Do we miss Calipari yet?

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,295
70,399
113
Dusty May lost at home to Greg Gard. Does that make Gard a better coach?

Don’t be dumb
Wisconsin is going to be a 3 or 4 seed and they don't have 3 injured players.

Again, Cal has elite players at all 5 positions, why is Arkansas only getting a 4 or 5 seed?
 

Noledynasty2490

All-American
Jul 31, 2022
4,284
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I don’t miss this


So if we land Stokes tomorrow because we paid the most are you gonna be upset or something because he really doesn't care about the state of Kentucky?


This line of thinking is antiquated and how programs get left behind and become mediocre or worse in the era of NIL.
 

Noledynasty2490

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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,295
70,399
113
A loss to inferior teams at rupp shouldn’t happen, along with the blowouts he’s had. Is it not okay to point out popes shortcomings?
Okay, but Cal was not just losing at home, he was losing to mid majors with NBA level talent on his roster.
If you say losing at home is unacceptable, why would you wsnt Calipari back?
 

TotheMoon88

Senior
Apr 12, 2024
508
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Okay, but Cal was not just losing at home, he was losing to mid majors with NBA level talent on his roster.
If you say losing at home is unacceptable, why would you wsnt Calipari back?
I never said I wanted Calipari back? Quite the opposite I wanted Calipari gone, his last years were terrible. It’s just irritating to me that people let pope slide. We wanted Calipari gone because of stuff like that and yet now it’s just excused because it’s mark pope
 
May 27, 2007
31,883
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Cal wouldn't be winning at UK.

The reason I don't miss Cal is because he was full of contempt for UK fans and UK media.

He had burned bridges with the boosters and he was done here.

What he's doing at Arkansas has nothing to do with UK in any way shape or form.
He did prob burn bridges

but I completely disagree thst he would not be winning here.
 

Randy Bob

All-Conference
Jun 14, 2009
7,264
4,010
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Most of the players he got at Ark committed to Ky before he left and he took them with him to Ark, if he had stayed at Ky they would have been one and done, he changed his ways at Ark where he makes them stay.
 

AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
1,892
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I don’t miss this

That’s where though I loved Cal, I disagreed with him. when he stopped winning he found a noble cause “lifting people out of generations poverty” or “ it’s about players first”.


while in general his argument is correct - treat the players / people that work for you right and they will reward you and you will win too as an organization- We all know this was just a made up excuse that he come out in order to keep up recruiting and keep himself relevant, but regardless it is a lie !

cal lost the fan base when he kept pedaling this lie, especially when the losses piled up.


regardless, I will always respect him for what he did for UK and the Commonwealth.
 
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YankeeCpt_rivals378522

All-Conference
May 7, 2009
1,969
1,036
113
Calipari is lightning in a bottle. A freak.
You want those guys. then build a support network around him so there is assistance around short-comings.
He should not have been fired.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,295
70,399
113
I never said I wanted Calipari back? Quite the opposite I wanted Calipari gone, his last years were terrible. It’s just irritating to me that people let pope slide. We wanted Calipari gone because of stuff like that and yet now it’s just excused because it’s mark pope
I'm not sure how many times I have to repeat this, but nobody is letting Pope slide. Why do you guys kerp acting like we've lowered our standards, when all we're doing, is hoping for the best. This isn’t Pope's 15th year, it's year 2.

Pope, did a heck of a job last year after starting late with no roster, but losing Robinson and Butler being hobbled, derailed the season.

This year has been a huge failure, we all understand that, but his issues are fixable and it’s up to him to fix them. If he kills it next year, great, he stays, but if he loses 10 games, he's out.
You can still be understanding while being critical.

Injuries were a problem again this year, but the roster was never going to mesh well. It didn't fit Pope's style. He screwed up and I'm hoping he learned his lesson.

He has a lot to fix and in my opinion, he should have no problem fixing them. I'm hoping he does, that's all.
 
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Jun 30, 2025
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Given the results so far at Arkansas, I could only imagine the vitriol during the regular seasons if he had the same here.

Tacking on 10 and 4 seed caliber teams to where his UK career ended wouldn’t be satisfactory for anybody here.
 

ComebackCats98

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
601
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Notice the same ones running down the coach that brought the only national title to Lexington since 1998 are the same ones running around defending Pope as much as possible. You can be on the side that wanted Cal gone. Nothing wrong with that. I can’t understand being on the side wanting him gone AND being all for what Pope is doing these first two years. If you think Cal’s last 5 years were horrific and we shouldn’t appreciate anything he done for the state or the program I’d love to know what you think make Pope’s first two seasons worth defending besides that he beat Troy and Illinois
 

YankeeCpt_rivals378522

All-Conference
May 7, 2009
1,969
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I remember Vitale saying that Kentucky would set their program back 10 years by getting rid of Tubby.
That seems to be the case with the firing of Cal.
Just look at the top 150 recruits.
Not 1 of them chose Pope as a coach. Why in the eff are we settling?
I would have preferred to live in the 1 and done. At least we were eating 1st.
Now we sit at the back table waiting to find out who is in transfer portals.....
 
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ComebackCats98

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Jul 2, 2025
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I remember Vitale saying that Kentucky would set their program back 10 years by getting rid of Tubby.
That seems to be the case with the firing of Cal.
Just look at the top 150 recruits.
Not 1 of them chose Pope as a coach. Why in the eff are we settling?
I would have preferred to live in the 1 and done. At least we were eating 1st.
Now we sit at the back table waiting to find out who is in transfer portals.....
It’s legal to pay players now and Pope can’t even convince anybody to come play with him. Think about that. Says a lot
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
19,631
34,177
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No one wants Cal back. He was done n 2019. He had a solid 2020 other than the bizarre Evansville loss but was a train wreck from 2021 to 2024.
 
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HowardDaDuckDoe

Sophomore
Jan 31, 2026
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People told me I was crazy when I started a thread about it — we should make Cal the GM of Kentucky basketball and stick with a smart coach
 

Seth_C

All-American
Mar 12, 2017
4,591
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If Calipari was still coaching Kentucky I wouldn't be watching Kentucky basketball, so no. He can have his fun at Arkansas until he gets bored and turns on their fans. **** that piece of ****.

I’d rather take a break from watching the ONLY sports team I care about than have to suffer looking at his smug, condescending face and his useless son on the sideline.
 

Chesttown Cat

Redshirt
Jul 2, 2025
22
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I can't but think most of the players playing for Cal would have been at Kentucky if Cal was still a t Kentucky.
 

Jamal Mercerr

Senior
Jul 13, 2025
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Cal just bent his haters over. Acuff is a superstar that Pope will never get.
He lost to Kentucky lol

They just won the SEC tourney by beating Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Vandy. Cal slurpers are still alive and well apparently.

It’s hilarious all the talent Cal had at UK and won one tourney game in his last 6 years 😂😂😂

I’m guessing you wish Cal would bend you over??
 

[email protected]

All-Conference
Aug 19, 2012
566
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He lost to Kentucky lol

They just won the SEC tourney by beating Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Vandy. Cal slurpers are still alive and well apparently.

It’s hilarious all the talent Cal had at UK and won one tourney game in his last 6 years 😂😂😂

I’m guessing you wish Cal would bend you over??
Oh, and Pope is doing such an fantastic job with 13 soon to be 14 losses