Boosters/Decision Makers

TotheMoon88

Junior
Apr 12, 2024
336
299
63
Wish all you want. I wish Dan Hurley would sign to be coach here and we could pay him in Rupp Arena ice cream lol. We have a segment of folks that cannot separate “what I want to happen” versus what is actually reasonable. The inability to acknowledge the distinction leads to a lot of folks fighting pointlessly over it.
Just because people say they want pope gone doesn’t mean they don’t realize he likely gets a third year, nobody argues that. Just wish he didn’t get one
 

JHR1932

Sophomore
Nov 27, 2025
57
103
17
Yeah, I'm a Mark Pope fan, I want him to be great, he deserves to be great, but that doesn't mean I'm going to turn a blind eye and act like what we're all seeing is fine. It's not fine and if Mark was my brother, my own flesh and blood, I would say the same things I've been saying. I'm a realist and the reality of it is, this is a disaster and Pope is responsible.
Last year's success story is going to buy Pope a 3rd year, but I don't have high hopes. There are too many red flags that are consistently happening and he doesn't have the personality that it takes to be successful at this level.
I hate that Mitch hired him. Not only was he not qualified, but now, we have to eat one of our own on his way out the door. Thanks Mitch.
Good post and agree about the person Pope, I could do away with the sappy/creepy approach and the Taylor swift love fest. That said he seems like a good dude in waaayyy over his head.
 

USARMYWILDCAT

Senior
Jan 11, 2016
471
931
93
Pope was about 3-4 on the list, and we got him because he played here, otherwise who knows who’d have volunteered for this.

I said in another thread and I’ll keep saying it. Not only are top tier established big name coaches staying put, but down roster guys are as well.

Coaches can make multi-millions anywhere. The resources, platform, media, etc is pretty much equal as well. Portal and NIL have obviously changed things to where you can go get talent and build a roster pretty much anywhere.

Same in football. Folks are telling bama “nah I’m good…” and Michigan has to hit up the retirement home.

If you run off Pope, you’re essentially putting yourself in a position to grovel and sing “baby come back…” to Cal.

He is the only guy who can turn things around and get the limelight back on the program. Everyone knows it, because by running off Pope you’re saying no to different, you’re saying you want the attention and 24/7 hype cycle. You want the big ego coach, program, players. You’re saying you’re not interested in building a program or roster over 3,4,5 years.

Theres 3-4 guys who can do this job. Two of them have done it and are currently coaching elsewhere. The others have said no multiple times.
It’s really not that serious. Being the head coach here is not as hard as people make it seem. All you have to do is win. You do that in your golden. BCG was a prick but if he took us to a final fours. Nobody would’ve gave a **** about him being a prick. We would’ve loved him. Dan Hurley is just as big of a prick as BCG. If we had Hurley here, we would love him because he would win.
 

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
28,377
39,427
102
Good post I will say it again, Mark Pope is a good person, he is seriously woke and very very soft creepy like with constant, beautiful, unbelievably talented, he’s getting better etc interviews. He cannot recruit because of this creepy approach imo along with his rotation approach where he wants to assure everyone loves him because everyone plays and gets a trophy.

finally this is by far the worst constructed team I can ever remember and THAT INCLUDES Gillespie. I Literally am stunned at how badly put together this team was put together.. he ha got to go or resign
Mark Pope is “seriously woke “ ? First I‘ve heard that. lol
 

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
1,701
1,595
97
I still think regardless how this season plays out that Pope will get one more year. I don't think based upon current recruiting and the product on the floor it is going to miraculously turn around next year. Just have lost all faith in the whole coaching staff. I also don't think UK would want to face the negative perception of firing a coach after just 2 years and one of those years they exceeded expectations for the hand they were dealt. I hope I am proven wrong as I absolutely do not want to see the same product or worse on the floor next year. Move Pope to a GM position or something and make a homerun hire. Everyone saves face.
To me if Pope somehow manages to grab a t least 2 big time guys either out of the portal or from the HS ranks and can perform, he will be here past year 3. If not, the end of next year it will be over for him.

I hope the guy can get some high caliber guys and put this all behind us but we will see.
 
