Does Pope deserve another year?

[Argonaut]

I don’t understand the argument that Pope deserves another year. Why? The only argument is that Mitch Barnhart won’t fire him. Do you think boosters will become restless and demand change?

We have no high school recruits. None of us seem to want most of the players currently on the team to return next year so either Pope brings back players that aren’t living up to expectations or he has to start over again. What would even be our hopes and expectations of another year of Pope? It seems so pointless and depressing.

 

[Anon1759768907]

I don’t understand the argument that Pope deserves another year. Why? The only argument is that Mitch Barnhart won’t fire him. Do you think boosters will become restless and demand change?

We have no high school recruits. None of us seem to want most of the players currently on the team to return next year so either Pope brings back players that aren’t living up to expectations or he has to start over again. What would even be our hopes and expectations of another year of Pope? It seems so pointless and depressing.

so we have no hs recruits for next year? so lets push all our chips in on old trasnfer guys again? idk if i wanna do that

 

[howitis_rivals115807]

We are about to find out how much he loves uk. He doesnt have a single recruit signed and next year looks even worse. If he makes us fire him we will know it's all an act

 

[Argonaut]

We are about to find out how much he loves uk. He doesnt have a single recruit signed and next year looks even worse. If he makes us fire him we will know it's all an act

It’s interesting, innit? We think Pope is such a great guy but you have to ask yourself: why would you put yourself and your family through so much pressure from an increasingly angry fanbase? For money? Glory? Is it really worth your and your family’s sanity?

 

[CELTICAT]

Doesn’t deserve another game.

 

[Cats4321]

In previous eras, 2 years wasn't enough time to evaluate. You can literally rebuild in 1 year now, so 2 years is plenty to determine the trajectory of the program. Pope has until the end of this season to turn it around on the court and start having some recruiting success...at least for me. I'm not the one making the decision, so Mitch will probably give him another contract extension after the season for all I know.

 

[Seth_C]

As much negative **** as I have said today, it’s too early to say so I’m not voting. If this season ends the way it appears it will currently?

Sad to say, but in that case, god no. No. No no no.

 

[Kjuk24]

The craziest hire I have seen in my life time at UK! And to think some of you ish kicking mules thought it was a good idea is hilarious to me!

 

[UKJenning]

He didn’t deserve the job in the first place so he definitely does not deserve a 3rd year.

 

[Anon1759768907]

In previous eras, 2 years wasn't enough time to evaluate. You can literally rebuild in 1 year now, so 2 years is plenty to determine the trajectory of the program. Pope has until the end of this season to turn it around on the court and start having some recruiting success...at least for me. I'm not the one making the decision, so Mitch will probably give him another contract extension after the season for all I know.

you can evaluate when you spend 22m on a roster with no bonafide stars

 

[Argonaut]

The craziest hire I have seen in my life time at UK! And to think some of you ish kicking mules thought it was a good idea is hilarious to me!

What’s interesting is there’s probably a couple dozen college basketball (and some pro assistant) coaches with better resumes than Pope when he was hired.

Apparently, according a few Kentucky fans, all of them turned down the Kentucky job. How is that possible?

 

[Kjuk24]

If thats true... Its filed under things ya HATE to see!

 

[FormerlyAnon954350]

Deserves another year or will get another year?

 

[Woodrow24]

Some times you gotta know when to hold ‘em’ and know when to fold em’. I haven’t seen anything from Pope at this point to think he can make it here. To many alarming signs so far. I guess let’s see if that changes by the end of the season but at this point dragging this out doesn’t look like a good idea. The guy literally compared this team to the 96 team. Has looked lost in games and after when he does interviews. It’s embarrassing

 

[Seth_C]

What’s interesting is there’s probably a couple dozen college basketball (and some pro assistant) coaches with better resumes than Pope when he was hired.

Apparently, according a few Kentucky fans, all of them turned down the Kentucky job. How is that possible?

I’m not convinced Mitch contacted more than two people, with the second one being Pope. I love him, I hoped for the best, but if Pope anything other than the 12th option then we simply didn’t have the right people making the decision.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

He's gonna get another year.

