of sitting in my dorm room my freshman year reading the "Wildcat Yearbook" or whatever it was called. I can picture Bennett's HS picture right now.

 

[TotheMoon88]

After the way this season has gone so far the only thing that would make me want to see pope get a third year is if we ended up top 3 in the conference, win the conference tournament and make at least the elite 8. Other than that I won’t change my mind that he’s just not the guy

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Of course. It just brought back memories of sitting in my dorm room my freshman year reading the "Wildcat Yearbook" or whatever it was called. I can picture Bennett's HS picture right now.

You talking the Cats Pause Yearbooks? I love and collect those. I grew up extremely poor and the only thing I ever asked for on many of my birthdays was the new Cats Pause. I actually have the first volume right here beside me.

 

[NociHTTP]

Start your coaching search right now. Make a big list and start narrowing it down. As soon as the season is over, pull the plug and hire the new guy immediately. You see how things are done in the NFL, they don’t waste time and you don’t have to be terrible to lose your job. College basketball is all about money and if you aren’t winning then you can’t stick around, period.

College SPORTS are about money. And programs are selling tickets even when said team is losing. You do NOT start your coaching search right now, half way through the second season with what Pope came into last season. It would send a terrible message. If things aren't looking better in his third year, then you start the coaching search.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Start your coaching search right now. Make a big list and start narrowing it down. As soon as the season is over, pull the plug and hire the new guy immediately. You see how things are done in the NFL, they don’t waste time and you don’t have to be terrible to lose your job. College basketball is all about money and if you aren’t winning then you can’t stick around, period.

If we aren’t backchanneling coaches while sitting at 9-6, someone is incompetent.

 

[storm1507]

You talking the Cats Pause Yearbooks? I love and collect those. I grew up extremely poor and the only thing I ever asked for on many of my birthdays was the new Cats Pause. I actually have the first volume right here beside me.

Yeah, probably but it seems this featured the incoming 83/84 recruits.

To fill in the blank Winston Bennett, James Blackmon and...............Paul Andrews. I'm ashamed that I forgot who the other was.

 

[bigblue1971]

The out of conference schedule will be as tough or tougher next season playing virtually everyone we have played this year but at Indiana and at an ACC school in the SEC/ACC thing instead of at Rupp plus playing Kansas in the Champions Classic and Louisville. I don't know if we play Gonzaga again next year or who else we may play. Likely as bad a record as now and I doubt the SEC is gonna get any easier. Without a home run in the portal we'll be right back here again next year calling for a change. If we don't make the tournament this year I can't see it getting any better. If that's the case a change needs to be made immediately after the season.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Start your coaching search right now. Make a big list and start narrowing it down. As soon as the season is over, pull the plug and hire the new guy immediately. You see how things are done in the NFL, they don’t waste time and you don’t have to be terrible to lose your job. College basketball is all about money and if you aren’t winning then you can’t stick around, period.

Mitch is not doing that. Mitch is thinking how much of a raise he can give pope if he barely makes the tourney

 

[UKBB4Ever]

This thread is for every poster here who wants Pope gone after this year. (Including me)

Most threads about Pope is simply unsatisfied about the display of work Pope has produced in his 2nd year. (Fair)

Why do I ask this question? Because we all know, Mitch won't fire him.

So here is my question:

What is the bare minimum that would change your mind to give Pope 1 more chance in the 3rd year to prove himself?

For me I have two Tiers. Because if you combine these 2, I don't think Pope will do it.

Tier A
- Stokes commit / or Collins & Holt Commit
- Stay at 500 or just barely above 500 for the season.


Tier B
- Make the NCAA Tournament
- Get to the SECT Championship game
- Somehow make the NCAA Tournament as a 7-11 seed. (Probably a play in game)
- At least Round of 32 in NCAA Tournament

To me, he would have to get either Tier for me to have a sliver of wanting him to see what he can do in Year 3.

If he somehow can do both, he earned it.

% chance of him doing it? 35%.

What is the Bare Minimum for you?

There is nothing he could do to change my mind.

He is simply not the coach for UK.

The team has no identity.

No offensive identity.
No defensive identity.

The team is not prepared.
The doesn’t outwork anyone.
The team is not in the physical condition to outwork anyone.

On top of that Pope has taken two teams into MSG and two teams into Bridgestone and embarrassed UK 4 times.

This team has been boo’ed off the floor in Bridgestone and boo’ed twice in Rupp. Not for losing. Because of effort.

That’s just not forgivable.

Of course all that could change. And I could win the lottery tonight too.

 

[rick64]

Get a couple of big time recruits for next season. Go 10-8 in the SEC regular season.

 

[96Cats]

Not finishing top 6 with the preseason SEC Player of the year and 3 McDonald's All-Americans (and 1 NBA lottery pick) in a good but down SEC year is utter failure. With no recruits, we'd be banking on about a 3 week window at the end of the season to try to assemble a portal heavy revamp. With the current horrible product, I would be surpised we could get real value outside of more role players pushing their NIL "value" up out of our desperation for something at all.

I think we need to finish top top 5 in SEC, win a couple SEC tournament games and win 1 NCAA tournament to even consider bringing Pope back, but I don't expect next year to be any better. Year 3 has to be an elite 8 or its over - and that's tough to see happening with our momentum.