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Skyguyb27

All-American
Feb 12, 2008
4,444
7,415
113
He’s gonna be here next year, y’all. Either come to grips with it or continue the wishful thinking. Choice is yours.

Last year bought him next year, and this year makes next year a win something or get out year.
People also said Cal was here till he decided to leave as well so…..
 
Jul 30, 2024
4,433
7,940
113
People also said Cal was here till he decided to leave as well so…..
Hmmm. Could there possibly be a difference between:

a.) An aging Hall of Fame level coach with established success at multiple power conference programs being offered a lucrative contract at an SEC school with competitive NIL infrastructure

and

b.) A fledgling coach who was hired by his dream coaching school, who would likely have to rebound at a much smaller school, for much less money, with inferior resources?

If we turn our brains off while discussing these matters, we end up expecting things that aren’t reasonable and become perpetually disappointed. There’s a non-zero chance Pope decides to step away after this season. That’s the only way year three doesn’t happen — I don’t expect that to happen. You shouldn’t expect that to happen either, because it almost certainly won’t.
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
11,089
17,420
113
It’s really not that serious. Being the head coach here is not as hard as people make it seem. All you have to do is win. You do that in your golden. BCG was a prick but if he took us to a final fours. Nobody would’ve gave a **** about him being a prick. We would’ve loved him. Dan Hurley is just as big of a prick as BCG. If we had Hurley here, we would love him because he would win.
in your golden?
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
11,089
17,420
113
Good post I will say it again, Mark Pope is a good person, he is seriously woke and very very soft creepy like with constant, beautiful, unbelievably talented, he’s getting better etc interviews. He cannot recruit because of this creepy approach imo along with his rotation approach where he wants to assure everyone loves him because everyone plays and gets a trophy.

finally this is by far the worst constructed team I can ever remember and THAT INCLUDES Gillespie. I Literally am stunned at how badly put together this team was put together.. he ha got to go or resign
You don't even know what the word 'woke' means. Stay off Steam game reviews, jeez.
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
11,089
17,420
113
I know there is no point in dwelling on the past, but not convincing Hurley to take the job was a HUGE miss. It's hard not to imagine the different situation we would be in right now with Hurley.
Just like with Knight and Pitino, Hurley would not put up with the **** we've seen from these guys.
 
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Skyguyb27

All-American
Feb 12, 2008
4,444
7,415
113
Hmmm. Could there possibly be a difference between:

a.) An aging Hall of Fame level coach with established success at multiple power conference programs being offered a lucrative contract at an SEC school with competitive NIL infrastructure

and

b.) A fledgling coach who was hired by his dream coaching school, who would likely have to rebound at a much smaller school, for much less money, with inferior resources?

If we turn our brains off while discussing these matters, we end up expecting things that aren’t reasonable and become perpetually disappointed. There’s a non-zero chance Pope decides to step away after this season. That’s the only way year three doesn’t happen — I don’t expect that to happen. You shouldn’t expect that to happen either, because it almost certainly won’t.
There’s always a chance something changes no matter how much you want him here or not. Everyone said Cal wasn’t leaving and he did. They said Stoops was here as well and he’s out. So I wouldn’t be so quick to speak with certainty.
 

theKybluedude

Senior
Jul 2, 2025
366
816
93
It’s really not that serious. Being the head coach here is not as hard as people make it seem. All you have to do is win. You do that in your golden. BCG was a prick but if he took us to a final fours. Nobody would’ve gave a **** about him being a prick. We would’ve loved him. Dan Hurley is just as big of a prick as BCG. If we had Hurley here, we would love him because he would win.
BCG took UK to final fours? You are a UK fan?
 

Madhuvan

Sophomore
Aug 11, 2024
51
131
33
You know guys, there is an avenue where Pope isn't here next year. There are so many red flags and if this team implodes and misses the tournament, it is not out of the question for the boosters/donors, Mitch and Pope to just all shake hands and go their own ways.
Everyone at UK from the donors, to the youngest of fans, have endured enough since that 2017 E8 loss. UK deserves better and at this point, Pope, if he's being honest, can't promise things will be better next year, in fact, it could be worse.
I think there’s an excellent chance this team doesn’t make the tournament. There’s not a game left on the schedule I feel confident about except maybe Oklahoma at home. 20-11 heading to Nashville best case.
 