Barnie was gonna give Stoops another year before he got crushed last 2 gamed.

 

[FormerlyAnon954350]

In previous eras, 2 years wasn't enough time to evaluate. You can literally rebuild in 1 year now, so 2 years is plenty to determine the trajectory of the program. Pope has until the end of this season to turn it around on the court and start having some recruiting success...at least for me. I'm not the one making the decision, so Mitch will probably give him another contract extension after the season for all I know.

Please don't say the words "contract extension" and "Mitch" together, it makes me physically ill.

 

[bbnkat02]

What’s interesting is there’s probably a couple dozen college basketball (and some pro assistant) coaches with better resumes than Pope when he was hired.

Apparently, according a few Kentucky fans, all of them turned down the Kentucky job. How is that possible?

Well, we know Drew and Hurley did.

And probably due to both their wives either being elitist or weirded out. But if you can't take us at our most passionate.....

 

[Argonaut]

Joker got a 3rd year, but I wonder how much winning against Tennessee for the first time in 20 or 30-something years saved him from getting canned his 2nd year?

 

[bbnkat02]

Please don't say the words "contract extension" and "Mitch" together, it makes me physically ill.

Those words probably make Mitch feel a bit.....excited. He probably puts on his dancing shoes and taps one foot!

 

[dynastydreamuk]

I voted no but really too early to know. Same poll should wait till end of the season.

But I'm assuming we miss the tournament. If we don't make the tournament, I'm agreeable moving on after year 2 because you have NIL and can build a team really quick now. Hand picked guys. Michigan is in year 2 with dusty may and looks like they are favorites to win it all.

That said, how i think it plays out is, we barely make tournament and lose first round, pope actually gets a 3rd year and Mitch doesn't retire. That would be max pain awful stagnation/ mediocrity purgatory hell.

Hopefully the boosters and fans get so loud we force a change if the results continue on this trajectory. Most likely after a 3rd year... but if we miss the tournament there are no excuses why he should get a 3rd year.

 

[Argonaut]

He's gonna get another year.

Barnie was gonna give Stoops another year before he got crushed last 2 gamed.

Didn’t boosters allegedly step in when Mitch Barnhart was going to give him another year anyway?

 

[bbnkat02]

Joker got a 3rd year, but I wonder how much winning against Tennessee for the first time in 20 or 30-something years saved him from getting canned his 2nd year?

I think 3 years is just a true fair shake kinda thing. If you cant make sig progress in 3 years...you aren't going to.

But with NIL now, its a different ballgame

 

[theBlues]

I don't think he deserves to last the rest of this year but if he can squeek into the NCAA tourney Mitch will give him another year. If we miss the tourney it will be out of Mitch's (dirty) hands.

 

[KyLegacyBBN]

Year isn’t over so not sure. Post this in March.

 

[Argonaut]

Well, we know Drew and Hurley did.

And probably due to both their wives either being elitist or weirded out. But if you can't take us at our most passionate.....

The whole search felt, off. Like as soon as Drew turned us down, Pope was hired. It was so suspicious.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

It’s so important to see how this year ends to vote for me. If they lose their final 3, lose first game in SECT, and then miss NCAAT…you can’t keep him.

If they look like the 30th best team in the country and make the NCAAT?

I keep him. My thought is you get 1 miss. But he’d be on a very hot seat next year.

He has to upgrade players 3-7 on the roster next year. He can’t waste resources on guys like Potter, Hawthorne, Noah, Jelavic. 3rd/4th stringers just have so little value. Can’t waste millions of NIL on the Gatorade passing out crew and lose impact players over 500k.

 

[Seth_C]

The whole search felt, off. Like as soon as Drew turned us down, Pope was hired. It was so suspicious.

Mitch’s list began and ended with Drew. It was obvious immediately. Pope was his backup plan. There was no attempt to look beyond those two, and it’s gross.

 

[FormerlyAnon954350]

Those words probably make Mitch feel a bit.....excited. He probably puts on his dancing shoes and taps one foot!