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,096
1,737
113
I’d refer to Sources Say from two nights ago on this — the boosters/donors like Mark Pope.

Likelihood Pope is not brought back for a 3rd year - 0%

Likelihood Pope gets FU money to do whatever he wants next year depends on whether or not he can win big the rest of the year.

If he flounders, so will spending, but they still like Pope. Might as well get these thoughts out of your head or you’re going to end up disappointed, finger pointing and blaming a bunch of folks. There is NO chance of someone other than Pope being coach next year outside of Pope himself stepping down.
I just had dinner with one the largest donors to UK basketball. He is livid with Pope. And Barney. He gave $5 mil to UK basketball last year. He says he will not donate another dime while Pope is coach.
 

tls

Heisman
Nov 7, 2007
7,808
14,422
81
If I was a donor, I would get together with the other main donors and have a meeting with Pope and Mitch and have them explain why we are where we are.

If Pope says the ball just didn't bounce our way and injuries were the problem and the roster was really good, I immediately tell Mitch my funding is no longer available until someone who actually understands the assignment is put in place. I'm not donating money to have a guy p*ssyfoot around and think he was on the right track.

The correct things for Pope to say is that he did a terrible job constructing the roster, he mismanaged $22m, he didn't mentally prepare his team to play games and he messed up by not bringing in top end talent at all 5 positions.

Same thing for Mitch, twice now he was careless with who he hired to coach this basketball program, this isn’t a job you give to just anybody and he is responsible for this mess. He’s also responsible for the 2 dumb, one sided, lifetime deals he gave to Cal and Stoops.

When you donate millions, you get a huge say in what happens and I know how I felt watching that game last night and watching Pope stroll around like it was nothing, but I didn't give millions to this team like those guys did, they must be livid right now.
But your not a donor and have no clue
 

tls

Heisman
Nov 7, 2007
7,808
14,422
81
Folks wanting a new coach next year are like all the Cal fan boys who slobbered over next yea's recruiting class while the current season was still going on. Then in the summer the new team would be ballyhooed. Then when the season came, things would go badly but there was always next year's class to dream about. Wash, rinse, repeat! That's 2018 until Cal left (The Quickley team the only exception)
 

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,096
1,737
113
Folks wanting a new coach next year are like all the Cal fan boys who slobbered over next yea's recruiting class while the current season was still going on. Then in the summer the new team would be ballyhooed. Then when the season came, things would go badly but there was always next year's class to dream about. Wash, rinse, repeat! That's 2018 until Cal left (The Quickley team the only exception)
Doesn't seem like the same thing. Even people that didn't like Cal had hope. There is no hope with Pope. It would be better to just down the program than to keep pope as head coach.
 

Anon1759768907

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2025
1,487
2,253
113
Folks wanting a new coach next year are like all the Cal fan boys who slobbered over next yea's recruiting class while the current season was still going on. Then in the summer the new team would be ballyhooed. Then when the season came, things would go badly but there was always next year's class to dream about. Wash, rinse, repeat! That's 2018 until Cal left (The Quickley team the only exception)
yes, but with pope what do you look forward to, and elite class? naw
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
49,039
68,010
113
Folks wanting a new coach next year are like all the Cal fan boys who slobbered over next yea's recruiting class while the current season was still going on. Then in the summer the new team would be ballyhooed. Then when the season came, things would go badly but there was always next year's class to dream about. Wash, rinse, repeat! That's 2018 until Cal left (The Quickley team the only exception)
Hmm, yeah no, those two things aren't even close to the same.
 

Anon1768290537

Sophomore
Jan 13, 2026
113
139
43
To me if Pope somehow manages to grab a t least 2 big time guys either out of the portal or from the HS ranks and can perform, he will be here past year 3. If not, the end of next year it will be over for him.

I hope the guy can get some high caliber guys and put this all behind us but we will see.
I think he'll do just enough to get 1 more year, he'll recruit the portal & high school ranks for skilled players that can shoot, they'll suck at defense once again because he can't coach defense, we'll get his year 1 type team all over again.