Mitch after Kentucky goes 6-6 in football or makes a sweet-16 in basketball

 

[Snarks]

Does he deserve another year? No, will he get one? Yes

Next year is win or go home.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Deserve another year?

I mean I dunno. Maybe see how this one ends up playing out.

But at the same rate you can Pope and who are you getting exactly? We will be in the same place we were in two years ago lol.

Not saying that's a reason to keep Pope............just that this notion of people knocking down the door to come here and coach just isn't happening.

 

[Seth_C]

Does he deserve another year? No, will he get one? Yes

Next year is win or go home.

As someone who isn’t sure, so I’m not trying to be an *** here but honestly curious about discussion — what does the season have to look like for Pope to NOT get another season?

If we miss the tournament?
If we lose every single game?
What’s the cutoff that says enough is enough?

 

[Drogon]

c) tbd


Revisit this in a month. If they are going to succeed they are going to need some healthy time together on the court. Only the 3rd game with a full availability of players. They are behind every other team in America just about in time together on the court. Unfortunately. with the schedule UK has had, this playing from behind from injuries has really been exposed by really good teams.


Im trying to give him the benefit of the doubt because of that. The outlook is not good by any means.

 

[TALtruthatlast]

Alabama pours it on a lot of people in the Oates era so I would only give today’s game so much weight. After the low point in quitting on Gonzaga, you have to admit, they surprised people with the Indiana game and then St Johns. Let’s see how other conference matchups shake down, especially with the league not being as good as the insane juggernaut it was just a season ago.

 

[Argonaut]

Deserve another year?

I mean I dunno. Maybe see how this one ends up playing out.

But at the same rate you can Pope and who are you getting exactly? We will be in the same place we were in two years ago lol.

Not saying that's a reason to keep Pope............just that this notion of people knocking down the door to come here and coach just isn't happening.

So you’re suggesting Kentucky couldn’t even get an up-in-coming coach from a mid-major program?

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

So you’re suggesting Kentucky couldn’t even get an up-in-coming coach from a mid-major program?

Sure. They could.
But it's not clear bet if that up and coming coach from a mid major would have any more success than Pope lol.

Two years ago by all accounts........many thought Pope was an up and coming coach. He was hailed an offensive mind coach and we've not seen much offense all year long.

 

[Seth_C]

So you’re suggesting Kentucky couldn’t even get an up-in-coming coach from a mid-major program?

We could, but if he only gets two seasons to prove himself, is that realistic? If the fans are going to turn on the next coach year two then we will be right back where we are now.

The reality is the next coach needs to win big in year one or year two. They need to be proven and successful. Otherwise they don’t stand a chance here.

 

[Argonaut]

Sure. They could.
But it's not clear bet if that up and coming coach from a mid major would have any more success than Pope lol.

Two years ago by all accounts........many thought Pope was an up and coming coach. He was hailed an offensive mind coach and we've not seen much offense all year long.

Pope has never won a conference title, never won a conference tournament and never won a tournament game before coming to UK. He was only considered an up-and-coming coach because he played here.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

As someone who isn’t sure, so I’m not trying to be an *** here but honestly curious about discussion — what does the season have to look like for Pope to NOT get another season?

If we miss the tournament?
If we lose every single game?
What’s the cutoff that says enough is enough?

My opinion only, to not get another year:

- Miss tournament
- not have an easy excuse(à la Lowe’s shoulder gives out entirely/Oweh tears his ACL/etc).

That may be enough with this mega NIL roster.

But the ending is what everyone remembers since we all get so invested into every game.

home v Vandy
At A&M
Home v Florida

SECT

If he loses 4 straight there, which isn’t hard to fathom, it’s over.

 

[3 Putts]

He's gonna get another year.

Barnie was gonna give Stoops another year before he got crushed last 2 gamed.

I think Stoops tanked those games because he wanted out of here with his massive buyout. Mitch is arrogant and always wants to prove he’s the smartest guy in the room so Pope will get at least one more year unless he leaves on his own.